The port cask finishing for this rye creates a strong, and unusual taste profile. I like it a lot, it just adds a lot to the typical tastes you would find in a rye. The nose has a lot of that classic rye spiciness, along with some more fruity flavors, presumably from the port cask. It has a strong flavor on the palate as well with the spice from the rye a little more muted than it comes across on the nose. Those fruit flavors in the smell really take over on the palate, and I think out of everything I can pick out raisin as a specific flavor. The finish has a good amount of smoke to it that compliments the spice and fruit flavors from earlier. Hillrock Port Cask Finished Double Cask Rye has a lot of the characteristics of a classic rye whiskey, and the port cask finish is a neat addition to the style.
Hillrock Estate Port Cask Finished Double Cask Rye
About this bottle
The foundation of this whiskey is Hillrock’s Double Cask Rye, which is made from 100% organic rye grown in the fields surrounding its Hudson Valley, NY distillery. It’s first aged for 2.5 years in a new oak barrel with a No. 3 char, then another year and a half in a new barrel with a No. 4 char. Then Master Distiller Dave Pickerell takes this very whiskey and gives it a 4-6 week nap in ex-port barrels. In essence it’s a triple cask, but “Port Cask Finished Double Cask” is just more fun to say.
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 6 parsed reviews.
Port is imperceptible on nose and palate. There’s no indication it’s a port finish on the bottle and I wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t. To be clear, I ordered the port finish online. There is some misaligned sweetness that I’m attributing to the port, but it is not harmonious with the rye. This is too young for me too. Grainy nose and palate. All that said, as a distillery focused on estate growth and production, I’m okay with it. From a value perspective, it’s not a deal, but I’ll support the cause.
Deep and rich. Beautiful color. I get cedar and tea on the nose and taste. This is quite a unique offering and I’m not in the mood everyday for it, but after a few warmup tastes, moving to this usually hits quite nicely. This isn’t for everyone and is pricey, so you may want to taste before the splash.
I like the fact it is finished in port barrel and you can smell it at first. Hints of nutmeg, port taste
Picked this up while at the distillery doing a tour/ tasting. Delightfully smooth
Big tobacco and rum like nose, huge rye punch on the palate. Super unique.
Tastes like this
Closest flavor profiles across the whole catalog.
