HillBilly Bourbon Review

BOTTLE DETAILS

• DISTILLER: HillBilly Bourbon (Sourced from MGP)
• MASH BILL: 78% Corn  |  18% Rye  |  4% Barley
• AGE: Aged a minimum of 6 months
• YEAR: 2019
• PROOF: 86 Proof (43% ABV)
• MSRP: $19.99
• BUY ONLINE: Wine-searcher.com

LEE'S NOTES

NOSE: Corn Husks |  Cookie Dough  |  Cherries

TASTE: Cookie Dough |  Hint of Vanilla  |  Slight Spice

FINISH: Very thin mouth feel with a slight hint of cherry pie and a little spice.

SHARE WITH: It appears this bourbon is targeted for those who are young, new to bourbon and love the outdoors. I would share this on a camping trip or at a football tailgate.

WORTH THE PRICE: It’s only $20 a bottle so springing for a bottle to share shouldn’t be a problem.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: I always suggest you try this at a bar if possible, but the price point is not overbearing for a bottle purchase.

OVERALL: This is a very young bourbon. And it tastes like it. According to the distillery it is sourced distillate from MGP and is a blend of barrels aged somewhere between 6 and 20 months. While you definitely get a young bourbon, doughy taste some pleasant underlying notes do come through. I tried this neat, with a few drops of water and on the rocks. A few drops of water didn’t make any discernable difference in the taste. On the rocks, some of the youthful taste disappeared and a little more cherry came out.

I would not buy a bottle of this because of its youth and because at 86 proof it is a little light for me. I believe that because of its youth it probably won’t impress too many higher proof bourbon drinkers. However, for those new to bourbon or if camping or at a tail gate it does the trick. HillBilly Bourbon also makes a 101 proof bourbon that sells for $24.99. According to the distillery the 101 is a blend more toward the older end of the 24 months. I would like to try this one sometime to see how the higher proof and a little extra age affects the taste.

Also, according to the distillery, there are plans to release Straight Bourbon late in 2020 and an older (4 years or more) in 2021. I look forward to tasting these older expressions as they come online just to see the progression of the aging on the MGP distillate. Future plans include the continued sourcing from MGP but HillBilly would like to eventually move to their distillery once they reach “critical mass.”

HillBilly Bourbon is currently available in liquor stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Tennessee, and Colorado. On a recent trip to Pennsylvania, I did see it on the liquor store shelf.

BRAND NOTES

Successfully launching in March 2016, HillBilly Bourbon is an American whiskey inspired by the founders  patriotism, pride of the South and passion for the unique American outdoor lifestyle. Barrel aged at 117 proof and bottled a the ideal percentage of alcohol content to ensure a quality whiskey, HillBilly Spirits delivers an authentic, award winning and country-cool line up of American Whiskey for consumers in four different proofs that are smooth enough to drink neat, stand up to ice, crated into creative drinks, or chilled with a beer back.

HillBilly, a brand inspired by founders, Shon Lees and Mike Abbaticchio’s long standing friendship and passion for the outdoors, offers an approachable, high-quality bourbon. Each expression is produced with every type of whiskey drinker in mind.

HillBilly 86 proof – Awarded the Silver Medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and known as the most versatile whiskey in the HillBilly Spirits line up; a hint of sweet corn with a smooth, spicy bite on the finish, this bourbon whiskey is aged in newly crafted charred American oak barrels and bottled at 86 proof for a full flavor.  This spiritis best served on the rocks or in your favorite Bourbon cocktail, with lemonade or in an American Green Tea shot.

TASTING NOTES

Aroma: Spicy wood background with a hint of sweet corn and vanilla

Taste: A medium bodied whiskey with flavors of sweet corn, vanilla, and rye

Finish: Sweet and warm with a finish of spicy

HillBilly Bourbon is an American whiskey and a rally cry for those proudly enjoying the great American outdoors. Barrel aged and bottled at 86 proof and 101 proof, HillBilly Bourbon is smooth enough to drink straight, with cola or a beer back. One sip or swig and you’ll taste the pride in HillBilly Bourbon. Born Country. Raised Outdoors.

-Shon Lees and Mike Abbaticchio Founders, HillBilly Bourbon

ABOUT HILLBILLY BOURBON

HillBilly Bourbon is the American whiskey for those who were born country and raised outdoors.  The award-winning Bourbon is inspired by the founders’ American patriotism, pride of the South and passion for the uniquely American outdoor lifestyle. All HillBilly Whiskeys are barrel aged at 117 Proof ad bottled at their percentage of alcohol (ABV) content to ensurea quality whiskey that is smooth enough to drink straight, stand up to ice, crafted into a creative drink, or just shot chilled with a beer back. Currently overseen by Guillermo T. Rodriquez, Chairman and CEO of HillBilly Spirits, Inc and founder and CEO of 4 Corners Spirits Company, a company dedicated to the creation, distribution, and development of distilled spirits, Rodriguez brings over 25 years of commercial and general management experience in the beverage alcohol industry, working with renowned companies such as Barcardi USA, in a variety of roles. The HillBilly Spirits whiskey portfolio has won numerous awards including most recently two silver medals and one double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition along with an 89 Point Best Buy rating by the Wine Enthusiast. HillBilly Bourbon is currently available in liquor stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Tennessee, and Colorado. HillBilly Bourbon, is distilled in Indiana and aged and bottled in South Carolina.

Disclaimer: HillBilly Spirits provided Bourbon & Banter with a sample of their product for this review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.