Inside The Making Of Wyoming Whiskey’s Tribute To Yellowstone National Park

Each year since 2021, Wyoming Whiskey has released a special edition bottle to highlight America’s national parks, and naturally, particularly those in the state of Wyoming.

The company recently announced the release of its fourth limited edition whiskey in the brand’s annual National Parks Series: the National Parks No. 4 Straight Bourbon Whiskey—Mammoth Hot Springs. This bourbon honors Yellowstone National Park and aims to support its preservation efforts through a collaboration with the official nonprofit partner, Yellowstone Forever.

“The straight bourbon whiskey celebrates Yellowstone, a place of natural wonder boasting half of the world’s known hydrothermal features, including Mammoth Hot Springs,” says David DeFazio, Wyoming Whiskey’s co-founder and National Brand Ambassador in a Zoom interview. “This ever-changing system of travertine terraces has been formed over thousands of years, and the National Parks No. 4 release is a tribute to the park’s unique and evolving landscape.”

Whitney Brunner, partnerships manager at Yellowstone Forever Partnerships Manager, emphasizes the importance of this collaboration, which has so far resulted in $150,000 in donations to support conservation initiatives within the park.

“The work is multi-faceted, scientific and dependent on philanthropic funding,” says Brunner.

Climate change presents serious challenges for the American whiskey industry, impacting weather patterns and the availability of raw materials. Rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall affect the growth of essential grains like corn and barley, potentially leading to shortages and higher costs. Additionally, warmer conditions can speed up the aging process in barrels, altering flavor profiles and reducing the ideal maturation time. As these environmental changes affect the landscape and local wildlife, whiskey producers may need to adapt by sourcing grains from new regions or adjusting aging techniques to maintain product consistency.

The already extreme climate of Wyoming plays a crucial role in the maturation process of Wyoming Whiskey’s products. During the summer, temperature swings of over 55 degrees within a single day influence the maturation of each cask. The barrels breathe in and out dramatically during these temperature fluctuations, allowing the whiskey to interact more intensely with the wood. This process shapes the final character of the spirit, making it uniquely reflective of Wyoming’s climate.

“Wyoming’s environment is tough on the people, but good for the whiskey,” DeFazio says.

One of the key projects funded through this partnership is the restoration of Yellowstone’s native fish species, such as the Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout. Brunner explains that native fish are vital to the park’s ecosystem, serving as a crucial food source for many species, including bears, otters and birds of prey.

Brendan Cook, Wyoming Whiskey’s master blender, draws a parallel between the formation of the park’s natural terraces and the bourbon aging process.

“Mammoth Hot Springs, with its tiered formations and layers of mineral deposits, mirrors the aging process of bourbon, where time and nature intricately shape the final character,” Cook says.

The complex interaction between spirit, wood and the surrounding environment during the aging process contributes to the bourbon’s distinct flavor profile. Like the hot springs, the bourbon evolves over time, developing layers of flavor as it matures. Aged for a minimum of five years, the National Parks No. 4 whiskey offers a blend of flavors such as vanilla, candied ginger, crème caramel and honeysuckle.

Over 70 barrels were carefully selected for the National Parks No. 4 release, with each barrel chosen from specific areas within the warehouse to create layers of flavor. The team’s attention to detail in the blending process ensures that each bottle of National Parks No. 4 bourbon captures the essence of Wyoming’s natural landscape and the park it honors.

In addition to the Mammoth Hot Springs release, Wyoming Whiskey has also launched a new expression called Old Faithful. This marks the first-ever release of a 10-year wheated bourbon from Wyoming Whiskey. DeFazio explains that while previous 10-year editions included rye bourbon, this release pays homage to the vision of the founders and the original master distiller, who aimed to create “the next great wheated bourbon.”

Looking ahead, Wyoming Whiskey intends to continue its focus on conservation efforts through future projects in the National Parks Series. DeFazio emphasizes the importance of these releases in shaping the brand’s legacy.

“National Parks No. 4 reflects Wyoming Whiskey’s commitment to the people, efforts and foundations that help protect and maintain our national parks,” he says.