Wilderness Trail is a craft whiskey distillery founded in 2012 by Dr. Patrick Heist and Shane Baker in Danville, Kentucky. What started as a small craft distillery in downtown Danville has grown into one of the most exciting names in American whiskey. In 2022, the Campari Group — parent company of Wild Turkey — acquired a 70 percent majority stake in Wilderness Trail, valuing the distillery at approximately $600 million, with an option to acquire the remaining 30 percent in 2031. Wilderness Trail is known for using modern science to optimize old-world distilling traditions. Their core portfolio is focused and deliberate: a high-rye bourbon, a high-wheat bourbon, and a rye whiskey. This straightforward yet refined approach has helped establish the distillery as a leading super-premium craft producer in Kentucky. The combination of scientific rigor and traditional Kentucky distilling craftsmanship defines their signature style. The distillery's rapid rise and its $600 million valuation at the time of the Campari acquisition speak to its remarkable reputation in the premium American whiskey segment. Wilderness Trail continues to operate out of Danville, Kentucky, blending innovation with heritage to craft whiskeys that have captured the attention of both enthusiasts and major industry players worldwide.