The Bourbon Resource: August 2023
Big barrel pick news, changes in Sazerac's program, review of Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
There have been some significant developments in the bourbon world that directly affect consumers. I’m going to focus on them before I get to this month’s review.
THE BIG NEWS
MORE BARREL OPPORTUNITIES: This month, Sazerac and Ross & Squibb announced enhancements to their single barrel programs that promise to make more high-end products more readily available.
Sazerac said it would add EH Taylor, Stagg, and Bowman Brothers to its private pick program (h/t to reader Dennis Hall.) I’ll have more details below because I’ve noticed several changes.
Ross & Squibb, formerly MGP, announced that its Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel will offer a private barrel selection with Master Distiller Ian Stirsman at the Lawrenceburg, Indiana, distillery. Before this change, the distillery mailed samples to purchasers. You can still do that, but Ross & Squibb will offer an enhanced, on-site experience that includes a distillery tour and private tasting. Sounds like fun! Remus bourbons will be available in the barrel program. Aged 4 to 5 years, with proofs ranging from 103.8. to 113.2, the barrels produce 180, 700 ML bottles at $59.99. (That’s right 700ML (More on that later).
MORE NEWS
Ross & Squibb has released the Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey, a 6-year aged product with a 51% rye and 49% malted barley mash bill. The limited release of 3,000 bottles sells for $49.99 in 700ML bottles.
Makers Mark will release a “Cellar Aged” bourbon, a blend of 12 and 13-year aged product, next month. It’s the oldest Markers Mark available and carries a hefty price tag --- $150 retail.
Among the biggest releases coming in September --- George Stagg, EH Taylor Barrel Proof Rye, Eagle Rare 17, Knob Creek 18 year and Old Forester Birthday Bourbon. It’s best to check with the distilleries and find out their rules for snagging (trying to snag) a bottle.
700 ML bottles --- a thing to come??
The Ross & Squibb move to 700ML bottles, at least for some releases, makes for an interesting development. When the United States toyed with adopting the metric system back in the 1970s, the feds set the alcohol and spirits bottles at 750ML to closely approximate what was then the standard fifth bottle size. The rest of the world, however, used 700ML size.
Very quietly, in 2020, the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Trade Bureau began allowing distilleries to package spirits in 700ML bottles. I’m used to seeing that size in Europe, but this is the first I’ve seen in such prominent brands (I may have missed some earlier releases).
There’s not much individual difference between a 750ML (25.36 ounces) and 700ML (23.67), so that’s about a one-shot difference per bottle. My guess --- this becomes a trend, and distilleries won’t cut the price to compensate for the drop in yield. (It’s kind of like potato chips. The large bag contains fewer chips but costs the same). Some off the top of my head math show distilleries can yield one extra bottle for every two six-pack cases they produce. That’s a lot of extra bourbon that should make its way to the shelf.
I guess that’s the tradeoff --- a slightly higher price per ounce vs. more product on the shelf.
But it also means those unopened 750s will be more valuable in the future, especially the higher-end bottles. You might want to hold some back. I may keep my Michter’s 10 unopened for a bit.
Sazerac Select Program
As noted above, Sazerac has expanded its offerings for its single barrel program. If you haven’t recently accessed your account or don’t have one, this guide should help.
The program used to be called “Single Barrel Select,” but with the name change, the URL now goes to Sazerac Barrel Select. If you’re not a member, sign in to that URL. You should get awarded one point for joining and then a point each year. Each point equals an entry into the quarterly lottery. (I have eight points due to past barrels picks, account updates, etc.).
For those who have an account, check it. I couldn’t log into Sazerac Barrel Select using my Sazerac Select Program login credentials. I clicked “forgot password,” put in a new one, and was then able to log into my account, which was updated with my points balance, etc. If you have an existing account, I caution against starting a new one because I don’t know if your current account will transfer.
Once registered, don’t assume you’ll be automatically entered into the next drawing. On your account page, you’ll see this box:
Make sure you select I’m ready to buy. Mine was unchecked.
There’s another new wrinkle. Sazerac wants you to rank order your preferences among the brands available --- Stagg, 1792 Full Proof, EH Taylor Single Barrel, Weller Full Proof, Eagle Rare, Bowman Brothers, and Buffalo Trace.
I don’t have any idea why Saz asks for a ranking. Maybe, if you win a barrel, it uses the list as a ranking mechanism, so if Choices 1 and 2 aren’t available, you get Choice 3. I also wonder whether there’s an advantage to ranking more expensive bottles (Stagg, EH) at the top and the less expensive ones (1792, BT) at the bottom. I don’t know.
Here are the seven selections by MSRP.
Stagg: $99.99
EH Taylor SB: $59.99
Weller: $49.96
1792 Full Proof $46.99
Eagle Rare: $31.99
Bowman Brothers $29.99
Buffalo Trace $26.99
Looking at this list reminds me how much we often overpay for bourbon.
Since I already have picked a barrel of Buffalo Trace and 1972 FP, those went to the bottom of my list, which looks like this:
Getting a barrel of Stagg at MSRP (a little less since you buy it wholesale) would be like hitting the lottery. I like the fullness and flavor of the EHT SB over Weller, which is a very good pour but not as deep. The 1792 FP is one of my all-time favorites and would have been No. 1 on the list if not for the other three.
REVIEW
Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Note: Limestone Branch provided a sample of the Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey for review purposes without any special considerations.
Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
101 Proof
MSRP: $99.99
Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Buy it? That’s a tough one. I’m glad I have it but there are better products at the $100 price point.
History
Each year since 2015, Steve Beam, the master distiller at Limestone Branch, selects three bourbons that he then ages in Tokaji casks. The 2023 release contains a blend of 7-year, 13-year, and 16-year aged bourbon. Limestone Branch released 30,000 total bottles nationwide.
Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Let’s taste it:
🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn glass
👉🏻Nose: Pepper, cinnamon, citrus, green grapes
👉🏻Taste: Sweet caramel, vanilla, pepper, sweet dried fruit
👉🏻Finish: Spice, dark cherries, oak,
Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Summary
I usually don’t put water or ice in bourbon, and I figured that, at just 101 proof, I wouldn’t need to cut the Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. How wrong I was. This is a hot bourbon with lots of spice, so much so I had a hard time discerning the qualities on the nose, palate and finish. So I added a drop of water, which considerably opened up the flavor. I didn’t get green grapes or sweetness on the nose until I added water. Even then, it’s a hot pour that lingers and gets to dark cherries, the best part of the finish.
Conclusion – Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
This is an interesting bourbon because I would have never expected so much heat. Add water, and it’s a very good sipper.
While the $100 price point isn’t in line with products of other smaller distilleries, I can come up with a dozen bourbons I’d rather buy. At, let’s so, $60 a bottle, I’d buy this all day long. $100 makes it a dicier proposition.
Have you tried the Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey?
What do you think?
This month in Bourbon Obsessed
Our friends at Bourbon Obsessed have released their monthly newsletter with several reviews, including Baker’s 13 and Legent. The newsletter also has a fun, 5 must-have cocktail mixers for bourbon cocktails. If you click on any of the links you can sign up for their free newsletter.
Bargain bin: Bourbons in the $20 price range
Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond (often called white label)
Mash bill: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley
Proof: 100
Retail: $19.99
Evan Williams BIB is one of those versatile bourbons that makes a terrific mixed drink or a nice end-of-the-day sip. It’s sugary sweet with the traditional bourbon notes in which caramel is the star. It has a very short finish that leaves behind that sweetness. It’s worth having for the bourbon newbies just learning about different pours.
That’s it for this month! If you’re an NBA fan, look at the Knicks Film School newsletter, the smartest commentary, and all things the New York Knicks and NBA basketball.
Ray Marcano writes and publishes the Bourbon Resource monthly. He’s a bourbon lover and long-time journalist who has worked 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, and a Fulbright fellow.
Any word on the Bardstown and Goose Island collab release date? I thought it was still coming out in September.