Yellowstone Hand Picked Collection Single Barrel Bourbon

Selected by/barrel name: Some Things Are Meant to B&V Single barrel number: 7945735 Barreled on: 20FEB2018 Proof: 115 Finally getting to try the other Hand Picked selection I acquired last month (any chance to get another signed bottle, really). This one carries yet another perplexing name that seems like an inside joke, but it also has a slightly higher proof and is about six months older, depending on the bottling date (I've never understood displaying the barreling date but not the bottling date), so my expectations are higher compared to the previous one. As is typical, the color is striking in the bottle against the deep black and red label, but it still presents as a dark chestnut-brown when in the glass. The aroma doesn't fill the space like some other Hand Picked bottles, but it's still perceptible in the background. Upon nosing the glass, it's clear the rye is quite dominant, with notes of spearmint and an almost rich, savory fruitiness. There's a strength here, but it seems to stem more from the ethanol than the grain, despite the rye bringing forth all those intense flavor profiles. The corn is present and still quite young, contributing the raw, sweeter, almost citrusy notes that the barrel hasn't had sufficient time to mellow. The sweetness from the barrel emerges during the finish, introducing caramel, butterscotch, and vanilla, creating an almost excessively sweet, yet anticipated body and finish. The initial taste begins quite sweet and remains so for some time before the young corn produces flavors of citrus and a hint of floral notes. These flavors seem to persist indefinitely, until the proof significantly builds in the throat around the same time the rye gradually emanates from the front of the gums. The finish is dry and citrusy, heavily emphasizing the taste of the young corn alongside the aforementioned burn and spice from the rye and ethanol. This Hand Picked offering provides a much better taste than the other bottle I selected (which I sampled a bit of last night and still dislike, but you can't always succeed), but it's generally quite unpretentious. The flavors detected are classic bourbon, with the notable absence of barrel sweetness in favor of the young grain. What's surprising is that this approximately 5-year-old bourbon easily carries the flavor profile of a 2-year-old, making additional aging not just essential, but raising the question of how much is needed to round off the assertive corn note. Naturally, with this being a specific single barrel, the opportunity for further development is lost, but it significantly fuels my anticipation for older expressions to emerge from Limestone Branch, particularly in the 8-10 year range.

Single barrel number 1541, aged 4 years. Exclusively chosen by "Ciao Chows!" on 04AUG2022. This is one of several bottles acquired during a delightful (and costly) birthday tour of my preferred distilleries. Limestone Branch contributed to half a dozen of those purchases, with no regrets. Beginning with the lowest proof, this single barrel of the classic Select 93 bourbon was selected by one of the distillery's dogs, or more precisely, the handler of that dog. Ciao, I believe, was the pup for whom this barrel was named, and was alongside a cat's barrel selection in the gift shop. If memory serves, the pet barrel selections rotate monthly, or perhaps quarterly. As amusing as this concept was, it's been a considerable time since I've encountered a single barrel of the original Select 93, let alone possessed one, but I attribute that to Ohio. The color is very light compared to other Select 93 bottles I've had, and even lighter in the glass than in the bottle. A potent aroma of malted rye and more ethanol than expected is present alongside young corn, but it's not as raw and unrefined as younger ages would be. Repeated smelling reveals both chocolate and cherry notes, with just a subtle floral finish. The initial taste is light and floral, but quickly bursts with chocolate syrup, akin to classic Hershey's rather than a gourmet sauce from a smaller company. After a few more sips, the rye spice is detected but barely tingles the gum line. The corn also emerges, and although it still tastes quite young, it's beginning to mellow and round out; another 18 months or so would elevate this significantly. A bit more floral flavor appears near the finish, where the chocolate note from earlier starts to fade. The finish itself becomes increasingly young and predictable, as is common with craft bourbons, but the rye spice continues to build and a salted peanut note intermittently appears. Ultimately, I couldn't dislike this, but as far as single barrel selections go, this is slightly more complex with different flavor profiles than the batched Select 93, and would be worth, perhaps, $10 more than the original, but likely no more than that. As I was inebriated when I purchased everything at the gift shop, I don't recall the exact price, but I do believe it's worth having as both a substitute for the batched version and alongside it for subtle comparisons. Still, for a canine, I think this was a remarkably good pick.

Selected by the distillery/barrel designation: Blake's Juice Single barrel identifier: 8036 Distillation date: 27JUL2018 Alcohol content: 102 I moved past to the distillery-selected bottles I acquired to compare them with my existing collection. During a recent visit to the distillery, I sampled many of their past selected bottlings. Although this was part of that tasting, my palate was overwhelmed after trying over a dozen samples. Therefore, I purchased both available distillery-selected bottles from the gift shop to re-evaluate them here. Having just tasted a single barrel of the Select 93, I was curious about its distinction from the distillery-selected version. Having previously bought several distillery-selected bottles, I surmise it shares the same grain bill as the Select 93, but presented at full proof. With a lower 102 proof and nearly 5 years of aging, I anticipate this will highlight the fresh grain from the mash without being too thin or harsh to distract or overwhelm. The hue is somewhat pale, yet slightly deeper than the Select 93. The aroma of cinnamon, fresh rye, toffee, and caramel sauce creates a rather conventional bourbon profile, with sweetness being the predominant characteristic. The modest rye content in the mash complements the nose well, while the alcohol enhances the spice but remains accessible. The initial taste delivers a moderate intensity, with undertones of earthy notes and burnt toffee. The rye gradually asserts itself, intensifying the heat through the gums, with the earthy notes persisting alongside hints of unhusked corn on the cob. The conclusion is intensely fiery, featuring a blend of cracked black pepper, grass, and cinnamon from the rye, while the body becomes somewhat dry. With subsequent sips, a subtle spearmint note emerges near the finish. This straightforward interpretation of a classic bourbon mash bill results in a product that, to my palate, is simply unsatisfactory. The earthy character seems misplaced and is even more off-putting with the pronounced heat throughout. Even with this disappointment, it reinforces my appreciation for the single barrel concept, as not every selection can be a winner, and bottles like this suggest that superior ones are forthcoming. Nevertheless, cheers to the selection, despite your questionable use of the term "juice."

A store selection from the VA ABC, a gift from my wife for a birthday or holiday one year. The aroma offers nuttiness and a hint of banana. Beneath that, there's dark caramel and a touch of vanilla. The flavor showcases its full character, presenting a rich body of nuttiness and baking spices. After a few sips, I detect buttery notes with the banana subtly present in the background. The finish isn't as prolonged as I'd anticipate for its high proof. It strongly features the nutty flavor. Overall, the nuttiness is somewhat overpowering compared to the other elements. It possesses considerable complexity, which is a definite positive given the strong nutty presence. It doesn't reach the sweetness level I prefer, but it's a good offering nonetheless.

Nose is sweet, typical of bourbon, yet also carries a noticeable alcohol presence, though not excessively so. The sweetness persists on the palate, transforming into a cinnamon red hot flavor that tingles the tongue as it concludes. No ethanol detected this time; the flavors in this bottle are richer and fuller. Medium-heavy texture that coats well. Cinnamon remains in the finish, but it's less intense and more balanced. A very satisfying bottle! Found this again this weekend, apparently on sale for $26 each! Couldn't resist at that price, so I bought two!

Barrel # 7849651 115 proof Initially, the aroma is subtle. It presents a burn, graham cracker, and some type of burnt fruit that I can't quite identify. The first taste reveals heavy oak. Over time, this became less prominent, allowing more character to emerge. Cinnamon. Orange. The orange became more noticeable in the aroma. Some cherry is also present. It has a bubblegum-like quality. Nice spicy notes are present throughout. The oak reappears in the finish, which lingers. Accompanying this are more spices and a malty note. It has an appealing color and body. The flavor profile improves with further consumption, with more notes surfacing. I'm particularly impressed given how unremarkable the base bourbon is.