The whiskey wash logo
The World's Most-Visited
Whiskey Website
The World's Most-Visited
Whiskey Website

Trending Stories

Search
American

Whiskey Review: Wilderness Trail Distillery Settlers Select Rye Whiskey

We review Wilderness Trail Distillery Settlers Select Rye Whiskey. It's a barrel proof single barrel release from Wilderness Trail.

OVERALL RATING

8
  • Ian Arnold, ex-bartender and whisky enthusiast, now navigates the IT world.
Like Conversation
Wilderness Trail Distillery Settlers Select Rye Whiskey (image via Ian Arnold)

Tasting Notes

About:

This is a Kentucky straight rye whiskey, it is single barrel and barrel proof. It was put in the barrel at 50% ABV and bottled at 52.77% ABV. Distilled from 56% rye, 33% corn, and 11% malted barley. Barrel number 16L21Q.
Appearance:
This is amber and burnt orange in color and has slow long legs.
Nose:
I smell banana, caramel, and black pepper with subtle notes of allspice and clove.
Palate:
There is an overall sweetness throughout this. I get a lot of caramel and toasted oak on the front. This transitions to a leathery spice at the mid-palate. The finish leaves my mouth dry with a slight astringency. The addition of water brings out a number of flavors I didn’t get straight out of the bottle. I get a hint of menthol right before the finish, which has lemon balm accompanied with a slight vegetal quality.
Finish:
Comments:
This is certainly worth a try, but I don’t think of this as a crowd pleaser. Some people will really enjoy the high proof and flavors of this while others will be put off. I found myself enjoying it much more with a bit of dilution than I did straight from the bottle.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Ian Arnold

Ian Arnold brings eight years of bartending expertise to the table, having honed his skills in renowned establishments across California, Australia, and Portland. His most recent position behind the bar was at the esteemed Multnomah Whisk(e)y Library. A dedicated member of the Oregon Bartenders' Guild's leadership team, Ian also served as a judge for numerous cocktail competitions. Currently working in the IT field, he continues to delight guests with his bartending prowess. In his leisure time, Ian enjoys playing board games and savoring the complexities of Japanese whisky.

All Posts

Latest On The Whiskey Wash

The whiskey wash logo