Yellowstone Toasted, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Toasted Oak Staves
The Yellowstone Toasted was the first release in the "Special Finishes Collection." This product starts as the 4-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey distilled from a mash bill of 75 % corn, 13 % rye, and 12 % malted barley used for the Yellowstone Select. Next, the bourbon is finished with toasted staves for an undisclosed period. The brand offers little transparency on this product, but they tell us they use at least five toast-style staves. The staves used for the second finishing are described as high toast, American oak double toast, high vanilla, rick house, and spice rack staves. The final product is bottled at 100 proof (50 % ABV). Yellowstone Toasted won a double gold medal at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
I'll provide a general explanation for toasted-finished bourbons because they are so popular these days. Once the base bourbon has reached the target flavor profile, in this case, it's around four years, and additional wooden staves are added inside that barrel for a specific period. For Yellowstone Toasted, the company does not tell us how long they finish this product. The added staves have been toasted for particular lengths to generate an ideal flavor they might impart. For example, specific toasting methods might develop a strong vanilla or coffee flavor in the whiskey. Usually, a producer will add a combination of staves, imparting different types of oak flavor and hopefully creating greater complexity.
Nose - Toasted caramel, vanilla, hints of fall spices and cinnamon
Palate - Walnut, toffee, black tea and white pepper
Finish - Cocoa and tobacco with a crisp oak finish
Yellowstone Rum Cask, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Rum Casks
The Yellowstone Rum Cask is the second release in the "Special Finishes Collection." At the time of writing, in October 2024, this is the newest release from the brand. This product starts as the 4-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey distilled from a mash bill of 75 % corn, 13 % rye, and 12 % malted barley used for the Yellowstone Select. Next, the bourbon is cask-finished for 9 weeks in rum barrels sourced from Havana, Cuba. The final product is bottled at 100 proof (50 % ABV).
Nose - Gingerbread, poached pear and fresh-cut hay
Palate - Toasted marshmallow, crème brûlée, toffee and toasted oak
Finish - Tobacco, clove and cocoa-seasoned oak with a long honey finish
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