Wilderness Trail, one of the founding distillery destinations on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft TourⓇ, has advanced to join the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® adventure, becoming the 18th stop on the world-famous journey that showcases America’s only native spirit.

Wilderness Trail Distillery is a Heritage Member of the Kentucky Distillers Association. The Heritage Level is the highest level in the nonprofit group that unites and leads the state’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry.

To qualify as a Heritage Member, a distillery must have 25,000 barrels of distilled spirits aging in its warehouses. Wilderness Trail’s 168-acre campus has more than 100,000 barrels aging in its six rickhouses.

“We are very excited to be joining the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® after years on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® for both our growth as well as the impact to our community,” said Shane Baker, co-owner and Master Distiller. Dr. Pat Heist is the other distillery owner.

Baker says, “We excel in offering a unique experience and educational perspective of the Bourbon-making process by focusing on the science in making Bourbon while maintaining a traditional Bourbon distillery process across our 163-acre campus in historic Danville, the birthplace of Kentucky.”

Jennifer Kirchner, Executive Director of Destination Danville, looks forward to the anticipated increase in tourism.
“Wilderness Trail Distillery has been an incredible asset to Boyle County. In addition to their significant contributions to our local economy in agriculture, industry, and technology, they have helped us to build a robust tourism footprint.
“If you love Bourbon and you love Kentucky, then you will love Danville.”

Coupled with Danville’s small-town charm and history, Wilderness Trail will be a welcome addition that highlights the spectrum of the state’s different distillery sizes and approaches, said Adam Johnson, Senior Director of the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail® program.