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Whiskey Review: Hillrock Double Cask Rye

We review Hillrock Double Cask Rye, heralding from a grain to glass farm style distillery in New York.

OVERALL RATING

8
$75.00
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Hillrock Double Cask Rye

Tasting Notes

About:

90 proof, 45% ABV, distilled and aged entirely in Hudson Valley, NY. No age statement, but the mash bill is 100% rye. One bottle retails for between $75-$100.
Appearance:
Deep cherry red oak, silky and viscous deep legs.
Nose:
Sour brown bread, wheatgrass, sweet brown sugar, pine trees and burnt buttery toast.
Palate:
Starts with quite a bit of sweetness, figs and candied ginger. Butterscotch, lavender, clover and other herbal notes taste like the smell of flowers in a gorgeous country field somewhere, and I feel like that has a lot to do with the terroir of the region. On the back end, flavors unfold into cinnamon and bitter charred oak notes, with tingling rye spice in the background throughout. The mouthfeel is oily, and complements the dichotomy of bitter and sweetness. The finish gradually, pleasantly mellows into cinnamon and rye spice.
Finish:
Comments:
I so appreciate producers taking the time to do things right. Slowly, hand-crafting these whiskies is nothing short of a massive undertaking and I have so much respect for what Hillrock has to offer. I like their double cask rye more on the front end than on the back end. I see that they’re trying to create a balance between sweet and bitter notes from the region, but I think the more bitter flavors can be a bit harsh after the full-bodied sweetness on the front end, and the split between the two is a little harsh. I like each flavor individually; I am not so certain they make the perfect pair – but they do come pretty close.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Shauna McKnight

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