We hear you. We feel you. The holidays are coming and instead of cozy Norman Rockwell scenes, we’re looking at Zoom-y screen-fests with far-flung loved ones. Who wouldn’t welcome something splendid at the table to anchor our weary hearts and souls after such a trying year?
Drum roll, please. We’d like to present our very special Hillrock Solera aged bourbon whiskey, finished in used Sauternes casks from Chateau Tour Blanche. This bourbon was hand-selected by legendary master distiller, Dave Pickerell (who passed away in late 2018), and 67 Wine’s own wine and spirits buyer, Oscar Garcia. At 52.7% alcohol by volume, the whiskey was bottled at cask strength to showcase its purity and essence.
It appears that since its inception, Hillrock has taken unusual care with every step of their artisanal “grain to glass” process—from building the first new on-site malthouse since Prohibition days, to growing their heirloom grains responsibly and organically, applying terroir practices and bringing back the traditional solera aging process-- all aimed at creating complexity and depth of flavor in its whiskies.
Let’s address the bottle first: Its squarish, broad shouldered shape has an extra-weighty chunk of glass at its base--a serious bottle. On the back is a pressed-glass coat of arms and golden script telling a bit about the post Revolutionary days when the Hudson Valley was the nation’s breadbasket, and the 1806 grain merchant’s estate which now houses the distillery.
The bottleneck is adorned with a royal red and gold collar and crowned with a dark wooden cork topper. It’s so imposing, you may not know whether to open the bottle or salute it.
Hint: open it and grab a glass to taste a dram of the reddish dark amber whiskey. I find it sophisticated, refined, with all the elements—the spiciness of rye, notes of clove, raisin, vanilla and warm sugar-- fully finished, complex and subtle.
Now, who wouldn’t want this fine-looking, well-bred and stimulating guest at their holiday table?
By Barbara Chapman, La Bourbonessa, with Oscar Garcia of 67 Wine
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