Sampling Offerings From Limestone Branch Distillery On Twitter … And Why I Changed My Mind On Which I Like The Best!

The Limestone Branch Distillery Lineup!

Last Wednesday nights @TweetTastings, which was once again ably hosted by Steve from The Whisky Wire, gave us the opportunity to sample three offerings from Limestone Branch Distillery.

The distillery was first opened in 2011 and was founded by seventh-generation distillers and brothers Stephen and Paul Beam.

The drinks sampled were:-

Bowling & Burch Gin

Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey

Yellowstone Family Recipe Bourbon

If you want to catch up on what all the tweet tasters had to say you can view their comments by searching for the hash tag #LimestoneBranchDistillery on Twitter.

So, what did I think?

Here are my tasting notes … and the one which was my favourite on the night!

Tasting Notes – Bowling & Burch Gin (48%)

Bowling & Burch Gin
48% ABV
A small batch gin crafted using 19 botanicals
Currently only available in the US
RRP $39.99

Bowling & Burch Gin which takes its name and inspiration from the Beam brothers ancestors, was created by Stephen Beam, and is the result of his green fingers and passion for experimentation.

8 of the 19 botanicals used to produce Bowling & Burch Gin were grown at the distillery; bitter orange, black cherry, honeysuckle, rosemary, lemon grass, lemon verbena, blackberry and coriander.

Nose: Pungent juniper, strong lemon with hints of orange and thyme. In addition, fresh cut cucumber with additional grapefruit gives way to slight waxiness and there’s also some pepper.

Palate: Sweet and very herbal with tasty lemon and orange. Growing pepper and chocolate.

Finish: The juniper and grapefruit storm through later. With tonic it becomes more savoury.

Overall: This is a gin that’s quite something in its neat state!

Tasting Notes – Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey (45%)

Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey
2 Years Old
45% ABV
Finished in Sherry casks
Available from houseofmalt.co.uk for £44.95

Minor Case Straight Rye, was created by Stephen and Paul Beam, whose grandfather (Minor Case) was making whiskey long before prohibition started 100 years ago, and the brothers still use the same recipes and distilling notes today.

Nose: Deep citrus, lovely toffee, spiced fruit cake and mint! Creamy chocolate with some sweet wood.

Palate: Thinnish, fruity mouthfeel with bubble gum, sweet toffee, spicy cake, cinnamon, chocolate and raspberry.

Finish: There’s just enough peppery spice to offset the sweetness and it all goes down rather glowingly!

Overall: Quite a dram for only two years old – seriously fruity!

Tasting Notes – Yellowstone Family Recipe Bourbon (50%)

Yellowstone Family Recipe
Kentucky Straight Bourbon
6 Years Old
50% ABV
Currently only available in the US
RRP $69.99

Yellowstone Family Recipe Kentucky Straight Bourbon, is truly a family heirloom, passed down for generations. Stephen Beam, Master Distiller at Limestone Branch Distillery, unearthed the original Yellowstone recipe scribed in a notebook from his grandfather, Guy Beam.

That very same recipe, coupled with the original yeast cloned from Minor Case’s jug, was used to distil Yellowstone Family Recipe Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Nose: Toasted peanuts, nut brittle, fresh wet wood and apple.

Palate: Ooh! Sweet nuts! Dusky nuts, all things nuts! Plus some caramel, citrus and pineapple to even the score.

Finish: There’s some fiery spice to finish this – watch out!

Overall: Gotta’ love them nuts!

My Favourite On The Night

I originally voted for Yellowstone Family Recipe Bourbon on the night whereas most tasters chose the Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey. On a subsequent tasting I had to change my mind and agree with them – Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey is quite exceptional considering it’s young age – full of fruit and class!

Many thanks to Steve at The Whisky Wire (@TheWhiskyWire / @TweetTastings) for a great evening and Limestone Branch Distillery (@ChapmanPoolePR) for sending the samples and without whom!