Yesllow Stone Select

Yesllow Stone Select is a bourbon from Esplanda, which means a mash bill built mainly on corn, matured in new charred oak. The listing gives no age, proof, mash bill or distillery details, so the profile below describes what bourbon in this style usually offers, not measured notes for this bottle. Expect a corn-driven sweetness in the vein of caramel and brown sugar. Vanilla and toasted oak typically come from the charred barrel, and a little baking spice, such as cinnamon or nutmeg, tends to sit underneath. Some bottlings also show a faint char or light nuttiness on the finish. For a first pour, try it neat in a Glencairn glass. The tulip shape narrows toward the rim and concentrates the aroma, so you can pick out the sweet corn, the oak and any spice before tasting. If the alcohol feels sharp on the nose, add a few drops of room-temperature water. That loosens the spirit and usually opens up the vanilla and caramel notes. For slower sipping, use a rocks glass with one large cube. A big cube melts slowly, so it chills the pour without diluting it quickly. Smaller ice dilutes faster and mutes the sweetness and spice. Bourbon with this kind of profile suits stirred cocktails. In an Old Fashioned, the corn sweetness works well with a sugar cube or a teaspoon of simple syrup, a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters and an orange peel expressed over the top. A Manhattan uses the same oak and spice against sweet vermouth, with a cherry as garnish. In a Whiskey Sour, three-quarters of an ounce of fresh lemon juice balances the sweetness, and an egg white gives a softer, silkier texture if you want it. For a Highball, pour about two ounces over ice, top with cold soda water, and add a lemon wedge. The result is long and dry, and it keeps the vanilla and oak without much sweetness. If you're pairing food, bourbon of this type generally goes well with smoked or barbecued meats, aged cheddar, roasted nuts and dark chocolate. The caramel and char notes tend to match the savory, caramelized flavors in those dishes.