Yellowstone Bourbon Released a New Double Port Barrel-Finished Whiskey
Another day, another new cask-finished bourbon has been unleashed upon the world. Yellowstone Bourbon announced its new Yellowstone Limited Edition 2026, an annual expression that changes up its formula with each edition. The latest is a double port barrel-finished bourbon, bringing a heavy fortified wine influence to some already well-aged whiskey.
Distiller Joseph Bernard Dant founded Yellowstone in the late 19th century. In 2011, the brand was resurrected by seventh-generation master distiller Stephen Beam, a descendant of both the Dant and Beam families—yes, that Beam family. The brand is owned by Luxco, which in turn is owned by MGP, the Indiana distillery that acquired the company in 2021, along with other whiskey brands like Blood Oath, Ezra Brooks, and Daviess County. A few months ago, MGP announced that it was pausing production at Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown and Limestone Branch in Lebanon, Kentucky, and that latter distillery is where Yellowstone is produced. In a statement last May, MGP president and CEO Julie Francis said the pause was due to the excess capacity and inventory that the American whiskey industry is dealing with as overall demand has declined.
Still, there is clearly whiskey to be finished, blended, and bottled, even if distilling operations might be on hiatus. This new release is said to be inspired by the Grand Canyon in Yellowstone National Park, and that the contrast between light and shadow there influenced Beam’s decision to finish two bourbons separately. That’s certainly a bit abstract, but it’s also not the worst whiskey marketing speak that’s ever seen the light of day. The whiskey is a blend of 7- and 14-year-old bourbon, one of which was finished in ruby port barrels “to evoke the brilliant flare of the canyon’s sunset, the other finished in tawny port casks “to reflect the deep shadow of the valley floor.” The final blend was bottled at 101 proof.
“Every Yellowstone bottle is inspired by the park, and this year I kept coming back to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone National Park,” said Beam in a statement. “The way the sunlight moves across the canyon transforms what you see from moment to moment. Using ruby and tawny port casks allowed me to capture that contrast and translate it into a bourbon that feels dynamic and complete.” We did not get a sample to try yet, but the official tasting notes describe charred oak, blackberry, and piloncillo (Mexican raw cane sugar) on the nose, followed by notes of caramelized sugar, dark fruit, and dark chocolate on the palate.
As you can tell by the name, this is a limited-edition bourbon, and it’s currently only available to purchase at the Limestone Branch Distillery Visitor’s Center (SRP $100), which remains open. It will also hit select retailers around the rest of the country next month.
