Bourbon Heritage Month 2020 Day 15: Yellowstone Single Barrel NJBYC Pick “115 Proof under the Sea”

Yellowstone Single Barrel NJBYC Pick “115 Proof under the Sea”

Like most of the major distilleries in KY, Limestone Branch - Yellowstone Bourbon’s distillery - has a connection to the legendary Beam family. In this case, it is Steve and Paul Beam, descendants of Jacob Beam (Boehm). Opened in 2011, Limestone Branch is already producing some fantastic products, Yellowstone Single Barrel included. Keep an eye out for their yearly limited editions as well. 

Limestone Branch Distillery

57.5% ABV/115 Proof

Age: 5-6YO, Distilled 11/14/2014

Cask: 1805298, Selected by New Jersey Bourbon and Yacht Club

Eye: Orange-hued amber. Medium rim bleeds thick droplets. 

Nose: Vanilla bean pods, warm baked goods. A good dose of orange zest brightens the nose. Hints of proof with toffee and dark caramel. 

Palate: Citrus zest, drying on the tongue that veers towards a burn without quite getting there. Milk chocolate with a little nuttiness, like a Hershey’s bar with almonds. Toffee and clove spice under the chocolate. Mouthfeel is creamy and luscious.

Finish: Medium to long, spice and toffee all the way.

Overall: The toffee makes this a sweeter bourbon, but I love it. While this is a 75/13/12 mashbill, tasting blind I swore this was a wheater, it’s that smooth and sweet. 

Rating: 7.9

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)

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