Review of 2026 Yellowstone Limited Edition Bourbon

 

Limestone Branch Distillery is tucked away in Lebanon, Kentucky. Founded in 2011 by Stephen Beam, he is passionate about crafting “the finest spirits” in small batches. If Stephen’s last name is familiar, that’s because he’s one of those Beams. He’s a seventh-generation distiller, and his family tree branches to both the Beam and Dant families.

 

If not for the Dants, Yellowstone Bourbon wouldn’t exist despite its 150 years of continuous sales. It was founded in 1872 near Bardstown by Joseph Bernard Dant, who named it in honor of the United States’ first national park. It was one of the few brands allowed to continue production during Prohibition. In the 1960s, Yellowstone achieved the impressive goal of being the number-one-selling Bourbon in all of Kentucky.

 

Stephen took control of the brand in 2015 and returned it to its historic mashbill. Since 2018, he has donated a portion of his sales to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) to support the maintenance of our national parks. And now he has launched the 2026 Yellowstone Limited Edition.

 

This year’s release is a blend of 7- and 14-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbons, finished in both Ruby and Tawny Port casks. Stephen said he was inspired by the dramatic interplay of shadow and light in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park.

 

“Every Yellowstone bottle is inspired by the park, and this year I kept coming back to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park. The way the sunlight moves across the canyon transforms what you see from moment to moment. Using Ruby and Tawny Port casks allowed me to capture that contrast and translate it into a bourbon that feels dynamic and complete.” – Stephen Beam, Master Distiller

 

What’s the difference between Ruby and Tawny Ports? Both are Portuguese fortified wines made from grapes from the Douro Valley. Ruby Port is aged in large oak barrels or stainless-steel vats, which help preserve the natural grape flavor by preventing it from interacting with oxygen, and it’s typically sweet. Conversely, Tawny Port is aged for long periods of time, sometimes many decades, in small oak barrels, which provides increased interaction with oak and oxygen.  

 

I had a chance to talk to Stephen to get some questions answered. These Bourbons are not Limestone Branch distillate. He told me it could be a blend of Lux Row Distillers and a third party; the mashbill breakdown matches Lux Row’s typical 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley, and he also assured me there was a significant amount of 14-year-old in the blend. Originally, the blend was proofed to 52.5% ABV (105°) before going through the 12-week finishing cycle, and before bottling, it was proofed again to 50.5% ABV (101°). Half the Bourbon was finished in Ruby Port casks and the other half in Tawny Port casks. Finishing took place at Luxco in St. Louis.

 

Asked why he typically settles on 101°, Stephen responded that it’s his sweet spot – it is enough for connoisseurs to enjoy but not too high that casual drinkers would be put off by it.

 

Yellowstone Limited Edition 2026 is currently available for purchase at the Limestone Branch Distillery Visitor’s Center for $99.00. It will be available at select retailers nationwide starting in August.

 

Lastly, I must thank Limestone Branch for this #DrinkCurious opportunity, as they were kind enough to provide me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s do this!

 

• Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Distiller: Undisclosed Kentucky distillery
• Age: 7 years (blended with 14-year-old)
• Mashbill: 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels, then finished in Ruby and Tawny Port casks
• Alcohol Content: 50.5% ABV (101°)
• Price per 750mL: $99.99

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this Bourbon neat. The liquid had a reddish-brown appearance and formed a thick rim, with medium, fast legs followed by slow, syrupy droplets.

 

Nose: I allowed the whiskey to oxidize for about 15 minutes before venturing further. Once that passed, I brought the glass beneath my nostrils and started sniffing. My olfactory sense plucked dates, figs, blackberries, semi-sweet chocolate, sweet oak, and cinnamon. When I pulled the air into my mouth, I discovered more semi-sweet chocolate.   

 

Palate: On the first try, my lips and tongue met a velvety texture and a strong nutty presence. My second sip revealed flavors of fudge brownies, pecans, and walnuts on the front of my palate. The mid-palate featured notes of dates, dark cherries, and dry leather, leading to powdered cinnamon, barrel char, and clove on the back palate.

 

Finish: Dates, barrel char, dry leather, pecans, walnuts, and chocolate remained in my mouth and throat after I swallowed. Walnuts lasted the longest; the first note to disappear was the dates. There were no waves or troughs. The medium duration ran 1:08.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: The first Yellowstone Limited Edition was released in 2015, and I’ve reviewed every expression since 2017. The entire sipping experience was effortless. There was no “burn” to speak of; it drank many points below its stated proof; if I didn’t know it, I might have guessed about 92° or so.

 

At the same time, I found the roof of my mouth numb, so the alcohol had an effect; I just didn’t taste it. I don’t think it would fall into my dangerous category because the numbing effect should provide ample warning.

 

Stephen has long been enchanted with double finishes, and he did great with this year’s Limited Edition. I found myself taking a second pour, which is more unusual than not. I can’t think of a single reason why it doesn’t deserve my Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

 

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 to do so responsibly.