Rock Hill Farms

Rock Hill Farms

Introduction

This is another single barrel bourbon from Mash Bill #2 at Buffalo Trace. It’s known as the “high rye” mash bill, but it’s really only medium rye. It’s the same mash bill as Blanton’s and Elmer T. Lee, but it’s thought to be older, and it’s bottled at a higher proof. Rock Hill Farms is 10 proof points higher than Blanton’s and 13 proof points higher than Elmer T. Lee. Blanton’s is aged exclusively in Warehouse H, the metal clad warehouse at Buffalo Trace. Rock Hill Farms and Elmer T. Lee are aged elsewhere, though some barrels could conceivably come from Warehouse H. I suspect the latter bourbons were designed to be an upgrade from Blanton’s, but I suspect neither one is aged as long as it used to be. At any rate, it comes in a beautifully designed bottle, with a glass stopper and several artfully drawn horses on the side. Rock Hill Farms commands an exorbitant price on the secondary internet market. This is probably because it’s released less frequently than Blanton’s. Does it deserve this overly inflated price? Is the bourbon as artful as the bottle?

Discussion

I’ve made it abundantly clear through multiple reviews that I really love Blanton’s. It’s a perfectly simple bourbon. It’s ordinary, but it’s done in an extraordinary fashion. I reviewed Elmer T. Lee, and I said it fell flat. It tasted too young and too thin to match the original Blanton’s, much less the Takara Red, the Gold Edition, or the magnificent Straight From The Barrel. So that leads us to Rock Hill Farms. It’s older and it’s bottled at a higher proof. That should make a difference. Right? Well, it does, but not quite enough. Rock Hill Farms is definitely superior to Elmer T. Lee. It’s richer and fuller in flavor. There’s a unique buttered popcorn essence. I feel like I should drink this bourbon at the movies. Some apple and cherry notes are faintly present. Some white chocolate and allspice balance the caramel, vanilla and oak. So, what’s the verdict? Rock Hill Farms is good, but there’s not enough sweetness to compete with Blanton’s. It falls between Blanton’s and Elmer T. Lee in the battle of Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #2 single barrel bourbons. However, Rock Hill Farms has a killer bottle with horses. So, I recommend pairing it with Cool Me Down by Wild Horses.