My last post of the year is a look at Yellowstone Limited Edition 2017, the third release of the annual series from Limestone Branch Distillery. I thought the first two limited edition expressions were pretty solid. This one is a blend of 7- and 12-year-old sourced bourbons and 4-year-old bourbon distilled at Limestone Branch Distillery. Yellowstone LE 2017 marks the first time the distillery has released their own distillate. The bourbon is then finished in charred wine barrels and bottled at 101 proof.

The nose is quite nice, with hints of dark fruits, toasted oak, corn pudding and caramel. On entry, the bourbon shows is richness with waves of rich, chewy caramel and baking spice. Following closely are bold splashes of dark fruit. Some oak tannins appear on the back palate, along with a touch of tobacco. The finish is long, sweet, and dry. Hints of black cherry and oak spice linger.

This may be my favorite of the three limited editions from Yellowstone. It is by far the richest, but I would argue that it is also the most complex. The development of flavors makes for an interesting glass of bourbon. My nitpicking in this case has less to do with the actual whiskey and more to do with the pricing, which sits at $100 a bottle. A little high if you ask me. Then again, only 7,000 to 8,000 bottles are being released, which is a tiny amount. And with today’s whiskey market, $100 is the new $50. So maybe it is priced where it needs to be. Either way, pricing aside, Yellowstone Limited Edition 2017 is a wonderfully rich and engaging bourbon that comes with a high recommendation. 8.5/10

yellowstonebourbon.com

Thanks to Limestone Branch Distillery for the sample. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.