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– Mash Bill: unpublished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– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished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…