Raising a Glass to America with Yellowstone Bourbon

At Truluck’s, we don’t choose a spirit for the menu simply because it is well-known. We choose it because it has a story, a sense of place, and the ability to create a memorable experience for our guests.

This July, as we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, it felt right to pour a spirit with a uniquely American story: Yellowstone Bourbon

All month long, Truluck’s will feature a Yellowstone Bourbon Paper Plane, a bright, balanced cocktail made with Yellowstone Bourbon, Aperol, Rabarbaro Zucca Amaro, and fresh lemon. Polished, refreshing, and full of character, it’s exactly the kind of cocktail I like to introduce to guests who appreciate bourbon but also want something lively and beautifully suited for summer.

A Bourbon with a Family Story

Yellowstone isn’t just a bourbon with a history behind it.  It is a bourbon with family behind it.

Stephen Beam, Yellowstone’s Master Distiller, comes from one of Kentucky’s great bourbon lineages. He is a seventh-generation distiller and a descendant of both the Beam and Dant families, names that are deeply woven into the story of American whiskey. Along with his brother Paul, Stephen founded Limestone Branch Distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky, and helped bring Yellowstone Bourbon back into family hands.

That matters to me, and it’s one of the things I appreciate most about Yellowstone Bourbon.

In the beverage world, we talk a lot about craftsmanship. But craftsmanship is about commitment and connection.  It just means more when it is connected to people who have spent their lives understanding the product — how it is made, where it comes from, and why it deserves to endure. Stephen Beam speaks about Yellowstone with a personal connection. It is not just a bourbon he makes. It is a legacy he helped restore.

“Bourbon really comes down to four major components: the grain, the barrel, the yeast, and the aging. Yeast plays a very important role, and our strain dates back to at least the late 1800s, if not the 1700s.

It was my great-grandfather Minor Case Beam’s yeast strain from his own distillery. He passed it down in a jug to my grandfather, and eventually that jug sat in my uncle’s basement for many years. My uncle later donated it to the Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History, where it remained on a shelf until I founded Limestone Branch Distillery in 2011.

When we started the distillery, I reached out to the museum to see if we could match the DNA of that original yeast strain and bring it back into use. To me, that is what makes this bourbon so meaningful. It is not just about making whiskey. It is about carrying forward a family legacy.”

– Stephen Beam, Master Distiller

Why Yellowstone Belongs in This Moment

Yellowstone Bourbon dates back to 1872, the same year Yellowstone National Park was established as America’s first national park. That connection gives the brand a uniquely American foundation — one rooted in exploration, preservation, and a respect for the natural beauty of this country.

As Truluck’s celebrates America’s 250th anniversary, we wanted to highlight partners who speak to American craft in an authentic way, which Yellowstone does beautifully. It is approachable but still layered. It has heritage, but it does not feel stuck in the past. It is the kind of bourbon that works for someone who already loves whiskey, while still welcoming guests who may be newer to the category.

That balance is exactly what makes it a perfect fit for the Paper Plane.

The Yellowstone Bourbon Paper Plane: A Toast to America’s 250th at Truluck’s

The Paper Plane is one of those cocktails that proves balance is everything.

Yellowstone Bourbon brings warmth, structure, and depth. Aperol adds a bittersweet brightness. Rabarbaro Zucca Amaro gives the cocktail its complexity, while fresh lemon lifts the entire drink and keeps it crisp. When these ingredients come together, the result is smooth, expressive, and easy to enjoy without being overly simple.

It is a bourbon cocktail, but it does not drink heavy. It has enough character to start a special evening, but enough freshness to feel right for July.

I especially like it before dinner with oysters and chilled seafood, or as the first toast at the bar before settling into a great meal.

Truluck’s Paper Plane

Glass:   Collins

• 1 oz. Yellowstone America’s 250^thSingle Barrel Bourbon selected by Truluck’s
• 1 oz. Aperol
• 1 oz. Zucca, Rabarbaro (or Montenegro, Amaro)
• ½ oz. Lemon Juice

Add all ingredients, along with ice, to a mixing glass. Stir very well until chilled (at least 30 stirs). Strain over ice into a Collins glass.

Garnish: a broad cut orange twist and a large mint sprig

A Toast to American Craft and Hospitality

America’s 250th anniversary gives us a chance to celebrate more than a milestone. It gives us a chance to celebrate the makers, growers, fishermen, distillers, and hospitality professionals who all bring something special to the American table.

At Truluck’s, we showcase and celebrate their commitment every day through the seafood we source, the steaks we serve, the wines and spirits we select, and the care our teams bring to every guest interaction.

And this July, the Yellowstone Bourbon Paper Plane is our way of raising a glass to heritage, craftsmanship, family legacy, and the simple pleasure of getting together.

Join us throughout the month of July at Truluck’s and enjoy the Yellowstone Bourbon Paper Plane.

Toast to America, Great Bourbon, and Moments Worth Savoring

FAQs

What is the Yellowstone Bourbon Paper Plane at Truluck’s?

Truluck’s Yellowstone Bourbon Paper Plane is a bright, balanced cocktail made with Yellowstone Bourbon, Aperol, Rabarbaro Zucca Amaro, and fresh lemon, featured throughout the month of July in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.

What is in a Paper Plane cocktail?

The Paper Plane is a balanced, equal-parts-style cocktail; Truluck’s builds its July version with Yellowstone Bourbon, Aperol, Rabarbaro Zucca Amaro, and fresh lemon for a bittersweet, citrus-forward, summer-ready pour.

Who makes Yellowstone Bourbon?

Yellowstone Bourbon is made by Limestone Branch Distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky, led by seventh-generation Master Distiller Stephen Beam, a descendant of the Beam and Dant whiskey families.

Why does Truluck’s feature Yellowstone Bourbon for America’s 250th anniversary?

Truluck’s chose Yellowstone Bourbon because it dates to 1872 – the year Yellowstone National Park became America’s first national park – giving it an authentically American heritage that fits the country’s 250th anniversary.

What food pairs with the Yellowstone Bourbon Paper Plane?

Truluck’s recommends the Yellowstone Bourbon Paper Plane before dinner with oysters or chilled seafood, or as a first toast at the bar ahead of a steak or seafood entrée.

Where is Yellowstone Bourbon distilled?

Yellowstone Bourbon is distilled at Limestone Branch Distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky, where brothers Stephen and Paul Beam helped return the brand to family hands.

When can I order the Yellowstone Bourbon Paper Plane at Truluck’s?

Truluck’s features the Yellowstone Bourbon Paper Plane from July 1-31, 2026.