Yellowstone Rum Cask Finish Bourbon 750ML

Yellowstone Rum Cask Finish Bourbon 750ML is a 100-proof (50% ABV), 750ml Kentucky straight bourbon aged four years and finished nine weeks in Cuban rum casks. Built on an heirloom corn mashbill and bottled at a full 100 proof, this limited expression layers tropical sweetness over a sturdy bourbon backbone without letting the rum influence overpower the whiskey — a balance that earned it a B+ rating from Drinkhacker.

Quick Facts: ABV: 50% (100 Proof)  |  Origin: Kentucky, USA  |  Age: 4 Years, 9-Week Rum Cask Finish  |  Distillery: Limestone Branch Distillery

Production & Heritage

Limestone Branch Distillery, located in Lebanon, Kentucky, traces its roots to the Beam and Dant families — two of bourbon's most storied lineages. The Yellowstone Rum Cask Finish starts with a mashbill of 75% open-pollinated white heirloom corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, a grain recipe that distinguishes it from the commodity yellow corn used by most Kentucky distillers. After four years of standard bourbon maturation, the whiskey spends an additional nine weeks finishing in rum casks sourced from Havana, Cuba — barrels that previously held rum distilled from molasses derived from Cuban sugarcane. That finishing period is deliberately brief, designed to introduce a layer of tropical molasses character without masking the bourbon's grain-forward identity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with gingerbread and poached pear, followed by brown sugar, vanilla, and a dusting of cinnamon. A thread of fresh-cut hay adds a pastoral, grain-forward quality underneath the sweeter notes.

Taste: The entry is warm and spice-driven — cinnamon and allspice hit first, giving way to a mid-palate thick with toasted marshmallow, crème brûlée, and toffee. Toasted oak provides structure, while a subtle molasses undercurrent nods to the rum cask influence without dominating the profile.

Finish: Medium in length with a satisfying warmth, the finish delivers tobacco leaf, clove, and cocoa-seasoned oak. A lingering touch of honey and brown sugar rounds out the experience with a clean, sweet close.

How to Drink Yellowstone Rum Cask

Neat is the best way to appreciate the interplay between the heirloom corn sweetness and the rum cask influence; a few drops of water open up the crème brûlée and toffee notes further. At 100 proof, this bourbon also holds its character over a single large ice cube without becoming thin.

• Old Fashioned: The existing brown sugar and molasses notes fold naturally into the cocktail's simple syrup component, reducing the need for heavy sweetening.
• Rum Runner Twist: Swap standard bourbon into a Rum Runner riff — the rum cask finish bridges both worlds and brings cohesion to tropical fruit flavors.
• Boulevardier: The toffee sweetness and clove spice stand up well against Campari's bitterness and sweet vermouth's herbal complexity.

Best For

• Bourbon drinkers curious about cask-finished expressions without straying too far from classic Kentucky flavor
• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who appreciates small-batch, heritage-driven distilling
• Side-by-side tastings comparing rum-finished whiskeys against standard bourbon
• After-dinner sipping alongside desserts featuring caramel, toasted nuts, or dark chocolate

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Yellowstone Rum Cask taste like? It delivers toasted marshmallow, crème brûlée, and toffee on the palate with cinnamon spice on the entry and a finish of tobacco, clove, and cocoa-seasoned oak. The rum cask influence adds subtle molasses sweetness without overpowering the bourbon's grain character.

How does Yellowstone Rum Cask compare to Angel's Envy Rye? Both are rum cask-finished American whiskeys, but Yellowstone Rum Cask is a bourbon (corn-dominant mashbill) while Angel's Envy Rye is a rye whiskey, resulting in a sweeter, more dessert-forward profile from the Yellowstone versus the spicier, more herbal Angel's Envy. Reviewers note that the Yellowstone keeps its bourbon identity intact rather than letting the rum finish take over.

Is Yellowstone Rum Cask good for sipping neat? Yes — at 100 proof it has enough intensity to reward neat sipping, and the rum cask finish adds layers of sweetness and spice that unfold slowly in the glass. A few drops of water can further open up the crème brûlée and toffee notes.

Where is Yellowstone Rum Cask made? It is produced at Limestone Branch Distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky, a distillery operated by descendants of the Beam and Dant families. The rum finishing casks are sourced from Havana, Cuba.

What foods pair well with Yellowstone Rum Cask? Crème brûlée or flan mirrors the dessert-like toffee notes; smoked pork belly complements the tobacco and clove finish; dark chocolate truffles echo the cocoa-seasoned oak; pecan pie pairs naturally with the brown sugar and molasses sweetness; and aged Gouda's caramel quality harmonizes with the bourbon's toasted oak.

What sizes does Yellowstone Rum Cask come in? The standard release is available in a 750ml bottle.

Is Yellowstone Rum Cask worth the price? It positions as a mid-premium bourbon with a distinctive finishing process and heirloom grain mashbill, placing it competitively among cask-finished bourbons in its tier. The 100-proof bottling, four-year age statement, and Cuban rum cask finish offer tangible value for drinkers seeking something beyond standard bourbon without entering ultra-premium pricing.

Why Yellowstone Rum Cask?

The use of Cuban rum casks is a genuine rarity in the bourbon landscape — most rum cask-finished whiskeys rely on Caribbean barrels of unspecified origin, but Yellowstone sources casks from Havana with a documented provenance. The heirloom corn mashbill further separates this expression from competitors who rely on commercial yellow dent corn, lending a distinct grain sweetness that interacts differently with the rum cask char. At 100 proof and with a restrained nine-week finishing window, Limestone Branch has produced a bourbon that absorbs tropical influence without losing its Kentucky identity. For drinkers who have explored standard cask finishes and want something with traceable sourcing and a focused flavor profile, this bottling makes a compelling case.