Wilderness Trail Distillery

10/15/2026

"...this bottle from Wilderness Trail delivers a masterclass in bourbon sweetness."

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For a Pappy Van Winkle experience on a budget, consider these other bourbons that share some similarities, such as flavor or the lengthy aging process.

09/30/2026

Ready to welcome our Bourbon Chase runners this weekend!

The annual Bourbon Chase relay race will wind its way through the back roads of Boyle County on Friday, Oct. 2, with runners celebrating this year’s “Joy Ride” theme. This […]

09/30/2026

"...producers like Wilderness Trail are reshaping expectations through process and precision."
Read more about how Wilderness Trail is shaping the future of wh***ey.

The non-Kentucky bourbon brands flying the flag

09/18/2026

What an incredible honor to celebrate Shane and Pat’s induction into the Bourbon Hall of Fame on Monday.

For all of us, this moment is about so much more than an individual honor. It is a reflection of the journey we’ve shared with the incredible people who have built this distillery alongside us. The ideas, the hard work, the risks, the long days, the celebrations, and all the moments in between have shaped who we are.

We are especially grateful for the colleagues, friends, and members of our distillery family who were there to support us. Seeing so many of the people who have been part of this journey in the room made the day even more meaningful.

We were also honored to celebrate alongside our fellow inductees and the many people who continue to shape the bourbon industry we love.

We’re proud of what we’ve built together, grateful for the people who got us here, and excited for everything still ahead.

And for two guys who have never been afraid to disrupt the bourbon industry, we couldn’t be happier to see where that journey has taken us. 🥃

09/18/2026

"Heist and Baker also built the distillery around sweet mash fermentation instead of the sour mash process most Kentucky distilleries use, a technique they’d already spent over a decade advising other distilleries on before opening their own. Both new releases blow past those usual house rules — older, higher proof, and distillery-exclusive."

Wilderness Trail's Hall of Fame bourbon and cask strength rye are distillery-exclusive.

09/17/2026

Couldn't grab a bottle of our specialty releases at KBF? No worries. We have added limited quantities of both our 10-year wheated bourbon and our 8-year rye wh***ey at our visitor center. Grab a bottle (or two) while supplies last!

10-Year-Old “Symphony of Disruption” Bourbon Celebrates Co-Founders Induction into the Kentucky Dist...

09/10/2026

This year at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, we’re celebrating milestones, legacy, and innovation with two exclusive festival releases.

Symphony of Disruption
Crafted by Co-Founders Shane Baker and Pat Heist to commemorate their induction into the
Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, this 10-year wheated bourbon highlights the innovation and scientific rigor that helped redefine modern bourbon making, with notes of clove, brown sugar, caramel apple, and crème brûlée.

Haley’s First Official Blend
Created by National Brand Ambassador Haley Perros to mark 10 years with Wilderness Trail, this limited 8-year rye is the oldest rye ever released from our distillery, featuring notes of sweet red apple, burnt caramel, vanilla, baking spice, and to***co.
Visit us in Bardstown or our visitor center and experience these limited festival releases while supplies last.

08/05/2026

"The Wilderness Trail Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon is a real delight and an excellent introduction to the brand. However, its small-batch Bottled-in-Bond releases are among the finest bottles you can get your hands on."

Which distillery truly makes the best wheated bourbon? From Maker's Mark to Buffalo Trace and beyond, we rank the top 8 producers on flavor, value, and more.

05/23/2026

Happy 9th birthday to our distillery cat, Cooper! If you know him, you know he is a one of a kind personality and the best mascot we could ask for. Join us in celebrating Cooper’s birthday today!!🥳🎉