I’ll be honest, I didn’t know a lot about Yellowstone, or Limestone Branch Distillery, before their rep reached out to us to see if we wanted to pick a barrel. I’ve seen the label at the major chains, but never pulled the trigger. When they sent us the tasting packet with 3 different options to choose from, I was not confident that we would even select one, but that was my own mind getting in the way. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

This summer, the Gamecock Bourbon Society made quick friends with Marc, Faith Anne, and the entire team at Ambrosia Taverna. They were kind enough to give us quiet space for meetings or tastings and delicious cocktails & food between lunch and dinner service. So, when the Yellowstone packet was delivered, we wanted to include their staff in helping us taste the barrels. They are located right downtown Columbia at the intersection of Laurel and Main St. We support local businesses when we can, especially ones that support us, and we thought it fitting to name this bottle “Laurel and Main” due in part to the kindness they have shown us.

So what’s this whiskey all about? I poured 1 oz in a nosing glass and let it rest for roughly 7 minutes.

Nose: Right up front there is loads of fruit, minty rye spice, vanilla, and oak. Canned peaches, gala apples, pear, maraschino cherry, and more vanilla. Reminds me a lot of the notes you would get in the 1792 line-up from Barton. The aromas remind me of an incredible 1792 Full Proof store pick that I absolutely treasure.

Palate and Finish: Once the whiskey hits your tongue, the flavor profile matches the nose, and that’s a good sign after really enjoying the nose for a good 5-10 minutes. There is a good bit of spice on the back end after the first sip but is more muted the more I enjoy the dram. There are a god bit of tannins on this 5 year whiskey, more than I’m used to in this age range, but it reveals an oaky leather layer of flavor as the fruit dissipates.

This whiskey is incredibly complex for a 5-year-old whiskey. I’ve had many whiskies over $100+ that lacked half the complexity of our Yellowstone pick. If you are used to around the 90-proof point, be ready with a glass of water after your first sip to help you navigate the complexity. Go back in for your second sip and find the fruit staring you in the face! Bounce it off your tongue, let it pass down your throat, and breath out through your nose. The amount of flavor profiles you get with “Laurel and Main” make this a worthy purchase for anyone in the $60 price range. Fruit, spice, and everything nice.