Review

Yellowstone 2024 Limited Edition

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Yellowstone 2024 Limited Edition
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Finished in Cognac and Brandy Casks

50.5% ABV
$100
Website
Yellowstone Limited Edition 2024 Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Limestone Branch and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

Limestone Branch Distillery announces the annual release of Yellowstone Bourbon Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Created by Limestone Branch Distillery Master Distiller Stephen Beam, the 2024 expression is extra aged, featuring 7-year and 17-year aged bourbons and Beam’s first double finish in French brandy and cognac casks. Bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV), an allocation of 10,000 cases (3-in) of Yellowstone Limited Edition will arrive on shelf in September 2024 at a minimum suggested price of $99.99 per 750mL bottle.
Limestone Branch Distillery has released its annual Yellowstone Limited Edition since 2015. In the 2024 release, Beam sought out spirits to complement the natural flavors in the extra-aged bourbon. Finishing the blended bourbon in brandy and cognac casks from France introduces nuances from different spectrums of distilled grapes within the same style of spirit. The result is a soft and approachable bourbon, perfect for Yellowstone Bourbon loyalists.
The 2024 Yellowstone Limited Edition is a rich amber color and features the bright aroma of pear, panela sugar, ripe apple and leather. With a thick, soft texture, the body includes flavors of American basswood honey, ripe stone fruits and citrus with traditional notes of caramel and vanilla. The bourbon’s warm and inviting finish delivers honey, Bosc pear, butterscotch and leather.
“The 2024 expression of Yellowstone Limited Edition represents my natural progression of experimenting with special finishes over the years,” said Beam. “Now, finished bourbons have become sought after by fans who want to push the flavor profile. I love experimenting and exploring new opportunities, and using a double finish with brandy and cognac casks created a more complex and nuanced bourbon, opening a whole new experience for consumers to enjoy.”
The 2024 Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is presented in custom-designed bottles featuring embossing, a label with the 2024 Yellowstone Limited Edition emblem and a high-end natural cork.
Tasting Notes
AROMA: Bright with notes of pear, panela, ripe apple, and leather.
BODY: Basswood honey, ripe stone fruit, citrus, a thick soft texture with traditional bourbon notes of caramel and vanilla.
FINISH: Warm and inviting ending with honey, bosc pear, butterscotch, and leather.

What Gary Says

Nose: Fruity with orchard fruits, apples, pears, vanilla, oak and a bit of leather.
Palate: Caramel, honey, canned fruit salad of apples and pears, vanilla and cinnamon.
Finish: Moderate in length with honey and pears.
Comments: This is another nicely done limited edition. I appreciate that the finishing isn’t overdone, even with the double finish. Quite well balanced and a delightful late summer sipper. Takes a bit of water well, and the mouth feel thickens up nicely. Cognac is one of those delicate spirits (like a refined French cousin of sorts) that really lends itself well as a finish for bourbon or rye.

Rating: Stand Out/Must Try

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Remus Babe Ruth Reserve

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Remus Babe Ruth Reserve
Straight Bourbon Whiskey

55.5% ABV
$150
Website
Remus Babe Ruth Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

ST. LOUIS (June 25, 2024) – The Bambino meets the Bootlegger. Remus Bourbon is proud to announce an official partnership with the estate of Babe Ruth that has culminated in the release of Remus Babe Ruth Reserve – a blend of three high-rye bourbons aged for six-to-seven years and offered at 111 proof (55.5% ABV). A limited supply of 10,624 bottles, one for each of the Babe’s plate appearances, will arrive at retail this July at a minimum suggested price of $149.99 per 750mL bottle. A QR code on the back label allows consumers to scan and find out what Ruth did in their bottle’s plate appearance.

“Remus Babe Ruth Reserve is a special collector’s release inspired by one of the most iconic figures in American history, the immortal Babe Ruth,” said Ross & Squibb Distillery Brand Manager Allison O’Brien. “Remus is inspired by the finest bourbon of the 1920’s, and partnering with the finest baseball player of the 1920’s gives bourbon and baseball fans a unique and memorable way to celebrate America’s pastime.”

To honor Babe’s famous #3, Remus Babe Ruth Reserve features a medley of three high-rye bourbon mash bills, which include specially selected barrels from 2016, 2017, and 2018, consisting of 49% rye, 44% rye and 36% rye bourbons, respectively. The result showcases the expertise of the Ross & Squibb Distillery in distilling and blending rye bourbons. Consumers can expect brown sugar and fig on the nose; some subtle mint, brown sugar, light fennel and candied pecans on the palate; and a warm rye spice with cinnamon on the finish.

Remus Babe Ruth Reserve is packaged in an ornate rectangular art deco-inspired glass bottle featuring an embossed baseball-diamond pattern and wooden-cork closure resembling the knob of a baseball bat. The front and back labels incorporate Ruth’s signature and elements of a baseball diamond.

Remus Bourbon is sending four lucky sweepstakes winners to Arlington, Texas, for the 2024 All-Star Game. Consumers also can be part of the excitement and celebration of the new release by participating in nearby launch parties the week of the big game. To learn more about Remus Babe Ruth Reserve and the rest of the Remus portfolio, visit RemusBourbon.com.

What Gary Says

Nose: Caramel, toffee, dried fig, oak, cinnamon and a hint of baked apples.
Palate: Vanilla, caramel crème, cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate, hint of mint and brown sugar.
Finish: Moderate in length with cinnamon, subtle oak and caramel.
Comments: The design is a home run, with the baseball bat-inspired cork and diamond-themed accents creating a truly unique package and aesthetic. It’s a substantial bottle, certainly suitable to be used as a decanter when the original spirit has been shared and enjoyed. The attention to detail is commendable, from the QR code offering insights into Babe Ruth’s plate appearances to the individual bottling numbers. For anyone interested – my bottle number was 6,486 (which when you go to the site and enter that, gives you the date, number of plate appearances, what the Babe did and home it was against) was a Babe Ruth home run! Which 2,537 of the bottles represent it says. While the bourbon itself is pleasant (particularly at this proof level – wish this is where they released more things at!) the overall package positions this as a premium product likely to appeal most to dedicated baseball enthusiasts or collectors seeking a distinctive addition to their collection.

Rating: Stands Out

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Dant American Legion 50th Anniversary

/ / Bourbon, Review, The Collector's Cabinet /

Dant American Legion 50th Anniversary
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky 10 Years Old

43% ABV
$?? (auction estimates are $150-$200)
Dant American Legion 50th Anniversary Commemorative Bottling

What the Bottle Says

(FRONT)
50th Anniversary
1919 – 1969

(SIDE)
AMERICAN
LEGION
50th
Anniversary
COMMEMORATIVE BOTTLING
by J.W. Dant
KENTUCKY
STRAIGHT BOURBON
WHISKY
TEN YEARS OLD
BOTTLED BY
THE DANT DISTILLERY CO.
LOUISVILLE, KY., FRANKFORT, KY.
ALADDIN, PA. & FRESNO, CALIF.
86 PROOF 4/5 QUART

What Gary Says

Nose:  Soft caramel, grassy note with vanilla, rick house must, hint of hazelnut, mint and anise.
Palate:  Smooth caramel, light cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, light roast coffee and a bit of molasses.
Finish:  Moderate in length, thick with toffee and brown sugar.
Comments:  A note I excluded above is simply ‘dusty’ because I know that isn’t helpful to someone who has never had the privilege to experience whisk(e)y from many decades ago. It is frustrating because it is a note I detect clearly, but can’t describe as anything but ‘dusty’ (like – how would you describe the smell of ‘apple’ to someone who has never smelled an apple?) The sample for this review was from a bottle that Bourbon Joe shared with a small group of us in April 2024. My rating is based more on “If you’ve never experienced this – you really need to find the opportunity to do so!” This drinks like you’d expect an 86 proof bourbon would – fairly light and smooth, and for 10 years old – I didn’t really get ‘oak’ aside from the lovely rick house must aroma. I’m honored to have been able to share pours like these with some amazing people, who have forgotten more about whisk(e)y than I expect I’ll ever learn and whose generosity in spirit (and in sharing bottles like these that are becoming exceedingly rare) is something to behold.

Rating: Must Try

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Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond (National Distillers)

/ / Bourbon, Review, The Collector's Cabinet / ,

Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
National Distillers (dusty)

50% ABV
$20
Old Grand-Dad Bottled in Bond Bourbon

What the Bottle Says

BONDED
Old Grand-Dad 100 Proof
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Bottled In Bond Under Supervision of U.S. Govt
Distilled and Bottled by The Old Grand-Dad Distillery Company
Frankfort, KY – DSP KY. 14

(on the faux tax stamp)
AGED 8 YEARS
BOTTLED FALL OF 1990
NOTE: This image isn’t of my bottle but a representative image; mine was a 375 mL I paid $10 for in 2014. The first part of the UPC is 86259, which identifies it as a product of National Distillers.

What Gary Says

Nose: Butterscotch, honey, caramel, vanilla, soft oak with hints of toffee, peanut brittle and leather.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, caramel, butterscotch, cinnamon, nutmeg and honey.
Finish: Moderately long with honey, toasted oak and butterscotch.
Comments:  This is an absolute butterscotch bomb! While the faux tax stamp printing states 8 years old, this may be older being bottled during the glut era. National Distillers is one of my favorite dusty bourbons, and I was fortunate to stumble across two bottles of this at a small liquor store in Miami back in 2014. This is one where if someone could bottle this – exactly like this today – I’d be stockpiling. I wish I knew what it was that gave it that unique profile (and there’s been countless hours debating such topics on Straight Bourbon, whether it was the proof coming off the still, the entry proof, where it was matured, the yeast used, etc). I know a lot of folks who have tasted a fair amount of dusty bourbon would stampede over loved ones for Stitzel Weller, but for my taste buddies I’ve always preferred the ND profile. Now this whiskey isn’t mind-blowingly complicated, but I’d still rate it as a ‘Must Try’ because it’s just freakin’ delicious, and a ‘Must Buy’ if you can find it for reasonable money.

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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Knob Creek 10 Year Old Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Knob Creek 10 Year Old
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

50% ABV
$70
Website
Knob Creek 10 Year Old Rye
We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says:

Knob Creek® is excited to announce the permanent addition of Knob Creek® 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey to its award-winning* portfolio. Made pre-Prohibition style, Knob Creek® 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey is carefully crafted and patiently aged for a decade in deeply charred barrels, bringing fans a full-bodied rye whiskey with distinct notes of spice, vanilla, and oak.

True to Knob Creek’s® unwavering commitment to producing high quality, full-flavored whiskey, this extra-aged rye invites aficionados and newcomers alike to experience its exceptional taste and craftsmanship. It’s best enjoyed neat or on the rocks so fans can experience the depth at its height and drink what tastes right.

TASTING NOTES
Knob Creek® 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey captures the essence of its classic offering, Knob Creek® 7 Year Old Rye
Whiskey, but has deeper flavors imparted by the extra three years spent aging in the barrel. The result is a bold and complex, full-flavored straight rye whiskey that delivers smooth spice with every sip.
PROOF: 100
COLOR: Tawny with waves of copper
AROMA: Rich caramel and vanilla, deep rye spice, and dried apple
TASTE: Black peppercorn, creamy vanilla and caramel, and hints of deep oak and char
FINISH: Smooth, lingering notes of baking spice

THE HISTORY
Knob Creek has set the standard for super-premium whiskey for three decades by crafting extraordinary full-flavored bourbon with a rich taste. Knob Creek bourbons and ryes are patiently aged to perfection in new, maximum charred American Oak barrels to impart the biggest and fullest flavor on their whiskey. No matter the expression, Knob Creek is crafted without shortcuts and embodies the pre-Prohibition style that founding distiller Booker Noe created in 1992. Since then, Knob Creek has lived up to such standards with the introduction of Knob Creek Straight Rye Whiskey in 2012, and later on, Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye Whiskey. In recent years, Knob Creek announced the permanent addition of Knob Creek 12 Year Old Bourbon to its portfolio, launched two limited releases, Knob Creek 15 Year Old Bourbon and Knob Creek 18 Year Old Bourbon, and announced the addition of an age statement to its flagship rye whiskey, Knob Creek 7 Year Old Rye Whiskey

RYE WHISKEY
In the early 1900s, rye whiskey was the most popular spirit in America. However, Prohibition forced many whiskey fans to turn toward the sweeter, more robust flavor of bourbon. Now, thanks to the growing interest in high-quality craft spirits and a surge in contemporary cocktail culture brought about by the success of Super-Premium brands such as Knob Creek, bartenders and curious drinkers alike are turning to bourbon’s spicier counterpart, rye whiskey.

What Gary Says

Nose: Salted caramel, oak, vanilla, cinnamon with herbal notes, nutty (walnuts rather than peanuts) with a hint of orange zest.
Palate: Pepper spice with vanilla, caramel, oak, nutty with herbal spices, bit of orange and a hint of mint.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with oak, nutty cocoa, vanilla and grapefruit
Comments: This rye offers an interestingly layered experience. I’m accustomed to more of a peanut note from Beam than walnuts, although that note sometimes disappears in the older whiskies. There’s a strong oak presence for 10 years old, and this has a sharp pepper bite – which you expect some bite in a rye whiskey.  For my tastes, this has a bit more oak than I’d prefer but this isn’t what I’d call an ‘oak bomb’ or ‘over-oaked’. However, a splash of water can mellow the peppery edge, making the whiskey more approachable and highlighting its complex flavor profile.

Rating: Stands Out

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