Getting cold here in Indianapolis sucks, but it is an excuse to warm up with a little Bourbon, or a lot. Warming us up today is Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Limestone Branch Distillery. Why the name? From their site, “Established in 1872, Yellowstone Bourbon was crafted to honor the sprawling wonder of America’s first national park.” It seems they donate to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), part of their profits. Pretty cool. Also, from the distillery, “This bottle represents a culmination of seven generations of distilling knowledge to ensure Yellowstone remains an icon on shelves for generations to come.”
Yellowstone Select is 93 proof, a blend of 4–7-year-old barrels, sells for around $29, is pretty easy to find, and comes in a plain-looking corked bottle with a pic of Yellowstone Park and of their distillery. We could not find a mash bill statement.
One of us had tried this Bourbon a couple of years back and had good memories of drinking it. So, we decided, what the Hell, let’s give it a shot. As you can tell from the picture, we got really warm.
NOSE
TB: A very nice nose of non-specific wood, caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, and leather up front. After that are hints of toffee, bread, pepper, and pear. Adding ice really kills the nose.
TASTE
Not quite as complex as the nose, but still very good with vanilla, honey, wood, cereal, and an angel food cake-like taste. Secondary flavors include leather, fruit, tobacco, and corn. Ice tones down most of the taste but does add more sweetness and caramel while also making it super smooth.
FINISH
TB: Medium with a bit of sweetness and wood.
OVERALL
TB: Would definitely buy again.
Nose 4.25 out of 5
Taste 8 out of 10
Finish 3.75 out of 5
Total score 16 out of 20 barrels.
We were pleasantly surprised by this particular whiskey. It has a nice, somewhat complex nose and a smooth, approachable taste. It made a very good whiskey sour and a good old-fashioned. A lot of people, like us, probably haven’t had it, so you can introduce your friends to it and be “The man.” And hey, it is pretty neat of them to donate some funds to parks. All this for under $30.
We highly recommend Yellowstone Select Bourbon. Go buy a bottle and keep warm.