About the producer
Westford Hill Distillers was founded in 1997 in Ashford, CT. At >25 years old the distillery is ancient by craft distillery standards; the distillery claims they were the first craft distillery east of the Mississippi. They have historically made a whole range of fruit brandies including pear, cherry, raspberry, strawberry and aged apple brandies. The aged apple is especially interesting since they are some of the oldest American brandies you can find, up to 21yrs! They are also started to make more mainstream spirits like vodka, gin and a spiced/flavored rum.
Details
• Strawberries from the NE.
• Fermented from strawberries not macerated.
• Ferment from whole fruit not juice.
• 2-3wk fermentation time.
• Distilled in hybrid pot/column still built by Holstein.
• Aged for “a few months” in stainless steel containers.
• 40% abv.
Nose
Fresh strawberries. Meaty. Like the flesh of the fruit, not the juice. Light sweetness. Great job preserving the fruit and even enhancing it. Very, very good.
Palate
Very meaty strawberry. Almost tastes like strawberry seeds. Medium sweet. Light weight but good mouth coating texture. Trace of bitterness that enhances, doesn’t detract from the drink. Tasty and basically exactly what I wanted out of a strawberry brandy. More intense than I would have expected at 40% but still a bit more delicate than I’d like. Still very good.
Finish
Short. 40% is really holding it back here. Fruit and a hint of bitterness.
Rating: 6
Overall
Great distillate. Is more delicate than I’d like but still absolutely worth drinking. Will be seeking out more from them in the future.
1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things I’d rather have.
5 | Good | Good
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite
10 | Perfect | Perfect
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