Sonic8222
Yellowstone Hand Picked Collection Single Barrel Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
May 15, 2021 (edited June 22, 2021)
Liquor Barn #1 pick, barrel #7493244, barreled 19SEP2016, bottled at 102 proof.
Well, I literally just wanted beer, but no, the boys at Limestone Branch allowed single barreling of the fine Yellowstone. As such, I couldn't resist purchasing both single barrels, so as much as love supporting this distillery, I hope that these have something to stand on for the steep price they cost.
It was extremely disappointing to find out that this selection was only ~4.5 years old, far less than the standard stuff of much less cost, however, the color is quite dark and potent, so that's a good start. Not surprisingly, raw corn and grain is a prominent note of the scent, but there is also very little water present, if any at all, so the uncut aspect also presents some nuttiness and toffee. The oak is standard, if not slightly more charred and vanilla-forward.
The initial flavor is very familiar from the standard Yellowstone, but the sweet corn is much more evident here. The oak is very powerful, and likely showcases that this is indeed uncut or close to it. Nuttiness, tobacco, and just a bit of rye help to close out the finish, with a very impressive inner burn for only 102 proof.
I was worried that such a low age from a single barrel would come across far too young, and although the grain flavor is very prominent, the oak is far more present, and very welcome. As far as I'm concerned, good, charred oak and high proof bourbon create a good base recipe for something worth having. Longer age improves this, but Limestone Branch has a certain quality of grain that they use that allows them to get away with younger bourbons and still attract a crowd. Happy to support the brand, and the price is good for the one bottle, but perhaps stacking different barrels may not pay off.
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