Wilderness Trail Distillery

Where Science and Spirit Shape Kentucky Bourbon

In the rolling hills of Danville, bourbon tradition meets precision. At Wilderness Trail Distillery, every barrel reflects a balance of heritage and innovation—where copper stills gleam, fermentation tanks hum with life, and charred oak quietly transforms clear spirit into deep amber bourbon.

An official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Wilderness Trail has earned a reputation for doing things differently—most notably through its Sweet Mash process, a method that builds flavor from the ground up without relying on sour mash backset. The result is bourbon that’s layered, bold, and unmistakably its own.

Here, bourbon isn’t just crafted.
It’s carefully constructed.

🥃 Bourbon Tours Worth Savoring

The Sweet Mash Tour – Flavor by Design

This signature experience introduces visitors to the science behind the sip.

Learn how Sweet Mash fermentation works and why it produces a cleaner, more grain-forward profile. Walk past bubbling fermenters, observe custom copper stills in action, and step inside barrel warehouses where oak, heat, and time shape the final character.

The tour concludes with a guided tasting of four signature bourbons and rye whiskies—each showcasing the distillery’s commitment to precision and balance.

~1 hour | Guided tasting included
Tuesday–Saturday | Reservations recommended

Bottled-in-Bond Experience – Structured and Bold

The Bottled-in-Bond designation represents authenticity and discipline: one distilling season, one distiller, at least four years aged, bottled at 100 proof.

During this focused tasting, explore wheated and high-rye mash bills side by side. Discover how grain ratios, barrel char, and maturation influence aroma, texture, and finish. Limited Bottled-in-Bond releases often make this experience especially memorable.

A celebration of bourbon tradition—backed by exacting standards.

Barrel House Tour & Tasting – From Rickhouse to Glass

Step into the rickhouses where bourbon evolves.

Learn how barrel placement affects proof and flavor, how Kentucky seasons accelerate maturation, and how small-batch selections are crafted. Sample exclusive barrel-thief pours and rare releases before they reach wider distribution.

Advanced tour option | Reservations recommended

Group & VIP Experiences – Bourbon, Elevated

For bourbon clubs, corporate outings, or private celebrations, customized tours offer behind-the-scenes access, curated tastings, and conversations with knowledgeable team members who bring each barrel’s story to life.

Private bookings available

🧪 Precision Fermentation, Distinctive Flavor

Wilderness Trail is widely recognized for pioneering Kentucky’s Sweet Mash approach at scale. Combined with proprietary mashing techniques and carefully selected yeast strains, the process highlights the natural character of corn, wheat, and rye.

Signature Expressions

  • Wheated Bourbon – Smooth, rounded sweetness with a soft finish.

  • High-Rye Bourbon – Spicy, structured, and assertive.

  • Rye Whiskey – Grain-forward with pepper and herbal depth.

  • Single Barrel & Small Batch Releases – Limited, expressive, and collectible.

Each bottle reflects a commitment to clarity of flavor and consistency from batch to batch.

🌱 Responsible Bourbon

Beyond flavor, Wilderness Trail emphasizes thoughtful production practices. Energy-efficient systems, responsible grain sourcing, and low-waste processes help ensure that each barrel is crafted with long-term sustainability in mind.

It’s bourbon made with awareness—of both tradition and tomorrow.

🥃 Plan Your Visit

4095 Lebanon Rd.
Danville, KY

Tour Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 9 AM – 5 PM
Walk-ins welcome | Reservations recommended

After your tour, relax in the tasting room, browse the bottle shop for exclusive releases, or enjoy a cocktail featuring house-distilled bourbon or rye.

A Modern Chapter in Kentucky Bourbon

At Wilderness Trail Distillery, bourbon is both heritage and hypothesis—rooted in time-honored methods yet refined through science and careful experimentation.

Come curious.
Leave informed.
Carry home a bottle that captures the intersection of innovation, oak, and Kentucky craft.