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:
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