LoveScotch Blog: The Heritage of Yellowstone Bourbon
The LoveScotch Blog

The Heritage of Yellowstone Bourbon

Yellowstone Bourbon:
America's First Bourbon for America's First National Park.

Founded in 1872, the same year Yellowstone National Park was established. Revived by Stephen Beam at Limestone Branch Distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky. Annual limited editions, rum cask finishes, American single malt, and a 107-proof small batch. The complete Yellowstone lineup, in stock now.

Shop Yellowstone → Shop 2024 Limited Edition
Since 1872One of America's oldest bourbon brands
Lebanon, KYLimestone Branch Distillery
Annual Releases2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 in stock
Direct ShipMost US States

Annual Limited Edition Series, Multiple Vintages In Stock

Yellowstone releases a new Limited Edition expression each year, a specially crafted, small-batch bourbon that showcases the distillery's craft at its most ambitious. These are the expressions collectors and enthusiasts watch for. Multiple vintages are currently available.

Yellowstone 2024 Limited Edition Shop 2024 →
Yellowstone 2023 Limited Edition Shop 2023 →
Yellowstone 2022 Limited Edition Shop 2022 →
Yellowstone 101 Proof 2021 Limited Edition Shop 2021 →
Shop All Yellowstone →

Which Yellowstone Expression Are You Looking For?

The classic, everyday Yellowstone Yellowstone Select: smooth, approachable, the entry point.
Higher proof & more intensity 107 Proof Small Batch: the same character with more depth.
The 2024 annual limited release 2024 Limited Edition: the newest and most current annual expression.
A finished bourbon Rum Cask Finish or Toasted Special Finishes.
An American single malt American Single Malt: the Scotch lover's Yellowstone.
A vintage limited edition → Compare 2022, 2023, and 2024 releases.

The Core Yellowstone Lineup

Two accessible expressions that define the Yellowstone style, smooth, balanced, and built for Kentucky's craft bourbon renaissance.

The Classic

Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Kentucky Straight Bourbon · The Entry Expression

The everyday Yellowstone, a harmonious, approachable bourbon built on caramel, vanilla, and toasted oak. Smooth and velvety on the finish, with enough character to reward attention but accessible enough for casual sipping and cocktails alike. The starting point for every new Yellowstone drinker, and a reliable bottle for anyone who wants a consistent, quality Kentucky bourbon without the premium price tag.

Shop Yellowstone Select →
107 Proof

Yellowstone 107 Proof Small Batch

Small Batch · 107 Proof · More Intensity

The Select's character at elevated proof, same Kentucky straight bourbon profile, but with the added depth and intensity that 107 proof delivers. Richer caramel, more oak presence, a warmer finish, and the kind of complexity that rewards neat sipping. The natural step-up from the Select for drinkers who want more from their everyday Yellowstone without jumping into the limited editions.

Shop 107 Proof Small Batch →

Special Finishes, Yellowstone Beyond the Barrel

Two expressions that take the Kentucky straight bourbon base and finish it in non-traditional casks, adding layers the original barrel couldn't provide.

Toasted Finish

Yellowstone Toasted Bourbon Special Finishes Collection

Bourbon · Toasted Cask Finish

Finished in toasted (rather than charred) oak casks, a technique that draws different flavor compounds from the wood, emphasizing nutty, caramelized sweetness over the standard smoky char character. Caramel, vanilla, and oak from the base bourbon layered with toasted nuts, dried fruits, and a subtle warmth from the toasted wood. The most approachably complex expression in the Yellowstone range.

Shop Toasted Finish →
Rum Cask

Yellowstone Rum Cask Finish

Bourbon · Finished in Rum Casks

Caribbean rum casks used for finishing, the same technique that made Angel's Envy's rum-finished rye famous, applied to Yellowstone's Kentucky straight bourbon. The rum barrel influence adds tropical sweetness, molasses depth, and a warm, slightly exotic character that sits distinctly on top of the bourbon's natural caramel and vanilla. A bridge bottle for whiskey drinkers who also appreciate rum, and a genuinely distinctive expression in the Yellowstone lineup.

Shop Rum Cask Finish →

Yellowstone American Single Malt, The Scotch Drinker's Expression

Yellowstone's American Single Malt is a 100% malted barley whiskey produced at Limestone Branch, a Kentucky bourbon distillery's interpretation of the single malt tradition. American single malt is an emerging category sitting between bourbon and Scotch: the cereal character and malt complexity of a Scottish single malt, produced with Kentucky water and American oak. For Scotch drinkers curious about what an American distillery does with malted barley, or for bourbon drinkers looking to bridge into Scotch, this is the bottle that makes the most natural crossing point.

Shop Yellowstone American Single Malt →

The Annual Limited Edition Series

Each year, Limestone Branch releases a new Yellowstone Limited Edition, a specially crafted expression that pushes beyond the standard range. Multiple vintages are currently in stock.

2024 Release

Yellowstone 2024 Limited Edition

Annual Limited Release · Most Current Vintage

The most current annual Yellowstone Limited Edition, Limestone Branch Distillery's latest expression of what Yellowstone can achieve at its most ambitious. Each limited edition is crafted to go beyond the core lineup in complexity, character, and finish. The 2024 vintage is the bottle for collectors who want the current release and for enthusiasts who want to taste what Stephen Beam is achieving at Limestone Branch right now.

Shop 2024 Limited Edition →
2023 Release

Yellowstone 2023 Limited Edition

Annual Limited Release · 2023 Vintage

The 2023 annual Yellowstone Limited Edition, a year-specific expression that captures Limestone Branch's craft at a particular moment in the distillery's evolution. For collectors who want to compare vintages, or for enthusiasts who missed the 2024 release, the 2023 represents the previous year's take on what Yellowstone Limited Edition bourbon can be. Distinct character from year to year.

Shop 2023 Limited Edition →
2022 Release

Yellowstone 2022 Limited Edition

Annual Limited Release · 2022 Vintage

The 2022 vintage in the Yellowstone annual series, an increasingly rare expression as stocks deplete. For vertical collectors who want to build a complete Yellowstone Limited Edition library, or for enthusiasts who want to compare how the distillery's craft evolved year over year. Buying now while it's available is the right call.

Shop 2022 Limited Edition →
2021 — 101 Proof

Yellowstone 101 Proof 2021 Limited Edition

Annual Limited Release · 2021 · 101 Proof

The 2021 vintage of the Yellowstone Limited Edition series at 101 proof, one of the earliest entries in the revived annual program and increasingly scarce. This expression represents the beginning of Limestone Branch's current Yellowstone renaissance: the proof, the character, and the ambition that defined the series from its relaunch. The vintage for collectors who want to start at the origin.

Shop 2021 Limited Edition →

Compare Every Yellowstone Expression

Expression Type Key Character Best For Shop
Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Caramel, vanilla, smooth oak Everyday, entry point, cocktails Buy →
107 Proof Small Batch Small Batch Bourbon · 107 Proof Richer caramel, warm oak, intensity Step-up from Select, neat sipping Buy →
Toasted Special Finishes Bourbon · Toasted Cask Finish Toasted nuts, dried fruit, warmth Complexity seekers, Scotch crossover Buy →
Rum Cask Finish Bourbon · Rum Cask Finish Tropical sweetness, molasses depth Rum lovers, adventurous drinkers Buy →
American Single Malt American Single Malt Malt, cereal, light fruit complexity Scotch enthusiasts, bridge expression Buy →
2024 Limited Edition Annual Limited Release Current vintage — most ambitious expression Collectors, current release Buy →
2023 Limited Edition Annual Limited Release Previous vintage — still available Vertical collectors, vintage comparison Buy →
2022 Limited Edition Annual Limited Release 2022 vintage character Collectors, limited availability Buy →
2021 Limited Edition (101 Proof) Annual Limited Release · 101 Proof Series origin vintage — rare Vertical collectors, history seekers Buy →

Every Yellowstone expression in stock, including four vintages of the annual Limited Edition series.

Shop All Yellowstone →

The Yellowstone Story: 1872 to the Modern Bourbon Renaissance

Yellowstone Bourbon was established in 1872 by J.B. Dant, the same year the United States Congress designated Yellowstone as America's first national park. The brand was named to honor that natural landmark, becoming one of the oldest bourbon brand names in American whiskey history. Yellowstone survived Prohibition, changed ownership multiple times, and was eventually dormant for years before its revival as part of the craft bourbon renaissance.

Today, Yellowstone is produced at Limestone Branch Distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky, under the guidance of Master Distiller Stephen Beam, a direct descendant of the Beam family whiskey dynasty, though Limestone Branch and Yellowstone operate independently from the Jim Beam enterprise. Limestone Branch is part of the Lux Row Distillers family (Luxco), which has invested significantly in both the facility and the Yellowstone brand's revival as a premium craft bourbon expression.

Stephen Beam's approach combines respect for the brand's 150-year heritage with a genuine craft philosophy, annual limited editions, experimental finishes, and the American single malt program demonstrate a distillery willing to push the Yellowstone name forward while honoring what it's always represented: quality Kentucky bourbon connected to America's most iconic landscape.

3 Yellowstone Cocktails Worth Making Tonight

Yellowstone's smooth, balanced profile makes it exceptionally versatile. These three cocktails show it at its best.

Yellowstone Old Fashioned

2 min · The Select's smooth character shines
  • 2 oz Yellowstone Select or 107 Proof
  • ½ tsp demerara simple syrup
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • Large ice cube · Orange peel to express & garnish

Combine syrup and bitters in a rocks glass. Add Yellowstone and ice, stir until cold. Express orange peel over the glass. Yellowstone Select's natural caramel and vanilla profile needs minimal help in an Old Fashioned, the demerara syrup deepens the sweetness without overwhelming the bourbon's own character. Use the 107 Proof for a bolder, more intense result.

Make it with Yellowstone Select →

Rum Cask Mule

2 min · The finish meets the ginger
  • 2 oz Yellowstone Rum Cask Finish
  • ½ oz fresh lime juice
  • Ginger beer to top
  • Copper mug · Ice · Lime wheel garnish

Build in a copper mug over ice. Add rum-finished bourbon and lime, top with ginger beer and stir. The Rum Cask Finish's tropical sweetness and the ginger beer's spice create a particularly well-matched mule, the molasses and Caribbean influence from the rum barrels gives this version a depth and warmth that a standard bourbon mule doesn't achieve.

Make it with Rum Cask Finish →

The Yellowstone Sour

3 min · Bright, balanced, park-worthy
  • 2 oz Yellowstone Select
  • ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
  • ½ oz simple syrup
  • ½ oz egg white (optional)
  • Ice · Lemon wheel & Angostura dash on foam garnish

Dry shake first if using egg white, then shake hard with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Dash Angostura on the foam for garnish. Yellowstone's smooth, caramel-forward character is a natural whiskey sour base, approachable, balanced, and crowd-pleasing. The egg white version is particularly smooth, with the foam carrying the Angostura aroma on every sip.

Make it with Yellowstone Select →

Yellowstone Bourbon, Frequently Asked Questions

Is Yellowstone bourbon a Jim Beam product?

No. Yellowstone is produced by Limestone Branch Distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky, part of the Lux Row Distillers (Luxco) family. Master Distiller Stephen Beam is a descendant of the Beam family whiskey dynasty, but Limestone Branch and Yellowstone operate independently from Jim Beam/Brown-Forman. It's a different company, a different distillery, and a different product line.

How old is the Yellowstone bourbon brand?

Yellowstone was founded in 1872 by J.B. Dant, the same year Yellowstone National Park was established. That makes it one of the oldest bourbon brand names in American whiskey history, over 150 years old. The brand went through ownership changes and periods of dormancy before its current revival under Limestone Branch Distillery.

Is Yellowstone Limited Edition allocated?

Yes, the annual Limited Edition releases are produced in limited quantities and distributed to select retailers. They can be harder to find outside of allocated markets. The current in-stock vintages at LoveScotch (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) represent what's available now. These sell through as inventory depletes.

What is the best Yellowstone expression?

For everyday sipping and cocktails: Select. For more intensity: 107 Proof Small Batch. For the most current collector expression: 2024 Limited Edition. For Scotch drinkers: American Single Malt. For something unique: Rum Cask Finish.

What is the Yellowstone American Single Malt?

The Yellowstone American Single Malt is a 100% malted barley whiskey produced at Limestone Branch, a Kentucky bourbon distillery's interpretation of the single malt tradition. It bridges the American bourbon world and the Scottish single malt world: malted barley grain, American production methods, and Kentucky water. The most Scotch-adjacent expression in the Yellowstone lineup and a natural entry point for Scotch enthusiasts exploring American craft whiskey.

Love Yellowstone's Range & Innovation? Scotch Is the Natural Next Step.

Yellowstone's experimental approach, rum cask finishing, toasted barrel techniques, and American single malt production, reflects the same innovative cask work that defines great Scotch whisky. If you're drawn to Yellowstone's willingness to push the bourbon category in new directions, Scotch has been doing this for centuries. And if the American Single Malt is what caught your attention, you're already most of the way to Scotch.

You love the American Single Malt → Try Glenlivet 12: the classic single malt it was clearly inspired by.
You love the Toasted Finish complexity → Try Glenmorangie 10: Highland's most elegant wood-finished expression.
You love the Rum Cask Finish sweetness → Try Glenmorangie Lasanta: sherry and oloroso cask finish, warm & rich.
You love collecting annual limited releases Browse our Scotch collection: annual distillery releases and limited single malts.
Explore the Full Scotch Collection →

America's First Bourbon. Still Going Since 1872.

Every Yellowstone expression, from the everyday Select to four vintages of the annual Limited Edition series, in stock and ships direct from LoveScotch.

Shop All Yellowstone →
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