A Truly Unique and Attention-Grabbing Single Cask Exclusive at K&L California – American Whiskey News
A Truly Unique and Attention-Grabbing Single Cask Exclusive
Hillrock Estate Solera Aged Single Barrel “#143-A” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($139.99)
“The inherent quality seeps from the glass.” —David Othenin-Girard, K&L SoCal Spirits Buyer
When it comes to luxury bourbon, one name that needs to be on everyone’s radar is Hillrock Estate. This remarkable distillery, built under the guidance of the late, great Dave Pickerell, is redefining how whiskey is made. Crafted using the solera method, this Bourbon blends several different whiskeys at different ages in a network of casks, not unlike a fine Oloroso sherry. The resulting spirit is nothing short of sublime. Calling this single barrel exclusive complex doesn’t do it justice, as it unfolds with a mind-boggling array of scents and flavors. Not a single expense was spared in the crafting of this singular spirit, and it shows. Its unique style, coupled with the mellowing influence of the sherry casks that finish this spirit, results in a whiskey that’s all but impossible to resist. While the Hillrock name may be new to many, it is bottlings such as this that will earn them cult status in no time. We couldn’t be more thrilled to offer such a distinctive (and delicious!) cask. Add this beauty to your collection, and you’ll be a whiskey champion.
The Hillrock Estate is a historic farm in the Hudson Valley. The Victorian house that sits at the apex of the site overlooks the gorgeous Berkshire mountains in the distance and fields of grain that once produced more than half of the nation’s Barley and Rye stocks. In the 1800s, the Hudson Valley was home to over 1000 farm distillers who converted their crops to spirit form when the selling season was over. Jeff Baker, who owns the estate and established its successful sustainable beef operation, tapped the illustrious Dave Pickerell to build a truly world-class distillery on the exceptional property. Their dream of producing a true estate made whiskey was made possible by the ingenious incorporation of a Solera aging system. This continuous aging process allows for the estate to gradually move from sourced spirit to own distilled stocks while continually improving quality and the average age of the product. The complex system begins with four-year-old straight bourbon sourced from high quality established distillers before seeing time in American Oak, Port, Madeira, and Cognac barrels. The final stage of the process is a long finishing step in very old Sherry casks, which offer an incredible mellowing effect. By the time the whiskey has reached this step, the average weighted age is close to ten years, and it will include much older whiskeys in the blend. We’ve loved the Hillrock from the start, but jumped at the chance to offer their excellent product at full strength.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 19, 2019
There are few American whiskies that transcend the category’s gruff persona. Sure, there are expensive whiskeys made at craft and industrial distilleries alike, but only a tiny handful capture that nuanced space that could be considered “luxury.” The Hillrock Estate achieves that feeling without even trying. They’ve put so much time, money, energy, and thoughtfulness into these products — the inherent quality seeps from the glass with almost perfect restraint. Dave Pickerell (RIP) had a field day making Hillrock. I’d never seen him more proud or excited about one of his products than when he talked about Hillrock. But nothing about the story explicitly implies that it’s a luxury product. After all, the “Estate” is actually a farm, but the quality derives directly from a commitment to produce the absolute best regardless of cost. That is a true luxury. Almost no craft producers have achieved such an innovative and well-polished product, so when we had the chance to buy this little cask, we knew we wanted to pick a good one. After many rounds of samples, we found one that captured the incredible intrigue of their standard release, yet turned up the volume to a different level. The wine cask influence, something I’m generally opposed to in bourbon, is so well integrated and built around such a high-quality product that you almost can’t pick out their specific complexities. The nose is a powerful bouquet of hardwood, spice box, roasted nut brittle, caramelized stone fruit, hints of graphite, dried leaves, and white pepper. On the palate, sweet black cherries, fresh tobacco leaf, roasting baking spice, wild honey, and burnt orange peel. Big, bold spice coming out on the finish, which is powerful but not at all hot. The whiskey is like an Hermès tie. It’s not flashy or loud but exudes elegance, class, and above all, good taste. Few American whiskeys can match the quality that is being produced at the little farm upstate, but we’re extremely excited to see the incredible things they’ve got planned and proud to partner on this special cask.
Illya Haase | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 14, 2019
Our friends at Hillrock pull off a very cool way of making a cask strength bourbon. They use the Solera method, which is traditionally done in Spain and Portugal. One transfers a liquid from barrel to barrel, older vintages into younger vintages, etc., the oldest mixtures being in the barrel right “on the ground.” In this case, you wind up with a great mixture of 4-year-old to 13-year-old wonderful whiskeys blended. A whiff from the glass expresses a mixture of earth, vanilla bean, and cinnamon. There’s a nice touch of heat with a complex blend of wood spice, sweet corn, and caramel. The finish is long and smooth with notes of butterscotch and brown sugar. If you are looking for an adventurous and fun gift for the bourbon drinker in your life…look no further!
Will Blakely | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 11, 2019
A wave of sticky nectars and brown sugar rushes from the glass, betraying the decadence therein. Looking past that, however, one finds subtler aromas akin to fine Armagnac, and perhaps a whiff of flor as though from serious, aged sherry. Stewed peaches, cherry compote, and crème brûlée achieve an effortless harmony without feeling too heavy. A youthful undercurrent of sweet corn and fresh grass does remind you that this is, in fact, bourbon, but one could easily mistake this for fine brandy. Be sure to pick up this one-of-a-kind bottle before they’re gone.
Keith Mabry | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 11, 2019
What a standout! This is one of the most polished cask strength bourbons I have tasted in some time. The aromas of spice cake and dried fruits abound with an underlying subtle grain note. The average aggregated age of 13 years gives this a distinct creaminess on the palate and subdues all of the heat from the high proof. This is a superb single cask that could reach cult status down the road.
Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 11, 2019
The uniqueness of this bottling should not go overlooked. First, the solera method bourbonwhat? Secondly, a private barrel of solera method bourbonhuh? Hillrock uses older sourced stock and combines with distillate they are making themselves in their solera style system; over time, the average age gets older and older in the bottle. From what I hear about this K&L selection is the juice is around an average age of 13 years. The nose is sweet and fun, albeit a little hot- giving off notes of French Toast and brown sugar, oak, bakers chocolate, and dried plum. The heat does not translate to the palate and is texturally very pleasant. There’s a good depth of flavor with notes of cherry pit, brown sugar, anise seed, and raw almonds. The finish tapers off quickly, but you are left with a single, long, spiced cherry flavor. This would make a great gift to any bourbon lover and worth trying since the expressions will only get older with time.
