Yellowstone Bourbon is a historic brand which dates back to 1872 and is one of the few Bourbon brands to have been continuously sold since then; 174 years later Stephen Beam is the Yellowstone Master Distiller and Great, Great Grandson of the founder, JB Dant.
While Yellowstone is a Bourbon with many great stories that you would expect from such an old brand, it is also a brand that is looking to the future, and Australia is a target market in its sights.
Yellowstone Bourbon is owned in the US by Luxco International, a leading US beverage alcohol company with many brands in its portfolio, that describes itself as a business that is always looking forward while never forgetting its past.
Speaking about the history of Yellowstone, Luxco’s Managing Director Greg Mefford told Bars and Clubs: “JB Dant opened a distillery in the mid 1850’s. In 1872 one of their salesmen, Charles Townsend came back from a trip excited about the new National Park, Yellowstone. He recommended that they name a bourbon after the park, thinking it would sell very well. It did and quickly became their most popular bourbon, and by the 1960’s Yellowstone was the best-selling bourbon in all of Kentucky.”
Emphasising the company mantra of not forgetting the past, Greg added: “Steve is fortunate that his family held on to significant pieces of our heritage. Old notebooks, pieces of paper with mash bills and recipes, and a very important Dona Jug (a Dona jug is what the distillers used to store his yeast).
“Early on that was one of the main tasks of a Distiller, to maintain the purity of the yeast strain. This is a heavy copper vessel that Steve’s grandfather would bring home with him each day and hang it just into the cool water of their cistern.
“Fast forward 40 years and Steve’s Uncle donates it to the Oscar Getz Bourbon and Whiskey Museum in Bardstown Kentucky where it sat for another 30 years. When Steve was opening the distillery, he wanted to remain as true as possible to the heritage of distilling Yellowstone and began to wonder if he could get a yeast sample from that old jug.
“Steve took it to Dr. Yeast, Pat Heist, a Kentucky legend who was able to get the DNA from yeast in that jug and cross reference that to his vast library of distilling yeast to find a perfect match. With the original Yellowstone Bourbon yeast, grain selection, and barrel specifications Steve honours the past while making Bourbon for the future.”
Yellowstone Bourbon’s mash bill comprises 75 per cent corn, 13 per cent rye and 12 per cent malted barley, which Greg says gives it a nose of, “rye spice with soft, leathered cherries,” a palate of, “smoked caramel with hints of vanilla and honey,” and a finish of, “smokey oak brown sugar”.
He added: “Yellowstone is one of the few Kentucky Bourbons that has been continuously sold since 1872, it even went through prohibition as a medicinal whiskey. The brand and product have really stood the test of time and we’re celebrating 152 years this year.”
Although the brand’s connection with Yellowstone was originally in name only, more recently the brand has become for involved with the national park, as Greg explained. He told Bars and Clubs: “When Steve took over responsibility for the brand he wanted to give back to the park system that had given so much to him and his family. Steve found the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) that does great work, from boots on the ground to lobbying on behalf of the parks.
“Since 2018, Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, has donated more than $750,000 dollars to NPCA to protect and preserve National Parks in The United States. In 2023, NPCA named Yellowstone Bourbon recipient of the National Park Defender award which recognises partners who show exceptional dedication to national park protection and works to educate their customers about the importance of taking action to protect parks.”
Luxco are currently in discussions with Proof Drinks about distribution to Australian bars. In terms of servings, Greg said the Bourbon great sipped straight or on the rocks, is brilliant in an Old Fashioned, and also recommended this winter warmer:
