Yellowstone 7 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon (2020 Limited Edition)

This is the first of these limited editions I've bought. Their standard offering has been rather mediocre, but with word Nancy Fraley has been involved, I'm eager. Nose - The first thing that really stands out is a dusty corn and nutty element, very much reminding me of a younger beam, perhaps a baker's or a knob creek around 9 years (well actually those non-age-stated ones). Or you know Booker's if Booker's weren't awful:) Then comes a very pleasant sweetness that I would, without knowing there's finishing, associate with very well-aged older bourbons. That antique food finishing and intense brown sugar and candied oak. But more nosing starts to reveal almost a fresh rain over fall leaves with baking spices and rock candy. If not clear, there are peanuts on here as well. There's a pie crust here, heavy cinnamon and brown sugar on it, but yet balanced with the dough not letting the cinnamon sting the nostrils. Taste - While the nose is really something, the taste takes a bit of a step back towards 7-year-old bourbon. It's sweet but not deep or rich. The mouthfeel isn't much to note. It however is explosive in total flavor. That sweetness is a bit thin upfront then gets spicy and oaky and peanuty and it bites pretty nicely and hard on the finish. That finish, mind you, is really long and lingers. It's so much of a beam or perhaps a really nutty heaven hill kind of experience, but those Armagnac casks are adding depth to the finish, adding more sweetness and adding more mellow fruits. The Armagnac is also responsible for a sweetness upfront, big time. But it seems that this one needed 3 more months in the finishing casks and another year or two in the bourbon barrels. 100 bucks? I have to say, yeah, this is worth about that, but you'd want it for 75. Overall I'm at a 2.5 here. But I'm debating going a lot higher. There's just something off for me. I think this just needs more age or more proof. But it's honestly pretty darn good as it is. And thus 2.5, this is about an 85-86 in my book. And at 100 bucks that's not bad.

Neat. Neck pour. Been a few years since I tried a Yellowstone LE release. The last one I purchased was the 2017 - which I like but need to try again. This one grabbed my attention because of the Armagnac finish. A little hesitant at first that $120 is a reasonable price for this though... All peanut brittle right away. Leans very peanut forward. Honestly, I think this is just finished Old Ezra 7. Mmm, okay, I am detecting the Armagnac influence behind the peanut brittle and it is quite pleasant. Vanilla, raisins, walnuts, fig newtons. This is a legitimate aroma, it makes me content. Very nice, silky smooth mouthfeel! Surprised due to the 101 proof, but it presents as full and viscous. Again, this is Old Ezra 7. I’ll do a side-by-side comparison before I finish this. Light and bright upfront on the tongue, powdered sugar sweetness. Darkens up mid palate with the peanut brittle and then the Armagnac glides along the finish. This is delightful. I really enjoy how the Armagnac lingers on the back of the throat. The fig newton and vanilla really persist. While delightful, it doesn’t have a standout characteristic. The aroma is interesting, the mouthfeel exceeds the expectation of the proof, the peanut brittle/fig newton combination is solid. Feels much better in the $80-$100 range than the $120 I spent on it. Side by side, yes this is finished Old Ezra 7. It also is very similar to Blood Oath 6. Wow, I would be surprised if these were not related. Head to head, the Yellowstone is the best pour of the three. Prior to this comparison, I had no issues with Blood Oath’s $100 price tag so this being better makes me feel better about the extra $20 spent.

Nose: freshly baked yeast rolls with honey butter drizzled on top, cherries, leather, a strong oak scent, and baking spices reminiscent of Thanksgiving. If you inhale deeply, there's a significant ethanol burn on the nose, suggesting a proof exceeding 101. Palate: Unsweetened chocolate, the kind used solely for baking, hits immediately. It reminds me of my childhood when I'd ask my mother for some of the unsweetened chocolate she was using for baking – quite a surprise! It has an oily texture that coats the mouth well. Then come cherries, black pepper, leather, tobacco, and a touch of honey sweetness. A very complex palate! Finish: Long and complex... Incredible! It truly lingers. Many of the same flavors keep reappearing and resonating in the back of my throat. One of the finest finishes I've experienced with bourbon. It definitely drinks hotter than 101 proof, possibly as much as some barrel-proof bourbons. P.S. I delayed grading until after writing this review. My initial impression would have been significantly lower, but after letting it rest, it's clearly one of my top selections from 2020 after the first dram, and this is straight from the bottle! Don't overlook this one. Allow it a few minutes and revisit it to appreciate all the nuances. Outstanding bourbon! I'll purchase another if I can find it.

Yellowstone is a label I was never drawn to, but a recent barrel pick from a shop I favor made them more intriguing to me. For 2020 they updated the bottle and finished it in Armagnac barrels (a French brandy, in case you're like me and have no clue what Armagnac is). Regardless, let's give this one a try. The nose is heavy on the vanilla and caramel notes with minimal ethanol. I'm not sure if the sweetness comes from the underlying whiskey or the brandy finish, but either way, it's quite pleasant. The first sip is quite underwhelming at this price point, to be honest. Soft vanilla and brown sugar are present. There's also some fresh baked bread coming through. It's not a heavy rye, more like a bran muffin. A gentle warming finish emerges as the sweeter notes fade. If this were a $50 bottle, my rating would be higher, but at $100 it's just a bit too much of a stretch. Overall, it's a nice pour I wouldn't refuse, but I'm not sure it has convinced me to follow this annual release.

CONCLUSION: Fantastic. Highly distinctive, lives up to expectations. Yes, I recommend it, but its price point is debatable. It tastes comparable to a $60 - $80 bottle, in my opinion. NOSE: The most noticeable characteristic is the overall robust and inviting aroma, with very little ethanol presence. Sweetness is prominent, along with fruit, a hint of leather, and very light floral notes; it's simply perfect. I absolutely love the aroma of this. PALATE: The mash bill is undisclosed, but the rye component is immediately apparent, bordering on bitterness. Some might attribute this to a higher 'burn' than expected from a quality 101 proof, but the spice is well-executed if you're in the mood for it. A nice oily texture allows this spirit to coat the mouth and linger into the finish. Vanilla is present throughout, along with char and caramel candies. The sweetness is not as pronounced as on the nose, but it remains balanced within the overall great flavor profile. The finish consists of its unique flavor characteristics, sweet and pleasant.

This is my initial experience with Yellowstone LE. I've had the regular Yellowstone before and found it quite ordinary. I'm also hesitant about bourbons costing over $100, believing price is often tied to scarcity rather than flavor. Nevertheless, a few companions and I shared this and gave it a go. My palate isn't highly developed, but the aroma caused concern, delivering a blast of ethanol and spice with only a faint trace of vanilla, leading me to believe a potent alcohol taste was imminent. How wrong I was. The palate is exceptionally smooth, featuring delightful caramel, honey, and peanut brittle notes, as others have noted. Those Armagnac casks truly mellow everything. The finish offers a warm, subtle, oaky warmth at the back of your mouth and down your throat. Not excessively hot, just understated and smooth. This ranks among the most intricate and delicious bourbons I've ever encountered.