Limestone Branch Distillery

A Family Legacy Etched in Oak & Time

Tucked into the rolling heart of Lebanon, Kentucky, Limestone Branch Distillery is where bourbon history still breathes through the rickhouse walls. Founded in 2011 by brothers Stephen and Paul Beam, the distillery carries a seventh-generation distilling bloodline—one that runs more than 200 years deep through Kentucky limestone, family tradition, and well-worn copper.

This isn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. At Limestone Branch, heritage is alive, hands-on, and poured with intention. Every bottle is a continuation of a family story that predates the modern bourbon boom—and helped build it.

Where Old Names Meet New Fire

Limestone Branch is known for resurrecting historic brands and giving them fresh life through small-batch craftsmanship and bold flavor. Their crown jewel, Yellowstone Bourbon, traces its roots back to 1872, created to honor America’s first national park—and it still carries that sense of place and permanence today.

The portfolio is thoughtfully layered:

  • Yellowstone Select – Polished, balanced, and classic, with a modern Kentucky edge

  • Yellowstone American Single Malt – Grain-forward and complex, bridging bourbon tradition with global whisky influence

  • Limited Edition Releases – Annual bottlings that showcase experimentation, age, and rarity

Then there’s Minor Case Straight Rye, named for the brothers’ great-grandfather. Finished in cream sherry casks, it leans into spice, dried fruit, and subtle sweetness—proof that rye can be both sharp and generous at the same time.

Beyond whiskey, Limestone Branch also crafts Bowling & Burch Gin, an unapologetically botanical spirit made with 17–19 ingredients, several grown right on the distillery grounds. It’s farmhouse gin with Kentucky backbone.

Bringing the Barrel to the People

As a proud stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour, Limestone Branch invites visitors to step inside the process—not just observe it.

🥃 Distillery Tour

~1 hour | Guided

Walk through:

  • The intertwined history of the Beam and Dant families

  • Active fermentation and distillation areas

  • The working production floor where bourbon is still made the hard way

Tours conclude with a tasting that grounds the story in the glass.

🥃 Yellowstone Select Experience

A focused, guided tasting designed for those who want to explore Yellowstone’s expressions in depth—perfect for bourbon drinkers who appreciate nuance and lineage.

🍸 Minor’s Lounge

Part cocktail bar, part community hub. Expect bourbon flights, neat pours, and house cocktails—plus cult favorites like the Bacon Bourbon Bloody Mary.

🛢 Stephen B. Beam Tasting Lodge

A newer addition dedicated to barrel picks, private tastings, and special events. It’s where enthusiasts get closer to the wood, the whiskey, and the decisions that shape each release.

Visitor Details

Address: 1280 Veterans Memorial Hwy, Lebanon, KY 40033
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Reservations: Recommended for tours and tastings

Bonus points: the distillery is dog-friendly, making it an easy favorite for Bourbon Trail travelers rolling deep—with or without four-legged companions.

Why Limestone Branch Hits Different

  • Seventh-generation Beam family distillers

  • Small-batch bourbon and rye rooted in revived heritage brands

  • Distinctive finishes, including cream sherry casks

  • Gin made with estate-grown botanicals

  • Hands-on, educational tasting experiences

  • Warm, welcoming, and unapologetically Kentucky

At Limestone Branch Distillery, bourbon isn’t rushed—and neither is the story. It’s family, fire, limestone, and time, distilled down and poured with purpose. 🥃