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Yellowstone’s Limited Edition series has run annually since 2015. Each year they showcase a new finishing cask while keeping the proof (101), release timing (September), and bottle design consistent. The 2024 release keeps that tradition but introduces the line’s first double-finish – applying both Cognac and French Brandy casks to a blend of 7- and 17-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon. Then it gets bottled at 101 proof. Production was limited to 10,000 three-bottle cases with an MSRP of around $100.
The 2024 edition follows two years of “dessert” wine finishes. In 2023, Yellowstone utilized Tokaji barrels to finish a blend of 7, 13 and 16-year-old bourbon. The year prior, the finishing cask was Marsala Superiore with a bourbon blend that was roughly the same as the 2023 version. Both carried the same proof and MSRP, demonstrating the line’s consistency.
The 2024 Yellowstone LE release
The things we know about 2024’s blend are the age of the bourbons and the finishing casks. Mash bill, entry proof, and warehouse codes are not disclosed. The biggest unknown is the distillate source. The company line is “undisclosed Kentucky distillery(ies),” and the plural is deliberate. Looking back, Luxco, the parent of Limestone Branch and Yellowstone, has historically sourced from multiple Kentucky producers. Chuck Cowdery noted years ago that Yellowstone used to disclose Heaven Hill, but now draws from more than one distillery. The Whiskey Wash confirmed the same for the 2016 Limited Edition, which used both 7- and 12-year barrels from multiple sources.
With a 17-year component in the 2024 edition, Heaven Hill is the most logical candidate for the older stock, given Luxco’s past sourcing contracts and the availability of age inventory from that distillery. The 7-year portion is less clear. It could also be Heaven Hill, but speculation in enthusiast circles has occasionally included Beam or even Barton. Many people have seen barrels labeled with “Barton” located inside some of the aging warehouses/shipping containers at Limestone Branch. Of course, their own distillate is technically old enough to be included, but production volume remains very small and when their whiskey has appeared in past LEs, it was explicitly disclosed. The absence of that claim here suggests it is not a major component.
Corporate context adds another layer. In 2021, MGP acquired Luxco and placed Limestone Branch/Yellowstone under its Brands Division. That gave Stephen Beam access to a broader pipeline of sourced Kentucky bourbon while still retaining creative control. The result for the 2024 LE is a blend that pulls from established stocks, receives a double finish, and is bottled in the line’s familiar format.
Outside the bottle, Yellowstone continues its partnership with the National Parks Conservation Association, having donated over $1,000,000 since 2018. While not a production detail, it is part of the brand and Limited Edition line’s identity.
So how does the 2024 release taste? Let’s find out. I sampled this neat in a glencairn.
Tasting Notes
Nose: It must be the fruit brandy talking because the first scents I’m smelling are orchard fruit leading with pear and white grapes. This is followed by vanilla and the scent of leather (which is kind of a Barton trait). Secondary notes include grated ginger, brown sugar and cinnamon. Overall, the nose is both bright and warm and I really enjoy it. Tannins are secondary with some oak, but it seems softer than the 17-year-old component would have me believe.
Palate: The first flavors to hit my tongue are candy apple and apricot. More sweetness comes from caramel and crème brûlée. Classic bourbon notes like vanilla, cherry, light baking spices and toasted oak can all be found. The grapey fruitiness of the brandy/cognac adds a lighter touch that doesn’t stand out a ton, but I think that many who are weary of finished bourbons will appreciate that. The proof feels moderate with the heat coming across as restrained.
Finish: Stone fruit and brown sugar fade into honeyed pear and more white grape. Ginger and cinnamon linger while some of the oak turns dry. Overall, the finish still leans towards the sweet side and is generally well done.
Score: 7.7/10
Yellowstone Limited Edition 2024 stands apart from the two prior years by introducing the line’s first double-finish. The use of Cognac and French brandy casks brings fruit-driven complexity without the heavy-handed sweetness of the Tokaji and Marsala experiments.
The age split of 7 and 17 years adds intrigue, though the source remains undisclosed. Heaven Hill remains the strongest candidate for the older component, while the younger stock could plausibly come from the same place or another Kentucky distillery. What is certain is that Limestone Branch’s own whiskey is unlikely to make up a meaningful part of the 2024 blend.
Final Thoughts
In the glass, the whiskey shows balance and restraint. The Cognac and brandy barrels contribute orchard and stone fruit notes, while caramel and baking spice keep it grounded in classic bourbon territory. It may not satisfy those looking for a dense or oak-driven dram, but it succeeds as a lighter-fruited expression within the Yellowstone LE lineage. If you’re a fan of the casks they chose and are willing to pay MSRP, then this bottle is for you.