Yellowstone Bourbon Bottle Review & Price Guide (2023)
Last Updated on November 5, 2023 by Lydia Martin
Yellowstone Bourbon is a multi-award-winning bourbon that features a wondrous blend of complex bourbons. It is widely available — you can probably pick one up at your favorite liquor store.
We’ve spent the past weekend sampling a bottle to tell you whether it’s worth buying.
What’s Yellowstone Bourbon?
According to their website, Yellowstone is “a delicate fusion of flavors from four and seven-year-old bourbons, for an old-fashioned whiskey that honors its deep family origins.”
The whiskey is blended and distilled by seventh-generation distillers and owned by Limestone Branch Distillery (known for Minor Case Rye and Burch Gin). The spirit is bottled at 93 proof after finishing in Amarone casks.
Interesting Facts
History & Origin
Yellowstone Select Bourbon has a rich history that dates back to the late 1800s. It was developed by J. Bernard Dant, D. H. Taylor, and J. T. Williams, who founded Yellowstone Distillery.
The bourbon brand passed ownership over the years and was even in the care of Diageo, Heaven Hill, and David Sherman Company at some point. It was the largest selling brand in Kentucky in the 1960s.
In 2010, brothers Stephen and Paul Beam, descendants of J. B. Dant and the legendary Jacob Beam, decided to dabble in whiskey production. They founded Limestone Branch in 2012, intending to create only the finest whiskeys.
The brothers brought the Yellowstone Bourbon brand back within the family in 2015 by partnering with Luxco (previously David Sherman) to restore the iconic Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey to its former glory.
Production Process
It is made from the wondrous blend of two high-rye Kentucky straight bourbons: one aged for four and the other seven years.
Paul and Steve chose this blend because they wanted to stay true to Kentucky bourbon tradition: a spicy rye taste that rounds out with sweet notes. It carries no age statement. More on who makes Yellowstone bourbon here.
Mash Bill
Yellowstone is made from a corn-heavy mash bill: 75 percent corn, 13 percent rye, and 12 percent malted barley.
Ownership
Many different businesses have owned the brand since its conception. Today, it is owned by brothers Paul and Steve Beam, seventh-generation Master Distillers.
Tasting Notes
Palate
Yellowstone has a subtle yet satisfying blend of flavors on the palate: peaches, flamed orange zest, toffee, smoked caramel, brown sugar, and a hazelnut profile. The nicely balanced sip leads us to believe that more mature bourbon stocks are in it.
Nose
Yellowstone Select stays pretty traditional on the nose: it has beautifully-blended aromas of charred oak, caramel, and rye spice.
Make sure you use a Glencairn glass to fully appreciate the aromas.
Appearance
The spirit has a light yellow hue.
Finish
Yellowstone has a pretty short finish, with dry notes of oak, leather, spicy rye, and peppercorns.
Uniqueness
While Yellowstone Select Bourbon isn’t bad, it isn’t anything special. After all, Limestone Branch Distillery did create this as a more “accessible” whiskey available year-round, so you shouldn’t expect it to be in the same caliber as limited-edition bottles.
Having said that, we would still regard this as a very nice bourbon.
Philanthropy
Yellowstone was named after the historic Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in the United States. [1]
Yellowstone Select Bourbon was first created in 1972 to honor the historical park. Today, a portion of its proceeds go to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), a non-governmental organization that nurtures national parks so future generations can enjoy them.
Price & Value
It has an SRP of $50, but you can often get it much lower. We think it’s a great whiskey if you can get it on sale.
Is It Connected To Jim Beam?
Yellowstone Bourbon is the spirit it is today thanks to Steve and Paul Beam, great-grandsons of Jim Beam. The brothers had a dream to establish their name in the whiskey industry and bring Yellowstone back to its former glory.
Common Yellowstone Bourbon Prices
| Type | Size | Alcohol By Volume | Average Price |
| Yellowstone Select Bourbon | 750ml | 46.5 | Around $50 |
| Yellowstone Limited Edition – Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey | 750ml | 50.5 | Around $300 |
Compared to Other Bourbons
Calumet Farm Bourbon
Calumet Farm Bourbon is pretty watery in texture and flavor, with notes of vanilla frosting, oak, cinnamon, and fruit.
You can get Calumet Farm for $45, the same pricing as the Yellowstone label.
Jim Beam
The Yellowstone brand uses the same mash bill that Jim Beam does. The world’s most famous American bourbon has a complex balance of sweet, minty, woody, and spicy.
Jim Beam is one of the cheapest bourbons on the market — you can get a 750ml bottle for less than 20 bucks.
Stellum Bourbon
Stellum Bourbon celebrates sweet flavors like vanilla, marshmallow, and cotton candy. It is made by blending three Indiana bourbons.
A 750ml bottle of Stellum will cost you around $55, which is slightly more expensive than Yellowstone Bourbon.
Related Post: Blade & Bow Bourbon Price Guide
Popular Yellowstone Bourbon Cocktail Recipes
Blackberry Julep
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Yellowstone Bourbon
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- 4 blackberries
- 12 mint leaves
- Fresh ice
Instructions:
Add all ingredients into a julep cup and muddle. Top everything off with ice and stir well.
Serving: 1
Watermelon Smash
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Yellowstone Bourbon
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- Juice of half a lime
- 3 watermelon chunks, about 1.5” each
- 5 mint leaves
- Watermelon slice
- Mint sprig
- Crushed ice
Instructions:
Add the mint leaves and simple syrup to the bottom of a cocktail shaker and muddle until all its natural juices have been released. Pour ice, add all the other ingredients, and shake well. Strain and pour into a rocks glass with crushed ice. Garnish with a watermelon slice and mint sprig.
Serving: 1
FAQs
Is Yellowstone whiskey top-shelf?
We think Yellowstone Limited Edition Bourbon has a top-shelf flavor! The brand has yearly limited-edition releases made from their finest bourbons with humble complexities. Their annual release in 2021 featured the blend of a 7-year-old and 15-year-old finished in French Armagnac barrels.
Where is Yellowstone bourbon made?
Yellowstone Bourbon is produced in the Limestone Branch Distillery located in Lebanon, Kentucky. The distillery first opened in 2011.
Is Yellowstone Bourbon smooth?
Yes, Yellowstone Bourbon is smooth. The bottle is a smooth sipper and has even won gold in numerous spirits competitions.
Final Thoughts
Yellowstone Bourbon is a pretty great sipper. It’s a light drink perfect for beginners, yet with enough complexity for those with more experience.
The drink has a creamy mouthfeel, with peaches, leather, and vanilla flavors.
However, we’re confident we could get better sips elsewhere for $50. Yellowstone isn’t bad. It’s just not worth the full price. But hey, they’re always on sale, so we don’t feel guilty about buying a bottle now and then.
Do you agree with us? Sound off below!
Reference:
- https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm
