Yellowstone Toasted Barrel Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished In Toasted Casks

Barrel number: 13/30 Endorsed by Master Distiller Stephan B. Beam This is the penultimate bottle acquired from my recent distillery visit, representing their foray into the toasted finish category; while toasted finishes have recently become quite popular, it feels more like a fleeting trend. I'm uncertain if I sampled it at the distillery, but my primary motivation for purchasing it was to offer support, its elevated proof, the decision to bottle it as a single barrel, and, most significantly, learning that the toasted barrel finish lasted between 3 and 4 YEARS. I don't know if this duration applies exclusively to this specific barrel, but this is by far the longest toasted barrel finish I've ever encountered, with most prior examples lasting perhaps 12 months. I wasn't impressed with their other offering, as it seemed to lack certain details and appeared less polished. The color is marginally darker than the standard Yellowstone bottling, but scarcely noticeable when compared to some of the higher-proof Hand Picked Collection bottles. Despite the extended time in a secondary barrel, the fact that it was merely toasted and not charred explains the limited deepening of its color. A faint yet potent ethanol aroma is present from a distance, with no other scents discernible so far away. Closer inspection reveals prominent caramel notes, alongside hints of honey, candied nuts, and even a touch of cocoa. The overall aroma is decidedly sweet, but the powerful ethanol effectively balances this, preventing any single note from overpowering the others. The initial body is quite light with subtle citrus flavors, but it rapidly evolves into notes of cinnamon, chocolate, and the previously mentioned candied nuts; however, all these tastes merge in the end, with no individual flavors allowed to stand out. The finish offers a hint of nuttiness, a milder note of citrus and floral characteristics, and an overall dry, light-bodied sensation. Curiously, the proof impacts the palate after the finish, leaving the tongue and gums with a lingering spiciness that arrives several minutes too late. The extended finishing period in the toasted barrel perfectly encapsulates the flavors achievable with a toasted barrel, built upon a well-balanced base bourbon that appeals to a broad audience. My personal issue is that this process diminishes the bolder, spicier qualities of the original whiskey, resulting in a final taste that I don't particularly enjoy. The toasted barrel contributes a lighter body with notes of citrus, floral elements, and nuttiness, but lacks the added smoothness and sweetness found in wheated bourbons (which I also don't favor). Nevertheless, it's always rewarding to support this distillery, and I look forward to revisiting this bottle for subsequent tastings and cocktail experiments, especially if and when the distillery makes this offering available on their website, complete with direct recipes from the source (fingers crossed). Furthermore, the deep brown label beautifully complements the gold lettering, creating an attractive contrast with the color schemes of other Yellowstone products.

Slightly toasted flavor. Not what I anticipated.