Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon 7 Year (2020 Limited Edition)

CONCLUSION: Awesome. Very unique, doesn't disappoint. Yes, I recommend, but it's price justification is questionable. Tastes almost like a $60 - $80 bottle, I think. NOSE: first noticable attribute is the whole product is it's robust, inviting nose - very low ethanol presence. Sweet forward, fruit, little leather, very light florals, just perfect. Absolutely love the nose on this. PALATE: the mash bill is undisclosed, but it's the rye component that slaps you in the face first - rides the edge of introducing bitterness. Some would attribute this to a higher 'burn' than should expected from a quality 101 proof, but the spice is well done if you're in the mood. Nice oily consistency enables this whiskey to spread it's gloriousness throughout the mouth and let it linger and finish. Vanilla all day, char, caramel candies, sweetness isn't as high as it's nose, but it's still balanced alongside an overall great flavor. The finish is comprised of its unique flavor profile, sweet and pleasant.

Light nose, salted caramel, honey, and a little fruit pie. The palate follows suit more intensely. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove come forward and the armagnac makes the sweetness linger. Long warm finish and there is a nuttiness there as well. No water necessary unless you want a mellower whiskey on the tongue. Long legs in the glass and oily mouth feel. This whiskey will give you a lot if you give it time. At $120, I don't know that I would recommend it to everyone, but for collectors, this is a nice addition.

Yellowstone is one of those labels that I never was drawn to, but a recent barrel pick from one of my favorite shops made them more interesting for me. For 2020 they spruced up the bottle and finished it in Armagnac barrels (which is a French brandy if you are like me and have no idea what the heck Armagnac is). In any case let's give this one a go. Nose is heavy on the vanilla and caramel notes with little ethanol. Not sure if the sweetness is the underlying whiskey or the brandy finish, but either way it is quite nice. First sip is very underwhelming at this price point to be honest. Soft vanilla and brown sugar are present. There is also some fresh baked bread coming through. I wouldn't say a heavy rye, more of a bran muffin. The gentle warming finish comes on as the sweeter notes subside. If this were a $50 bottle it would be higher for me, but at $100 it is just a bit too much of a stretch. Overall a nice pour that I wouldn't turn down, but I don't know that it's hooked me to this annual release.

Walnuts and butter. Definitely prefer this over the Yellowstone Select.

This is my first Yellowstone LE. I have tried the standard Yellowstone before and consider it pretty average. I am also skeptical of $100+ bourbons because I believe with bourbon price is more a function of rarity than of quality. Nonetheless, three friends and I split this and gave it a try. My palette isn’t super refined, but on the nose I got more concerned because I got a nose full of ethanol and spice with just a hint of vanilla, and I thought the I was about to get this huge alcohol bomb on the taste. Boy was I wrong. The mouth is nothing but smooth, lovely, caramel, honey and peanut brittle like others have stated. Those Armangac casks just smooth everything out. And then the finish has this warm, lingering little oaky burn in the back of your mouth and all the way down. Not overly hot. Just subtle and smooth. This is one of the most complex and good tasting bourbons I have ever tried.