Popular Kentucky Distillery: Wilderness Trail Distillery

OriginLawrenceburg, Kentucky, United States
ManufacturerThe Wild Trail Distillery
EstablishedFounded in 2013
Ownershipthe Campari Group

Introduction

Wilderness Trail Distillery was founded in 2012 by Shane Baker and Pat Heist, experts in yeast cultivation and fermentation. The distillery began operations in Danville, Kentucky in 2013 before moving to a larger 163-acre campus in Boyle County in 2015, restoring the historic Willis Grimes House for their offices.

In 2018, Wilderness Trail released its first two expressions – a Kentucky Straight Bourbon and a Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. The distillery became the 18th official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 2020. In 2022, the Campari Group acquired a 70% stake in Wilderness Trail Distillery for $420 million, signaling the brand’s significant growth potential.

Wilderness Trail is known for its high-quality, science-driven bourbon and rye whiskey products, including a wheated bourbon, a high-rye bourbon, and a cask strength single barrel bourbon. The distillery utilizes a sweet mash fermentation process and bottles all of its whiskeys as bottled-in-bond expressions aged for 5-7 years.

Wilderness Trail Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – A small batch, bottled-in-bond bourbon made with a wheated mash bill of 64% corn, 24% wheat, and 12% malted barley

Wilderness Trail Kentucky Straight High Rye Bourbon – A small batch, bottled-in-bond bourbon made with a high-rye mash bill of 64% corn, 24% rye, and 12% malted barley

Wilderness Trail Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey – A single barrel, cask strength rye whiskey made with a mash bill of 56% rye, 33% corn, and 11% malted barley

Timeline

  • 2012: Wilderness Trail Distillery founded by Shane Baker and Pat Heist, experts in yeast cultivation and fermentation
  • 2013: Distillery starts operations in Danville, Kentucky
  • 2015: Distillery moves to a larger campus on 163 acres in Boyle County, restoring the historic Willis Grimes House for offices
  • 2018: Wilderness Trail releases its first two expressions – Wilderness Trail Bourbon and Wilderness Trail Rye Whiskey
  • 2020: Wilderness Trail becomes the 18th official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
  • 2022: Campari Group acquires a 70% stake in Wilderness Trail Distillery for $420 million

Famous Product Releases

  • Wilderness Trail Bourbon – A Kentucky Straight Bourbon made with a wheated mash bill
  • Wilderness Trail Rye Whiskey – A Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
  • Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon – A Kentucky Straight Bourbon bottled at 100 proof
  • Wilderness Trail Single Barrel Bourbon – A cask strength, single barrel expression

Key People

  • Shane Baker – Co-founder, expert in yeast cultivation and fermentation
  • Pat Heist – Co-founder, plant pathologist and fermentation expert
  • Doris and Hubert Ballard – Baker’s grandparents, who worked in the Kentucky distilling industry for over 50 years

Significant Historical Events

  • Wilderness Trail Distillery starts as a small 250-gallon pot still operation and quickly expands to a 40-foot tall, 36-inch diameter column still with a 500-gallon pot still doubler
  • Distillery adopts a sweet mash fermentation process, which is more technically challenging but produces higher quality spirits
  • In 2022, Campari Group acquires a 70% stake in Wilderness Trail Distillery, signaling the brand’s growth potential

Interviews

“We are not interested in making the most, just the best.” – Shane Baker, Co-founder of Wilderness Trail Distillery

“This is a win-win situation for both parties and we are very proud of this partnership and what we can achieve together with Campari Group.” – Shane Baker and Pat Heist, on the Campari acquisition

Products and Practices

  • Wilderness Trail produces Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Rye Whiskey, and Vodka using a sweet mash fermentation process
  • All of their whiskeys are bottled-in-bond and aged for 5-7 years
  • The distillery utilizes state-of-the-art equipment and a science-minded approach to ensure consistent, high-quality spirits

Sources


[1] https://bourbonveach.com/2020/02/03/kentuckys-new-distilleries-wilderness-trail-distillery/
[2] https://www.wildernesstraildistillery.com
[3] https://vinepair.com/articles/ntk-wilderness-trail/
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilderness_Trail_Distillery
[5] https://www.kentucky.com/lexgoeat/bourbon/article268086252.html