Yellowstone American Single Malt

This bottle flew off the shelf faster than any I can recall. Limestone Branch holds a special place for me, and this single malt showcases creativity and a drive to present their distinct character from a new angle. I particularly appreciated how the liquor store displayed it alongside the standard Yellowstone bourbon, making its striking teal hue stand out. Once home and placed in the "tasting queue" on my shelves, its label became apparent as one of the most attractive available, especially on such a plain bottle. Removing the teal cork paper was a small regret, but I prefer it gone entirely rather than partially attached. Intriguingly, the distillery's debut single malt arrives at the highest proof among their core offerings, yet with, to my knowledge, the least amount of aging. This might very well be the youngest single malt I've ever sampled, American or otherwise, suggesting perhaps young single malts can indeed flourish. I'm approaching this with minimal prior knowledge or research, yet I'm just as eager to taste it as I was to purchase it. The color is a very pale golden-orange with subtle darker tones from the barrel in the center, remaining quite light overall. The aroma is complex, featuring raw barley and honey at the forefront, followed by cereal and cinnamon in the middle, and finishing with cacao and grass. These scents are accessible on the nose despite the elevated proof, evoking more of a rye's profile than a typical single malt. My initial taste is perplexing; the body seems quite light at first, but the high proof quickly intensifies the palate with spice. The barley is prominent upfront, but its raw and intense character makes it taste more like white dog mixed with a hint of unaged rum than any sort of whiskey. The proof sustains this raw flavor for a considerable duration, limiting the emergence of other notes. I detect a subtle fruitiness and an even fainter tropical hint right at the beginning, but they are overshadowed by the young grain. The finish is fiery, causing a slight tingling sensation on the gums and primarily burning the roof of my mouth. Unquestionably, this is a distinctive spirit, not just for Limestone Branch but within the American whiskey landscape. However, it's excessively young, and its presentation is inverted; it should have been aged longer and bottled at a lower proof. Its pronounced "uniqueness" makes it unsuitable for most cocktails, and I anticipate it will reside on my shelves for a while, given its equal difficulty to enjoy neat. I would not repurchase it, particularly at this price for their youngest offering, but I would be curious about any future single barrel releases, especially if they featured longer aging than the standard aging.

This is my first time trying a Yellowstone/Limestone Branch Distillery product. Normally, I would have started with one of their core offerings, like their small batch or single barrel bourbon. However, I received this bottle as a gift, so this is where my exploration of the distillery begins—and it's welcome because I've reviewed so few American Single Malts. Let's take a look. Nose: Pronounced nutty notes, including almond, walnut, and macadamia, along with brown sugar and heavy malt. There's a faint apple and some apricot. An interesting aroma that reminds me of a medium-well grilled burger. Some young, green notes are present, along with cereal grain and unripe banana, like a banana walnut muffin. Sawdust suggests youth. Clove, nutmeg, and oak spice are also noticeable. It's hot, spicy, and a bit youthful. Palate: More almond, walnut, and macadamia notes, accompanied by caramel and brown sugar. Vanilla and toffee are present, as is plenty of malt. A hint of grape, date, and fig, with dried cranberry. Just a touch of peppermint or spearmint. Clove, nutmeg, and oak spice are also detected. Finish: A powerful fig note, with almond, walnut, and macadamia. Vanilla and toffee are present, along with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. The finish is long, as expected at 108 proof. It's better than the reviews suggested. Admittedly, I didn't enjoy my first pour from this bottle. However, it has grown on me, and I believe it greatly benefits from oxidation due to its ABV. It definitely drinks young and doesn't showcase much depth in a whiskey. But it is well-crafted with its nutty profile and powerful finish—which is truly what defines this one. $50 is relatively inexpensive for a high ABV whiskey these days. Rating: 3.75/5.

Aroma: Immediately detects young barley funk and dry grass. Deeper in, there are savory herbs and frozen peaches. Cinnamon and caramel add a finishing touch. Taste: Sweet, toasted cereal with a pleasant peppery kick. Not much else detected. Finish: A long warmth with the same cereal grain taste from the palate. Adding a little water reduces the funk in the aroma and enhances the sweetness. The taste is similar. I definitely like it better this way. Summary: A good young malt. With another couple of years in the barrel, it will surely be great.

Aroma: Heavy caramel and vanilla. Beneath that, there's a grassy scent reminiscent of wood sorrel. Green apple skins. Taste: I want to call this taste 'Single Malt cake with Bourbon icing.' It didn't disappoint. Also reminds me of cereal in vanilla milk. Rich mouthfeel. Finish: Helped by the alcohol content but not overly sharp. It's a medium finish. Considering the price, I would purchase this spirit again. It was competing with the cigar to see which could be more dramatic.

An intense American Single Malt Whiskey from Limestone Branch Distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky, made with 100% barley malt. It's aged in new charred American oak barrels for 4 years and bottled at 108 proof. The aroma is rich with notes of grain, wood, fruits, flowers, nuts, herbs & spices. The palate offers honey, pear, peach, dates, and peach blossom. The finish is long and bold with notes of oak, cinnamon & English walnuts. January 2024

From Limestone Branch, but the label indicates it was distilled and aged in Indiana. The aroma is grassy, with some unclear spice. The taste starts with grass, but quickly becomes peppery with a lot of intensity. The finish is similar to the taste; pepper and intensity that gradually fades, leaving intensity at the back of the mouth. I agree with others that the alcohol content is too high and it's too young.