Hillrock Double Cask Sauternes Finished Rye is a 90-proof rye whiskey from Hillrock Estate Distillery in New York's Hudson Valley — a field-to-glass producer, here finishing its double-cask rye in Sauternes wine casks for a honeyed, dried-fruit, dessert-wine layer over the spicy rye base.

Hillrock Estate Distillery in Ancram grows grain on its own estate and malts on-site. This expression finishes the Double Cask Rye in Sauternes casks — Sauternes being a French noble-rot dessert wine from Bordeaux — bringing honeyed sweetness and dried-fruit notes to the rye, a finishing approach more familiar in Scotch single malt than American rye.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Honey, apricot, and dried fruit over rye spice.
• Palate: Spicy rye softened by honeyed dessert-wine sweetness and oak.
• Finish: Long, with sweet fruit and lingering spice.

Specs

• Distillery: Hillrock Estate Distillery, Hudson Valley, New York
• Style: American Rye Whiskey, Double Cask, Sauternes Finished
• Proof: 90 (45% ABV)
• Size: 750ml

Browse more American whiskey at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Sauternes cask finish?

Sauternes is a French noble-rot dessert wine from Bordeaux. Finishing the rye in casks that held it contributes honeyed, dried-fruit, and dessert-wine notes layered over the base rye.

Does Hillrock grow its own grain?

Yes — Hillrock is a field-to-glass distillery, growing grain on its own Hudson Valley estate and operating an on-site malt house.

Where is Hillrock made?

At Hillrock Estate Distillery in Ancram, in New York's Hudson Valley.