Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review & Tasting Notes

 

If you're not familiar with Limestone Branch Distillery, don’t worry. It is a small Kentucky distillery known for Yellowstone Bourbon, Minor Case Rye, and Bowling & Burch Gin. What isn’t small, however, is its lineage.

 

Beams founded Limestone Branch. Yes, those Beams. Brothers Stephen and Paul are seventh-generation descendants from the renowned Jacob Beam. In 2010, the brothers decided to write their own story, and a year later, they broke ground on the distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky. In 2012, they fired up the still and got to business.

 

Yellowstone Bourbon, however, predates Stephen and Paul. In the 1880s, J.D. Dant, D.H. Taylor, and J.T. Williams founded the Yellowstone Distillery. Glenmore then purchased it in 1944, and then, in the 1990s, Diageo (then UDV) took ownership and shut it down. UDV sold the rights to Yellowstone and Ezra Brooks to David Sherman, the co-founder of Luxco. Luxco and Limestone Branch partnered in 2015 to resurrect the Yellowstone label.

 

The Yellowstone Bourbon brand is philanthropic, and by purchasing a bottle, you’re indirectly helping out our national parks:

 

“Yellowstone Kentucky straight bourbon borrows its moniker from America’s very first national park. In 1872, Yellowstone bourbon was crafted to honor the park’s sprawling historic wonder and pioneering spirit. Here’s hoping you enjoy drinking our national treasure as much we enjoyed distilling it.

To further do our part, we are donating a portion of Yellowstone bourbon proceeds to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), an independent, nonpartisan organization devoted to nurturing our country’s national parks for future generations.” – Limestone Branch

 

Yellowstone Select is sourced from an undisclosed distillery (yet, its 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley is the same as Jim Beam – feel free to draw your own conclusions) and carries no age statement. However, the Beams explain they’ve selected barrels between four and seven years for the blend. It is widely available, and a 93°, 750ml package has a suggested $39.99 price.

 

Limestone Branch graciously provided a sample of Yellowstone Select in exchange for a no-strings-attached, honest review. And, the way that happens is for me to #DrinkCurious.

 

Appearance:  Poured neat in my Glencairn glass, Yellowstone Select was the color of raw honey. A thicker rim created slow legs in no rush to rejoin the pool of liquid sunshine.

 

Nose: The unmistakable aroma of corn led the charge. That was accompanied by marshmallows, toffee, nutmeg, and oak. There was nothing complicated about it, and it meshed well. When I pulled the air past my lips, the marshmallow dominated.

 

Palate:  The mouthfeel had the consistency of water. The front of my palate picked out corn, light cinnamon, and peanuts, whereas the middle had vanilla, almond, and rye spice. Flavors of oak, toffee, and old leather formed the back.

 

Finish:  The finish was long-lasting, and, in fact, the more I sipped, the longer it grew. Old leather strung with rye spice, dry oak, and peanuts rounded things out.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust:  Yellowstone Select is a simple Bourbon overall. That’s not to suggest it isn’t tasty because it is. Things flow just as you expect them to, from nose to palate to finish. It is an easy sipper, would likely make a good cocktail base, and is enjoyable overall. I’m happy to have this one in my whiskey library, and I believe you will as well. As such, it earned by Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

Epilogue:  Celebrating the 150^th anniversary of Yellowstone National Park, Limestone Branch has printed some limited-edition labels for Yellowstone Select Landmark Edition series.

 

 

 

My Simple, Easy to Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you do so responsibly.