Yellowstone is a name that carries weight in bourbon circles. The brand has roots stretching back to the 1870s, and while the modern incarnation operates differently from its historical predecessor, the Special Finishes Collection has been doing genuinely interesting work. This Rum Cask Finish caught my attention because it sits at a sweet spot — bourbon finished in rum barrels, bottled at 50% ABV, with enough proof to stand up to that secondary maturation without getting bulldozed by it.
What we're dealing with here is a NAS bourbon that's been given additional time in rum casks. That finish is doing real work. Rum barrel finishing on bourbon makes a lot of sense from a flavour chemistry perspective — you're layering tropical sweetness and molasses depth onto a spirit that already leans into caramel and vanilla from its original charred oak ageing. The 50% ABV is a smart choice too. Cask-finishing can sometimes soften a whiskey to the point where it loses its backbone, but bottling at 100 proof keeps the structure intact and gives the bourbon enough muscle to carry those additional flavours without collapsing into syrupy territory.
Tasting Notes
I'd encourage you to approach this one with an open mind. The rum cask influence should bring an added layer of richness and sweetness beyond what you'd find in a standard bourbon profile. Expect the classic bourbon hallmarks — corn sweetness, oak spice, vanilla — to be joined by darker sugar notes and potentially some dried fruit character from that rum barrel time. At 50% ABV, a few drops of water will likely open this up considerably, so don't be afraid to experiment.
The Verdict
At £57.95, the Yellowstone Rum Cask Finish sits in competitive territory, but I think it justifies the price. You're getting a well-constructed finished bourbon at a solid proof point, and the rum cask element adds genuine complexity rather than feeling like a gimmick. This isn't a bourbon pretending to be rum or a rum pretending to be bourbon — it's a bourbon that's been given an extra dimension. The Special Finishes Collection as a whole has shown that Yellowstone understands how to use secondary maturation purposefully, and this release is a good example of that philosophy in action.
Where it loses a mark or two for me is the NAS designation. I'd love to know what age of bourbon is going into those rum casks, because it would help me understand exactly what's coming from the base spirit versus the finish. That said, the liquid in the glass speaks for itself, and what's in there is genuinely enjoyable. A 7.7 out of 10 feels right — this is a bourbon I'd happily recommend and one I'd buy again.
Best Served
This is a natural fit for an Old Fashioned. The rum cask influence means you can back off the sugar slightly — try a barspoon of demerara syrup instead of a full sugar cube, two dashes of Angostura, and a wide orange peel expressed over the top. The rum barrel sweetness fills in the gaps beautifully. If cocktails aren't your thing, pour it neat in a Glencairn and give it five minutes to breathe before your first sip. Add water gradually — at 50% ABV, this one rewards patience.
