Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished with Toasted Oak Staves

Another visit to the distillery, another bottle signed by the master distiller, and another beautiful addition to my collection. Initially, I wasn't interested in this particular product, primarily due to another item from the same brand labeled "toasted barrel." Because of this confusion, I contacted the distillery before the release to understand the differences but never got a reply. Over three months later, I was in the vicinity for other distillery visits and couldn't resist stopping by for an updated tour, as it had been about six years since my last official one. During the tasting, both this product and the "Toasted Barrel" black label were sampled, and there were definitely discernible differences. The explanation provided then was finally what I was looking for. Apparently, the black label product used a multi-use barrel previously holding various spirits, which wasn't clear when I first bought it. This toasted "finish" product, however, was described as traditional aging followed by the insertion of toasted barrel staves for a brief finishing period. At the distillery, I was informed that American oak was used, but the description now indicates various staves were employed, in addition to American oak. I hope this confusion and lack of clear communication from the distillery doesn't foreshadow future developments in the Yellowstone line, especially since these new products are quite distinct and possess noticeably different flavor profiles. The color is a classic chestnut brown in the center, but the edge appears very light, almost straw or lemon yellow; this is expected for the 4-year base, but the toasted staves might contribute to the lighter hue. The aroma is rich with freshly cooked grain, appearing somewhat immature but with enough barrel character to impart welcome sweetness. There are also surprisingly distinct notes of lemon zest, warm baking spices, fresh strawberry jam, and a light floral quality on a creamy, dry finish with a hint of ethanol burn. These are, unexpectedly, the typical notes I anticipated from all the added staves, and I didn't expect such diverse profiles to harmonize so well. The body starts with very subtle flavors but avoids a thin texture often found in lower proofs. Vanilla is among the first tastes to emerge, along with mild toasted spices and a general floral character. The vanilla persists, accompanied by light caramel, and the body picks up the spices and a slight burn from the ethanol without being overwhelming. All the aromatic notes from the toasted staves are present in the taste, but they appear simultaneously rather than layered as they were on the nose. The finish dissipates quite rapidly concerning the toasted notes, but the original bourbon base remains with some young corn, while the rye flavors interact with the outer surface of the gums. Ultimately, it's not the intensity of the toasted stave flavor that surprises me, but rather how concentrated these flavors are and how each stave type is represented. Given that flavors of young grain and fresh, still somewhat assertive corn are tasted throughout the sipping experience, it suggests that the overall young age of the base bourbon might be responsible for the prominent toasted flavors. My mind instinctively wants to compare this to a specific popular wheated bourbon that allows for custom staves in its finishing process, but I've never been able to distinguish the flavors from those added staves in that product as clearly as I have here. I would appreciate seeing more finished bourbons and American whiskeys in general, but among them, I'd be more interested in seeing young base whiskeys used, with any desired additional aging time achieved through the finishing wood. After all, the longer a whiskey matures, the more inherent character it develops, and the less it should be altered from its established journey. All things considered, if you're seeking a quality toasted finished bourbon (and don't mind a slightly higher proof and body) available at a very comparable price, opt for this one, particularly over the black label/black sheep "toasted barrel" offering from the same distillery.

YELLOWSTONE TOASTED OAK STAVES NOSE: Underwhelming. Green Corn, Unaged Wood, a Touch of Brown Sugar, Char, a Subtle Savory Element, and a little Sharp Heat. It improves as it sits, revealing some Tart Apple, Rye Spice, and Fennel Seed. NEAT: A minor improvement over the aroma, but the general impression is consistent. Immature and Astringent with Faint Toasted Marshmallow and Scorched Oak. The finish is Burnt Oak with Wood Spice Lingering on the palate. SPLASH: Reduces the astringency, but it develops an odd chemical flavor (reminiscent of children's medicine?) CONCLUSION: I've generally enjoyed most Yellowstone products, with the exception of the Hand Picked Select Cask Strength (which comes from Barton). This particular bottle was not to my liking. It seems the Toasted Oak staves intensified the immaturity of the spirit. Maker's 46 achieves a similar effect far more effectively, and at a lower price point.

I'm detecting red apple, vanilla, and gingerbread on the nose. The palate is less sweet, actually quite heavy on the oak. That cookie note persists but merges with the oak, creating a slight conflict. There's a subtle vanilla presence on the palate, but it remains in the background. The finish offers some nuttiness, oak, and pleasant spice. The aroma is quite remarkable, but the taste fell short for me. It's an above-average pour that has its place. Darker notes and oak dominate. Nutty. Oaky. I suspect the flavor profile might be very appealing to some. I just desired a bit more.

This Kentucky Straight Bourbon, crafted by Limestone Branch Distillery, was finished with High Toast, Double Toast & Spicerack staves. It was aged for 4 years in American white oak barrels and bottled at 50% ABV. The aroma presents notes of grains, wood, nuts, herbs & spices. The taste profile includes toasted caramel, vanilla, walnut, toffee, black tea & a touch of cinnamon, leading to a slightly woody finish of medium length with notes of white pepper, oak, cocoa & tobacco.

Day No. 10 I've always seen Yellowstone bottles on shelves at my local stores, but never purchased one. After tasting this serving, I'm contemplating buying a bottle soon. The usual cinnamon and vanilla aroma was noticeable. Maybe a hint of nuttiness too. The taste was very pleasant. It began with toffee and baking spices, then shifted to a leathery/spicy conclusion with some charred oak. The warmth was not excessive. All in all, this was rather pleasing.

As someone who enjoys toasted bourbons, I had to try this. Unfortunately, it falls somewhere in the middle compared to others I've sampled. It's not bad, but alongside the sweet toasted caramel notes, there's a faint musty undertone, like old cooking oil, that comes through on the finish. While I'm enjoying this bottle, for a bit more money, I much prefer Old Forester 1910 or Woodford Double Oak. Additionally, this isn't widely available in my area.