The Whiskey Reviewer A World of Whiskey, Poured Every Weekday
By Richard Thomas
Rating: B-
Wyoming Whiskey National Parks No. 2 Small Batch Bourbon
(Credit: Wyoming Whiskey)
Started last year, the Wyoming Whiskey National Parks series embodies the distillery’s partnership with the National Parks Foundation, the official charity of the National Parks Service. Given that they are situated out in Big Sky Country, it’s only fitting that the first two installments in the series are named for the most famous parks on the region. The first release was named for Grand Teton National Park, and this current one is for the even better known Yellowstone. Given that the first batch garnered $120,000 for the National Parks Foundation, this year’s is expected to do even better.
As for what is in the bottle, this is a five year old small batch bourbon, bottled at 105 proof and made from a 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley mash.
The Bourbon
This pour took on a mid-amber look in the glass. The nose more seasoned than what I think of as the benchmark for bourbon, but retained a strong connection to those staple attributes. The vanilla and candy corn sweetness had an extra strong helping of spiciness, but not in the hot and spicy way usually meant by that. Here, I really do mean seasoned when I refer to spices. There is a strong oak current, but also an expression of baking spices that lean heavily on the herbal. The flavor strikes all those same notes, with the finish running woody.
So, Wyoming Whiskey’s Yellowstone special sits well within the boundaries of traditional bourbon, albeit with a noteworthy twist that gives it some character.
The Price
Officially, this bottle is priced at $69.99.
