THE BOURBON RESOURCE: OCTOBER 2025
Diageo halts Dickel production, final Wild Turkey Master's Keep, Yellowstone 10 review (I apologize for the resend)
The Bourbon Resource, by Ray Marcano
#Bourbon, #Bourbonwhiskey, #Whiskey
THE BOURBON RESOURCE BIG NEWS
Diageo halts Dickel production through June 2026
We all know about the problems facing distilling operations, and the latest hammer dropped last week. The spirits conglomerate Diageo announced it would temporarily halt production at a number of its distilleries, including Cascade Hollow in Tullahoma, TN, which produces the George Dickel line of products. The Spirits Business was the first to report the news.
Diageo said it often temporarily shuts down if it meets its production quotas. While that’s true, a nine-month close seems extra long and comes at a time when bourbon sales continue to shrink and Diageo brands like Bulleit see sales drop.
Dickel is a relatively small player in the whiskey market with annual revenues approaching $7 million, according to Zoominfo, which tracks business information. It does better than other craft distillers, like Starlight, Chattanooga, and Woodinville, which all have $5 million or less in revenue.
THE BOURBON RESOURCE BIG NEWS, PART II
Wild Turkey announced the 10th and final release of its Master’s Keep series. Master’s Keep Beacon is a blend of 10 and 16-year bourbons and retails for $300. The 10 release, in order:
17 Year (2015)
Decades (2016)
Revival (2018)
Cornerstone (2019)
Bottled in Bond (2020)
One (2021)
Unforgotten (2022)
Voyage (2023)
Triumph (2024)
I still have the 17, Decades, and Bottled in Bond, but I stopped buying because I never cared for these releases enough to spend the MSRP. They’re good, but I’d rather spend the money on the Russell Reserves 13 or 15-year, which I find vastly superior. If I saw one of these in the wild, I might be tempted to buy one since it is the last of the lot. But I won’t go out of my way to look for one.
MORE BOURBON RESOURCE NEWS
Avalon Spirits launched Whiskey Row Bourbon with Triple Wood, Bottled in Bond, and Cask Strength expressions. Created at Kentucky Artisan Distillery in Crestwood, Kentucky. Triple Wood ($51) is aged for at least four years and is finished in Cognac and Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry casks. Whiskey Row Bourbon’s Bottled in Bond ($61) expression follows a rigorous six-marker process to ensure quality, while the Cask Strength $71) expression is left unfinished. The bourbon has a limited distribution area and is available in Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, and Tennessee. Reviews should come soon.
Booker’s The Reserves 2025 is a barrel-strength offering at $449. I love Booker’s, but I can get a great product for as low as $69. Will The Reserves be with five to six bottles of Booker’s? I hope to find out.
Kozuba and Sons, a craft distillery in Pinellas Park, FL, announced on its Facebook page that it would close after 20 years. The distillery produced bourbon, whiskey, and other spirits.
A bottle of Very Very Old Fitzgerald 18 Year Old “Blackhawk” barreled in 1950 and bottled at the Stitzel-Weller facility in 1969, sold for $106,250 at auction, well above the estimated bid of $50 to $80k. Sotheby’s sold this one quart, 121 proof beauty. The “Blackhawk” was a private bottling for the family that owns the professional hockey team, the Chicago Blackhawks, hence the name.
COMING IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
The last two months of the year are always big. Our annual gift-giving guide will be published in November, in time for the holidays. If you have a gift suggestion, please let me know.
In December, we’ll publish our annual awards newsletter, which is even bigger this year. Yes, that’s a tease, but there will be an announcement in the November newsletter.
THE BOURBON RESOURCE REVIEW
Editor’s note: Limestone Branch Distillery provided a review bottle of the Yellowstone 10 without special consideration. The Boutbon Resource appreciates Limestone Branch’s continued support.
Yellowstone Limited Edition 10
105 proof
MSRP: $99.99
Yellowstone Limited Edition 10
Good things come to those who wait (or in this case, rest).
Yellowstone Limited Edition 10
History:
From a press release: Limestone Branch Distillery collaborated with the blending team at Ross & Distillery to create the 10th anniversary release. For the first time, the combined team chose barrels from the Indiana and Kentucky distilleries to blend for this year’s unique and high-quality commemorative expression.
Mash bill:
Blend of three mash bills aged 10 years
Let’s taste it:
🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn glass
👉🏻Nose: Light grain, citrus, brown sugar, honey
👉🏻Taste: Vanilla, oak, caramel,
👉🏻Finish: Molasses, toffee, caramel, vanilla
Yellowstone Limited Edition 10-year
Summary: Yellowstone Limited Edition 10-year
I was prepared to be underwhelmed. The nose wasn’t all that, and the first sip was decidedly meh. But I made a rookie mistake when I poured a sip and immediately tasted it. That’s when the voice of Ed Escott (the czar of Bourbon Obsessed) spoke to me: in glass Glencairn, 15-minute rest, you must! I (Weird that I hear that in Yoda’s voice).
That rest period made all the difference. The nose opened up, and the sweetness came through, especially the brown sugar. The palette featured sweet citrus and light toffee that resulted in a thick mouth feel. The long finish is the powerhouse here, with rich, deep flavors, especially the molasses, followed by a nice warmth (not burn) on the end.
Conclusion: Yellowstone Limited Edition 10
I’ve seen these around town at the $100 price point, which isn’t unreasonable for a limited edition bottling (30,000 bottles). As with anything, it isn’t the price, but how the bourbon compares with other similarly priced and readily available bottles. The Yellowstone 10 holds its own, and I would rank it above the Widow Jane 13, which I’ve seen in the wild; Blanton’s Original Single Barrel (which is starting to make an appearance); and the Angel’s Envy cask strength, which came out last month. I would rank this pour up there with one of my perennial favorites, Booker’s. So, yeah, I’d buy another bottle.
Have you tried the Yellowstone Limited Edition 10-year? What do you think?
THE BOURBON RESOURCE REVIEW
TOWN BRANCH OVERPROOF STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY
104 proof
MSRP: $39.99
Town Branch Overproof Straight Bourbon Whiskey
A nice daily drinker that, given the price, is a must-have
Town Branch Overproof Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash bill:
Blend of Bourbon Whiskey, Wheated Bourbon Whiskey, Double Oak Whiskey, and Rye Whiskey; 90% bourbons and 10% rye.
Let’s taste it:
🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn glass
👉🏻Nose: Grain, light orange, caramel
👉🏻Taste: Rye spice, brown sugar, clove
👉🏻Finish: light orange, vanilla
Town Branch Overproof Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Summary
This whiskey shows why it’s a must to let bourbon open up. Straight out of the bottle, you’ll get an unremarkable nose with lots of grain and little else. But after 15 minutes, the flavors started to pop little by little. After 30 minutes, the fully formed nose gave off more balanced grain, light orange peel, and caramel. The medium palate showed clove and brown sugar, followed by light vanilla, nutmeg, and cloves. The finish has a nice, long, medium burn that isn’t overwhelming and nicely warms the chest. It’s the kind of bourbon that plays nicely on a chilly evening. Let the finish dissipate before taking another sip; otherwise, you’ll miss that light orange, caramel, and vanilla at the end.
Conclusion – Town Branch Overproof Straight Bourbon Whiskey
This solid pour has the right price, which is a rarity nowadays. I wouldn’t have been surprised if this were $10 to $15 higher, which would have been an OK buy, but not a bargain at $40.
Have you tried the Town Branch Overproof Straight Bourbon Whiskey? What do you think?
That’s it for this month! If you’re an NBA fan, look at the Knicks Film School newsletter, which has the smartest commentary on the New York Knicks and NBA basketball. You can click on the button below to learn more.
And our friends at Bourbon Obsessed have a tremendous catalog of bourbon and distillery reviews. You can see more from them here:
Ray Marcano writes and publishes the Bourbon Resource monthly, and he’s president of the 32 Staves Society. He’s a bourbon lover and long-time journalist who freelances for some of the country’s largest media brands. He’s the former national president of the Society of Professional Journalists, a two-time Pulitzer juror, a Fulbright fellow, and was recently named best columnist in the state of Ohio.