Wilderness Trail is one of those distilleries that keeps showing up in conversations among people who actually pay attention to American whiskey. Based in Danville, Kentucky, they've built a reputation on grain-forward spirits and a fermentation-focused approach that sets them apart from the bigger names on the shelf. Their Settlers Select Barrel Proof Rye landed on my desk recently, and at 52% ABV with a price tag of £79.75, it sits in that interesting middle ground — serious enough to warrant attention, accessible enough that you won't wince pouring it for friends.
Let's talk about what we're dealing with here. This is a barrel proof rye, which means what came out of the barrel is what went into the bottle. No water added to bring it down, no fiddling with the strength. At 52% ABV, it's actually remarkably approachable for a barrel proof offering — plenty of ryes at cask strength come screaming in at 57% or higher. That relative restraint tells you something about how the barrels were selected. Settlers Select implies a curation process, and the proof point backs that up. Someone was picking barrels that had already found their balance.
Rye whiskey, by American law, must contain at least 51% rye grain in the mashbill. That's the legal minimum, but many craft distillers push well beyond it. I don't have confirmed mashbill details for this particular expression, but Wilderness Trail is known for working with high rye content, and you can expect that spicy, herbal backbone that defines the category. The "barrel proof" designation here is key — when you don't add water post-maturation, you preserve every bit of flavour concentration that the barrel imparted. Every note of char, every hint of grain character, arrives unfiltered.
Tasting Notes
I'll be upfront — I'm not going to manufacture specific tasting notes I can't verify. What I can tell you is that a barrel proof rye at this ABV will deliver on the category's core promises: expect rye spice, a certain peppery warmth, and the kind of grain-forward character that separates rye from its bourbon cousins. The barrel proof presentation means those flavours arrive with conviction. A few drops of water will open this up considerably if you find it too assertive neat, but I'd encourage you to try it at full strength first.
The Verdict
At £79.75, the Settlers Select Barrel Proof Rye is fairly priced for what it is. You're getting a barrel proof American rye from a respected craft distillery, and that combination doesn't come cheap. Is it competing with the allocated unicorn bottles that people queue for? No, and that's precisely the point. This is a whisky you can actually find, actually buy, and actually enjoy without feeling like you need to save it for a special occasion. It's the kind of bottle that earns its spot on a working shelf — one you reach for regularly rather than display behind glass. I'm giving it a 7.7 out of 10. It delivers exactly what it promises, does so with integrity, and represents genuine quality in a market flooded with overpriced mediocrity. The barrel proof presentation gives it an edge that standard-proof ryes simply can't match.
Best Served
This rye was born for a Manhattan. The barrel proof means it won't get lost behind sweet vermouth — use a 2:1 ratio with a quality Italian vermouth, two dashes of Angostura, and stir it properly over ice for a good 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a Luxardo cherry. The extra proof carries through the dilution from stirring and keeps the rye character front and centre. If cocktails aren't your thing, serve it neat in a Glencairn with a few drops of water on the side. Let it sit for five minutes after pouring — barrel proof spirits always reward a bit of patience in the glass.
