Rock Hill Farms question

[Enoch]

A liquor store up here in Virginia has several bottles of Rock Hill Farms that they special ordered and was never picked up for $55 a fifth. I've never seen it in SC so I was wondering if it is worth it. Thanks for input.

[kickert]

I like RHF, but there are many BT iterations that I like just as much for $20 cheaper.

[RickF]

In the North Carolina ABC stores, it is $49.95. That said, most of the stores do not stock it, but they can order it and sell it at that price.

RHF is one of my favorites. I picked up a bottle when I was visiting Louisville last month, but I cannot remember what I paid for it there.

[SMOWK]

RHF is a good bourbon. The current bottle on my shelf is spectacularly minty. I really enjoy this one.

[humchan2k]

is Rock Hill Farms just a different version of BT bourbon? Who makes it? So much to learn!

[kickert]

RHF is made from Buffalo Trace's higher rye mashbill (#2). There are several different bourbons from that mashbill: Ancient (Ancient) Age, Rock Hill Farms, Hancock President's Reserve, Blantons, Elmer T Lee, Virginia Gentleman.

They also have a lower rye mashbill (#1) that includes: Benchmark, Eagle Rare, Old Charter, Buffalo Trace and George T Stagg

Their wheat mashbill includes the Weller and Van Winkle lines and their Rye whiskey mashbill gets the Van Winkle Ryes and the Sazarac lines.

They now own the Tom Moore distillery and thus all of those mashbills as well. There is a recent post covering that as well.

Of course mashbill is not all that matters. There is significant variance among different bottles based on a number of factors, but that information should get you started. If you like Eagle Rare, then try Old Charter for a cheaper pour. If you love Elmer T Lee (or any of the others in Mashbill #2) then you might feel more comfortable buying a bottle of more expensive RHF.

Hope that helps.

[ratcheer]

Rock Hill Farms is one of my two or three top favorites. I would pay $55 for it in a heartbeat.

Tim

[CorvallisCracker]

RHF is made from Buffalo Trace's higher rye mashbill (#2). There are several different bourbons from that mashbill: ... Rock Hill Farms...Blantons...

[humchan2k]

WOW! Thank you for all of this info, I LOVE this website!!!!!!

I have to say, honestly, the folks on this site are so cool..thanks, I love learning this stuff.

[humchan2k]

Another Oregon boy? Nice!

[CorvallisCracker]

WOW! Thank you for all of this info, I LOVE this website!!!!!!

I have to say, honestly, the folks on this site are so cool..thanks, I love learning this stuff.

[humchan2k]

I'm a lurker.....I read all the time, and am always on the hunt for the good stuff, but since I'm out west, I don't really ever get any dusties in my neck of the woods...my best find in my life so far was when I went to New Orleans for Jazz Fest back in April and found a bottle of Handy Rye '09.....so most times, I just read and learn as much as I can....but thanks for noticing!

Maybe I'll post my results when I have the rye tasting I am planning. I am going to do Handy, baby Saz, Saz 18, Old Potrero...and one garbage rye like Overholt...LOL.

[Josh]

Another difference between Blanton's and RHF is that RHF is 100 proof (I think it used to actually be a BiB) and Blanton's is 92, I think. Unusual for a bourbon (but not a SMS).

Fun fact from the Blanton's website: Blanton's is distilled in new oak barrels. I don't know if that means the still is a new oak barrel or that the distillers are wearing them when it's distilled.

[sailor22]

A recent head to head tasting showed shelf ETL and RHF very similar.

I'm not sure where I got the info but I'm under the impression that RHF is batched from the barrels in the same location as ETL. Representing the ones that are not chosen single barrels for ETL.

[SMOWK]

and one garbage rye like Overholt...LOL.

Hey that's what I'm drinking now. It's not great, but it's not garbage. It's good for shooting with a beer. I think it has improved a lot over the past few years. Rye is definitely making a comeback. It has been invading my bunker as of late.

[kickert]

Another difference between Blanton's and RHF is that RHF is 100 proof (I think it used to actually be a BiB) and Blanton's is 92, I think. Unusual for a bourbon (but not a SMS).

Fun fact from the Blanton's website: Blanton's is distilled in new oak barrels. I don't know if that means the still is a new oak barrel or that the distillers are wearing them when it's distilled.

[Enoch]

Thanks for the info. I did pick up an ETL for 24.95 which is cheaper than SC.

[Josh]

That very well could be the most annoying website I have ever been to.

All it's missing is a snorting buffalo running across the bottom. Hmmm...this has given me an idea for a new thread...

[ratcheer]

A recent head to head tasting showed shelf ETL and RHF very similar.

I'm not sure where I got the info but I'm under the impression that RHF is batched from the barrels in the same location as ETL. Representing the ones that are not chosen single barrels for ETL.

[Parkersback]

I am pretty well convinced that RHF, ETL, and Blanton's are all the same whiskey, differing only in barrel selection. It is also my understanding that Blanton's and RHF are the "higher end" of the three, with Blanton's chosen for a sophisticated taste profile and RHF chosen for big, bold flavor. ETL is still very good stuff.

All three have a solid standing in my top five favorite bourbons.

Tim

[sailor22]

Even the bottles of ETL that have had that were nothing special were very well balanced and did nothing wrong - they just weren't inspiring. I have had a couple of ETL that were among the best Bourbons I have ever experienced. Yaz pays yer money and yaz takes yer chances.

I have had some RHF and Blanton's that were all front or all back or in the case of Blanton's just hot and thin.

[jburlowski]

FWIW, I have never had a bottle of ETL that wasn't top notch.

[ODaniel]

Yea I love ETL. I've been putting off getting RHF, mainly because of the price, but I have really been wanting to try it.

[RickF]

I picked up a bottle of ETL, RHF, and Hancock Reserve when I was in Louisville last month, and I definitely prefer RHF and Hancock Reserve over ETL and Blanton's. It is not that I dislike ETL or Blanton's, but I just do not like them as well as I do the other two.

Hancock Reserve and Blanton's are much easier to find in North Carolina than RHF is, but RHF can be obtained here if one tries hard enough. ETL is not on the NCABC list.

[squire]

In a direct comparison of the four, Blantons, E. T. Lee, Rock Hills Farm and Hancock I consistently preferred Rock Hills. Barrel selection makes for a noticeable difference, that and proof.