Project Description
SEVENTH GENERATION DISTILLERS – KENTUCKY
It all began in 1795, when a man maned Jacob Beam sold his first barrels of corn whiskey.
It all began in 1795, when a man maned Jacob Beam sold his first barrels of corn whiskey.
A RICH LINEAGE IN THE BOURBON INDUSTRY
Limestone Branch was founded in 2011 by Steve and Paul Beam, whose ancestral roots run deep in the Bourbon industry. Their great-great grandfather was Joseph Washington Dant, an early Bourbon pioneer, and their great grandfather was Minor Case Beam, the eldest son of Joseph M. Beam in the legendary Beam lineage.
Since college, it has been a dream for Steve Beam to return the Yellowstone brand back to his family. In 2010, together with his brother Paul, they started Limestone Branch Distillery. Shortly thereafter, they brought the Yellowstone back to the family and restored it to its original glory, more than a century after his great-grandfather Minor Case Beam sold his distillery to J.W. Dant. Limestone Branch Distillery today blends the Beam history and heritage with the brothers’ passion for making great spirits in small batches. Limestone Branch gets its name from the local grain and limestone waters that are readily available around Lebanon, Kentucky, where the distillery is located.
Since college, it has been a dream for Steve Beam to return the Yellowstone brand back to his family. In 2010, together with his brother Paul, they started Limestone Branch Distillery. Shortly thereafter, they brought the Yellowstone back to the family and restored it to its original glory, more than a century after his great-grandfather Minor Case Beam sold his distillery to J.W. Dant. Limestone Branch Distillery today blends the Beam history and heritage with the brothers’ passion for making great spirits in small batches. Limestone Branch gets its name from the local grain and limestone waters that are readily available around Lebanon, Kentucky, where the distillery is located.
THE LIMESTONE FAMILY TREE
THE CURIOUS CASE OF M.C. BEAM
Minor Case Beam, Steve and Paul Beam’s great-grandfather, began working in the bourbon business in 1871. By 1883 he was a master distiller in his own right. Minor Case’s work in the bourbon business was cut short by prohibition. Steve Beam opened Limestone Branch Distillery after being inspired by his great-grandfather’s story. The yeast used at Limestone Branch today is a clone of the yeast collected and reclaimed through DNA from MC Beam’s own jug, which is kept at the distillery. The strain goes back to ancestors Guy Beam and Minor Case, and probably a lot further.
To Craft Only the Finest Whiskey, that was Minor Cases’s mission in life, he never settled for less. In this release, Minor Case Whiskey, you can explore what might have been if the talent-fuelled M.C. Beam had the opportunity to have his stills unsilenced and his production reawakened.
THE CURIOUS CASE OF M.C. BEAM
Minor Case Beam, Steve and Paul Beam’s great-grandfather, began working in the bourbon business in 1871. By 1883 he was a master distiller in his own right. Minor Case’s work in the bourbon business was cut short by prohibition. Steve Beam opened Limestone Branch Distillery after being inspired by his great-grandfather’s story. The yeast used at Limestone Branch today is a clone of the yeast collected and reclaimed through DNA from MC Beam’s own jug, which is kept at the distillery. The strain goes back to ancestors Guy Beam and Minor Case, and probably a lot further.
To Craft Only the Finest Whiskey, that was Minor Cases’s mission in life, he never settled for less. In this release, Minor Case Whiskey, you can explore what might have been if the talent-fuelled M.C. Beam had the opportunity to have his stills unsilenced and his production reawakened.
HOW LIMESTONE MAKES WHISKEY
There’s a bit of art and science in every bottle of bourbon. And maybe a little magic, too. Here’s how it’s all blended together.
There’s a bit of art and science in every bottle of bourbon. And maybe a little magic, too. Here’s how it’s all blended together.
GOING WITH THE GRAIN
It all begins with the mash bill, the basic recipe for the bourbon. For Yellowstone, an open-pollinated white heirloom corn is used which makes for a slightly lighter whiskey flavour. Corn accounts for 75% of the grain bill, with 13% rye and 12% malted barley. A recipe, not so incidentally, that came from Stephen and Paul Beam’s grandfather’s notes.
LET’S COOK
There’s no pressure cooking at Limestone, just an old-fashioned open cook, starting at 200-degrees-plus to break down the starches of the corn. Many larger distilleries cook all the grain at one time, but Limestone spirit takes a three-stage temperature cook. After the corn the temperature is lowered, the rye added, and ultimately the temperature is lowered again before adding the malted barley.
GOOD PITCH
After the cook, it’s time to lower the temperature and pitch the magic yeast. Once the yeast is pitched and fermentation begins, it will continue for roughly 72 hours and produce what is called distillers beer, at about 8 to 10% alcohol.
FIRST RUN
The distillers beer then heads into the 600-gallon pot still for a stripping run, turning the beer into 250 gallons of what is now called low wine, at 25 to 30% alcohol.
CUT TO THE CHASE
The low wine then goes into a traditional alembic still to boil off volatile compounds (in a variety of steps called cuts — the foreshot, the head, the tails, and the heart). The heart is ultimately what is collected to go into barrels — now as close to 100 proof as possible.
By then, 600 gallons of water and 950 pounds of grain have turned into one 53-gallon barrel of whiskey. All that remains is to actually transfer it into newly charred oak barrels to begin the aging process.
THE REBIRTH OF YELLOWSTONE®
For years, it has been a dream for Steve Beam to return the Yellowstone brand back to his family. In the spring of 2015, over a century after his great-grandfather, M.C. Beam, sold his distillery to Yellowstone®, that dream came true. To celebrate this family reunion of sorts, they bring you Yellowstone® Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
To the nose, it’s leather with hints of citrus and oak. On the tongue, it’s spicy rye with soft cherries fading to smoked caramel. And a memorable finish, rich with brown sugar and Kentucky tradition.
THE REBIRTH OF YELLOWSTONE®
For years, it has been a dream for Steve Beam to return the Yellowstone brand back to his family. In the spring of 2015, over a century after his great-grandfather, M.C. Beam, sold his distillery to Yellowstone®, that dream came true. To celebrate this family reunion of sorts, they bring you Yellowstone® Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
To the nose, it’s leather with hints of citrus and oak. On the tongue, it’s spicy rye with soft cherries fading to smoked caramel. And a memorable finish, rich with brown sugar and Kentucky tradition.