I’d like to thank the folks at Limestone Branch, Lux Row, Ross & Squibb, and their PR partners for sending this sample with no strings attached.
It truly is fall in Minnesota. Last night we had our first frost of the season. Meaning, of course, that there were plants in the garden that had every bit of produce plucked from them, herbs on the deck that were brought into the house, and a sheet covering a planter too large to move on my deck—all in the name of eking a little more life out of them. I love fall, which is weird because I hate winter. Like, I finally understand why snowbirds leave for warmer locations. Not that I would do that myself. I may hate winter in Minnesota, but I love Minnesota more than I hate winter.
But for all that I hate the winter, I love the crisp, cool mornings of fall. Standing on the deck, watching the dogs play with a steaming cup of coffee in my hands, is just the best way to start the day. And the inverse of that is that a hearty glass of bourbon out there in the evening, watching the sun set beyond the neighbor’s trees, is the perfect end to the day.
And honestly, the annual Yellowstone Limited Edition release is one of those bourbons that I tend to enjoy on a cool fall evening. Not only are they usually very good, but they’re all unique. Previous releases have had various barrel-finished bourbons incorporated into the blend. This year, for the 10th Anniversary release, they stuck with just plain old bourbon for the blend—but they did it with the help of their corporate cousins at Ross & Squibb (MGP for us old folks who’ve been around a while). Here’s what Founder and Master Distiller Steve Beam had to say:
"We've done something different with this special annual release every year since 2015," said Beam. "This year's 10-year anniversary Limited Edition represents my natural progression of experimenting with blending, using three unique mash bills to create a remarkable product. In partnership with the Ross & Squibb team, we pushed the boundaries of innovation by creating our first blend featuring barrels from the Indiana and Kentucky distilleries - without compromising on our commitment to quality that has kept the Yellowstone Bourbon brand on shelf for more than 150 years."
So let’s see how it tastes.
Yellowstone Limited Edition 2025
Purchase Info: This bottle was sent to me for review purposes at no charge. The suggested retail price is $99.99 for a 750 mL bottle
Price per Drink (50 mL): $6.67
Details: 10 years old. 52.5% ABV.
Nose: Oak, caramel, mixed berries, vanilla
Mouth: Cinnamon spice, Caramel, vanilla, mixed berries, oak
Finish: On the longer end of medium and warms. Notes of caramel, vanilla, oak, and just a hint of red fruit.
Thoughts: This is absolutely delicious. It’s rich with those stereotypical bourbon notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak. And I adore the lovely additional note of mixed berries or red fruit (depending on when you’re examining it). I don’t think there’s been a bad Yellowstone Limited Edition yet, but even so, this one stands out. I really like it. $100 is a lot for a single bottle of whiskey—especially in this economy—but at least the price has held steady since 2019. That’s something, at least.