This post sponsored by the Glencairn Whisky Glass

Limestone Branch Distillery is one of my favorite artisan distilleries. They have a rich heritage being founded by Steve and Paul Beam. Not only is the Beam family tradition in their DNA but also the Dant family is part of their family history. Steve Beam is the distiller for the family, having made up his mind to get his branch of the family back in the distilling business in 2012.

Steve Beam has access to many historical family documents that include mash bills from his family. He has been experimenting with many of these mash bills and I believe that this whiskey is made from one of those mash bills. It is still young but it is good Bourbon. I do hope he has continued to make this experimental whiskey. He is very open as to what is in the bottle. The mash bill is 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% malt. The barrel entry proof is 99.86 proof. It was aged 25 months in a number three char barrel.

Limestone Branch Experimental Collection Bourbon

Proof: 95

Age: 25 months

Nose: Corn with vanilla and ripe apples and oak.

Taste: Corn husks with vanilla and white pepper spice. Tasted with a dried cranberry enhances the corn notes and reduces the vanilla. Tasted with a pecan and the oak is enhanced.

Finish: Short but with a nice oak and citrus fruit note. The cranberry enhances the oak in the finish while the pecan lengthens the finish making it very dry with lots of oak.

Today I chose an Alec Bradley Tempus Tubo to pair with this whiskey. I find the smoke to be a rich dark tobacco with chocolate notes and cedar spice. I find the Bourbon brings out caramel notes and more spice in the smoke. The smoke takes the note of corn husks out of the Bourbon and enhances the citrus notes on the finish. It is a very good pairing.

Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller