whiskeyfortheages, Author at Whiskey for the Ages

WftA Neck Pour Infinity R2 High Proof Bourbon Review

Posted on 12-June-202112-June-2021 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s WftA Neck Pour Infinity R2 Review

reviewed 10-June-2021

WHISKEY FOR THE AGES NECK POUR HIGH PROOF INFINTY BOURBON REVIEW 2:

This second tasting of our Whiskey for the Ages Neck Pour High Proof Infinity Bourbon (WftA Neck Pour Infinity R2) is in a word AMAZING. The nose is inviting with fruit sweetness, spices and oak which are all present on the palate along with lots of pleasant heat. This pour finishes medium long, with nice spicy sweet warmth … I look forward to sampling the next full bottle to discover how this Infinity Bottle Project continues to evolve.

WHISKEY FOR THE AGES NECK POUR HIGH PROOF INFINTY BOURBON REVIEW 2 VITAL STATS:

Category: Infinity Bottle Bourbon
Region: a blend of high proof bourbons from around the USA
Source: See the table below
Infinity Blended Mash Bill*: 73.85% corn, 7.65% rye, 5.94% wheat 12.56% malted barley
Barrel Char*: #3.4
Barrel entry proof*: 124
Age: nas due to many entries from different bottles Infinity Blend
ABV*: 61.72% (123.44 Proof)

*Calculated

Click to learn more about Infinity Bourbon Projects.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, three ounces were poured into a Glencairn and then enjoyed neat.

WHISKEY FOR THE AGES NECK POUR HIGH PROOF INFINTY BOURBON REVIEW 2 NOSE:

At first waft, WftA Neck Pour Infinity R2 has a strong ethanol bite accompanied by scents of sherry, fruit tree blossoms and faint sweet corn. Then come aromas of ripe blackberries, tart caramel apples and sweet cherries in allspice, powdered ginger and white pepper. The fruit sweetness is bolstered by brown sugared graham cracker crust, faint milk chocolate, rich vanilla, brown sugar, buttery caramel, and maple syrup. Continued nosing brings light fresh-cut sawdust and smoky-sweet barrel char. This is an inviting nose.

WHISKEY FOR THE AGES NECK POUR HIGH PROOF INFINTY BOURBON REVIEW 2 PALATE:

I sense alcohol heat on the tongue when the first sip is held. When the mouth acclimates, the fruit aromas along with some new ones pass through to the palate: sherry, wheaty grain, blackberries, sweet Montmorency cherries and plums. Allspice, ginger and pepper are all amplified and cinnamon red hots make an appearance as well. And so do the sweets: brown sugared graham cracker crust, with rich vanilla, buttery brown sugar caramel, and maple syrup provide a nice home for a hint of toasted almonds. All these flavors dominate as dry old oak and smoky-sweet barrel char mix with the soft essence of old leather chaps.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
WftA Neck Pour Infinity R2 is solid an well blended. At first sip it is quite silken, but it becomes rough and gritty after a few moments. In the Glencairn, many fat and thin long lasting clinging legs linger. When they finally do break, the liquid returns to the mahogany colored pool, leaving a fat droplet crown which lasts much longer than one might expect.

WHISKEY FOR THE AGES NECK POUR HIGH PROOF INFINTY BOURBON REVIEW 2 FINISH:

WftA Neck Pour Infinity R2 has a medium long finish which builds to a slow and soft wheaty burn. The sweet cherries and plums fade in on cinnamon, and pepper. The sweets of rich vanilla and buttery caramel are subdued as are the toasted almonds. But now dry oak and the smoky sweetness and leather are more noticeable. And when the last dram is downed, caramel covered oak sawdust wafts from the empty Glencairn.

MY RATING: 93/100

Will I continue with the Infinity Bottle Project? YES
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

While it is impossible for true comparisons because of the nature infinity blends, the score shown above is similar to what I gave after my reviews of Booker’s 2021-01 Donohoe’s Batch, Colonel EH Taylor Barrel Proof B8, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A118, Larceny Barrel Proof B520, Maker’s Mark Private Select – Idaho Director’s Cut 6, and Weller Full Proof.

WHISKEY FOR THE AGES NECK POUR HIGH PROOF INFINTY BOURBON REVIEW 2 TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

Back to …

Brian’s Whiskey Reviews
Individual Reviews

Hillrock Solera Bourbon Review

Posted on 07-June-202109-May-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Hillrock Solera Bourbon Review

Original review written June 1, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

This bourbon surprised me in many ways, and while I don’t think I’d keep it on hand in my bunker, I’d certainly splurge occasionally for this warm, fruity treat! 92/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Hudson Valley, New York
– Distiller: Hillrock Estate Distillery; blend of sourced bourbon (undisclosed source) and Hillrock Estate distilled bourbon
– Classification: Special Finish/Blended Bourbon Whiskey (finished in sherry casks)
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: unpublished
– Casks: unknown char
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 46.3% (92.6 proof)
– Bottle reviewed is from Barrel No. 45
– Price: $79.95 USD in Idaho

Find more information at hillrockdistillery.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn with my sister as well as my father/fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

Carry Hillrock Solera in a flask while trudging through a snowy wood, with pine trees towering over you. While this bourbon may not be the warmest or richest bourbon to enjoy while you’re cold, the flavors are unique enough to distract from the cold. It’s soft, like the snow beneath your feet, and it could certainly bring back a bit of summery fruits to you in the middle of winter.

Photo by Laura Lauch on Unsplash

NOSE:

Soft grains, particularly wheat (maybe even the winter wheat you taste in a Maker’s Mark product) come across the nose first. But there is a lot of flavors to be found here, all dark but I don’t know if I would necessarily say rich. There is a dusting of dark brown sugar, but there is more of a chocolate-covered orange or maybe an acidic berry. But they have definitely been frozen first, as the milk chocolate coating isn’t very strong. I get a wood, but I don’t think that it’s oak. I think it is more pine in origin, and I’d say further that it is a wet pine. There is a smattering of white pepper, dates, and even molasses.

All of these flavors sound like they would lend themselves to a rich aroma, but I think because of the pine, it remains just at dark, as pine is a rather gentle wood. The alcohol isn’t strong per say, but deep inhales can give you a little zing every now and then.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Very, very soft. A bit of a rasp comes at the back of the palate, but otherwise, it’s gentle and welcoming.
– Balance: The wheat flavor evens out the rest of the palate quite well, making all of the sweetness meld together and pair great with the wood and hint of spice.
– Visual: Auburn in color, there is a very defined inverted crown. The droplets fall quickly, but there are many.

– Taste: That chocolate-covered berry from the nose (decidedly not orange) is what I taste first, and there might be a bit of cherry here too. I think the wheat is still here also, contributing a softness that makes it slightly challenging for many other flavors to emerge. I find graham cracker crust, vanilla, a simple syrup, and on top of that a fruit syrup that you could add to a club soda. Meaning, it’s a touch artificial, but I will say that the sweetness is not obnoxious or overpowering. In fact, I quite like it.

The pine is still here from the nose also, but I do think there is more oak here on the palate too! It adds a richness that perhaps the nose was lacking, and with all of these flavors, it is certainly welcome. The alcohol is mild throughout, save perhaps for a slight raspy tickle just at the back of the palate that lifts the other flavors. Doing a Kentucky chew awakens some white pepper, caramel, and a hint of peach juice. It isn’t dangerous, and at just over 92 proof, I wouldn’t expect it to be. With this bourbon, doing a Kentucky chew is fun, and I highly recommend it.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. It’s there in warmth and a bit of flavor, but it truly is quite mild.
– Between Sips: I think a bit of blueberry and milk chocolate linger between the sips, with the wheat surrounding both and making everything very soft.

– No More: The fruit syrup/club soda addition flavor I noted in the palate evolves the further I get into the glass, becoming almost like a port wine – light-hearted, but still deep and flavorful.

The empty Glencairn is rich and oaky, but still with that pine that has remained insistent throughout the entire pour. It’s warm with lingering sweetness, and a great finish to a pretty great bourbon.

WORTH THE PRICE?

$80 is a big ask, certainly, but this is not a bourbon you come across very often (at least we don’t here in Idaho). While maybe too much to seek out consistently to keep in the bunker, I think it is well worth the price, and for a splurge moment, I would definitely reach for Hillrock Solera.

HILLROCK SOLERATE BOURBON REVIEW RATING: 92/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 92/100 to access other whiskies with this rating.

Back to…

Hannah’s Whiskey Reviews
Whiskey Reviews

Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon

Posted on 06-June-202129-May-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon Review

Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon reviewed on 01-June-2021

HILLROCK SOLERA AGED BOURBON SUMMARY:

We’ve been rummaging through our bunker lately finding unicorns we’ve set aside. Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon (Hillrock Solera) is one of these finds and the unique bottle shape made it hard to to pass by. I’m glad we popped the cork on this one. Fresh aromas of citrus and brown sugar provide a solid foundation for flavors of raisin and fig heavily seasoned with ginger, black and green pepper and rye. While this bourbon may be hard to find and won’t become a daily drinker, it will be nice to have around when looking for something different.

HILLROCK SOLERA AGED BOURBON VITAL STATS:

Classification: Infused/Special Finished Whiskey
Region: Hudson Valley, New York
Company: Hillrock Estate Distillery
Distillery: Blend of sourced bourbon (from an undisclosed source) and Hillrock Estate distilled bourbon
Mashbill: Undisclosed, reported to be high rye
ABV: 46.3 (92.6 Proof)
Age: NAS
Price: 79.95 USD in Idaho (2019)
Released: Ongoing
Availability: Allocated, rare
Bottle reviewed is from Barrel No. 45

HILLROCK SOLERA AGED BOURBON BACKSTORY:

^{“Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon is the first American whiskey to be aged in the centuries-old Solera method used traditionally to create exceptional Sherries, Ports, Madeiras, and Cognacs. Recognized internationally, the award whiskey is finished in 20 year old Oloroso Sherry casks …}
^{… Solera aging involves a pyramid of barrels where a small portion of whiskey is removed periodically from the lowest tier of barrels and an equal measure of new whiskey is added to the top barrels. No barrel in the Solera is ever emptied, and over time, the older whiskey in the Solera mingled with the younger whiskies to create unmatched depth and complexity.”}

– From the Hillrock Estate Distillery website

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, I shared this whiskey neat from Glencairn glasses with daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah and daughter Elora.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

HILLROCK SOLERA AGED BOURBON NOSE:

Hillrock Solera has many aromas I rarely get in bourbon, but all are fresh and welcoming. Upon taking the first draw, I sense a bit of an alcohol nip and elements of dried fruit tree blossoms. Continued nosing brings fresh lemon zest and tropical hints of banana and pineapple in a spice blend of ginger, white pepper and rye. I also get light molasses and lots of brown sugar. There’s not much wood on the nose, maybe a little light oak, but to me it’s more like piney sawdust.

HILLROCK SOLERA AGED BOURBON PALATE:

Each sip of Hillrock Solera is easy to hold yet with a strong Kentucky Chew, the mouth gets a warm bite of alcohol. In the mouth I sense a potpourri of dried fruit tree blossoms but few if any other elements of flora. Raisins and figs are about the only fruits I get and they are heavily seasoned in ginger. black and green pepper and rye. Each sip is accompanied by brown sugar, but not in the normal sense. It’s more like the brown sugar one might get in the milk in the bottom of the bowl after being sprinkled on Cheerios. I get very little woodiness in my sips, but what is there is similar to the smoke once might get from toasted wood.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Hillrock Solera is simple and well balanced. There are not many traditional bourbon aromas or flavors, yet at the same time many unexpected subtilties. It has an oily mouthfeel, but it will tickle the tongue, mouth and throat on each swallow. In the Glencairn, a liquid curtain gives way to fast falling legs which transports the whiskey back to the auburn colored pool as it is sipped. And the crown left behind is a near perfect wisp of a ring with few if any droplets to obscure the view.

HILLROCK SOLERA AGED BOURBON FINISH:

Hillrock Solera has a medium long throat warming burn, much more than one might expect from a 92+ Proof bourbon. There aren’t many flavors in the finish and all are quite faint. Maybe some pepper and brown sugar mixed in piney char, but certainly not a traditional bourbon finish … yet it’s nice. And when the last dram is downed, fresh cut oak wafts from the empty Glencairn.

MY RATING: 86/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
But I won’t go looking for Hillrock Solera. I am happy to have a fresh bourbon like this on the shelf, but won’t reach for it often.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 86/100 to access other whiskies with this score.

HILLROCK SOLERA AGED BOURBON TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

Back to …

Brian’s Whiskey Reviews
Individual Reviews