Our Four-Grain Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a unique expression of American Whiskey. Three malted grains – wheat, barley and honey malted barley – complement the corn base. This is spectacular sipping Bourbon with a strong backbone that explodes with flavor.Rabbit Hole Distilling
Rabbit Hole Bourbon Whiskey
- DISTILLER: Rabbit Hole Distilling: Contract distilled in northern Kentucky.
- MASH BILL: 70% Corn | 10% Malted Wheat | 10% Malted Barley | 10% Honey Malted Barley
- AGE: 2+ Years
- YEAR: 2016
- PROOF: 95 (47.5% ABV)
- MSRP: $54.99
- BUY ONLINE: Ezras.com | Binnys.com
TASTE: Initial Grain | Dark Fruit/ Cherries | Light Vanilla at the end
FINISH: I sensed a thin, initial finish but was pleasantly surprised at the spice that lingered on my tongue. I would not say that the finish was overly complex or deep but I would not expect it to be for a young drink.
SHARE WITH: This is a bourbon I would share with friends who enjoy something new and are looking to think outside the box. This would be a good blind-taste bourbon to see if your guest can identify the unique honey malted wheat.
WORTH THE PRICE: The MSRP is $54.99. This is the price point where many people begin to waffle on spending that kind of money on a new-to-market bourbon. If $50 is pushing your comfort level you may want to try a pour first. If you are able to let go half a C-note in order to add to your collection then I think you should give it a try.
BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: This is a bottle – and a very good looking bottle at that – I certainly do not mind having on my bar. True it is still a young tasting bourbon but I look forward to letting it air out for a few months. I’m sure it will develop a little more after sitting.
OVERALL: I was not totally blown away by Rabbit Hole Kentucky Straight bourbon on my first pour but it did exceed my hesitations about a two-year juice. I have sampled many younger bourbons that I could not even finish. I believe that the unique four-grain mash bill helps to mask the infancy of the product. I know that Rabbit Hole will keep aging some of its stock in order to be able to release a four-year bourbon in 2018. I am looking forward to going back down the rabbit hole when that happens.
Learn more about Matt’s whiskey preferences and check out more of his reviews…
Background On Rabbit Hole Bourbon Whiskey
What happens when you chase both a woman and your dream of opening a distillery? You go down the Rabbit Hole! And that is exactly what happened to Kaveh Zamanian. After 20 years as a very successful psychoanalyst in Chicago, Kaveh left behind his practice and the Windy City to follow his wife, Heather, back to her native hometown of Louisville, KY. It was then that Kaveh fell in love with Kentucky’s greatest exports and America’s native spirit.
Creating a unique mash bill that employs three malted grains to compliment the bourbon’s corn base, Zamanian ran his first signature distillate in 2014 through a contract distiller in northern Kentucky. After being aged for over two years in wood-fired, #3 char, white oak barrels – from Louisville-based Kelvin Cooperage – the first batch was dumped, bottled, and released in November 2016. Besides the four-grain straight bourbon, Rabbit Hole has three other expressions: a 95% straight rye whiskey and 2 “Finger Print” Editions; a five year Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished three months in PX sherry casks and Kentucky Rye Barrel Finish London Dry Gin. They are called Fingerprint because the spirits are sourced – bourbon from Kirby, Wyoming and Gin from London – then placed in Rabbit Hole owned sherry casks and rye barrels respectively and thus leaving their “fingerprint” on the product. **** transparency****
Kaveh’s leap into the rabbit hole allowed him to obtain both his dreams but he and Heather were not satisfied to just contract his innovative mash bill. Nope, next Kaveh, and his investors broke ground in October 2016 on a downtown Louisville distillery. According to a press release, the Rabbit Hole distillery is slated to “open Fall 2017 with a production goal of 20,000 barrels a year and will offer daily tours, as well as tasting rooms, a gift shop, 160+ person event space and restaurant.”
In their desire to keep things local, Rabbit Hole “enlisted the help of fourth-generation craftsman at Vendome Copper & Brass Works to build a 24-inch column still and other distillation equipment.”
Disclaimer: Rabbit Hole Distilling 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.
Born and raised in Newport Beach, California, Matt Evans married a native Kentuckian and has called Louisville home since 2007 – after stops in Washington D.C. and Durango, CO. His love affair with bourbon started as an attempt to learn more about his adopted hometown (and get in good with his in-laws!); the pursuit has developed into a full blown passion. Through the Stave and Thief Society, Matt is certified as an Executive Bourbon Steward. He has certifications from the Filson Historical Society’s Bourbon Academy and the Woodford Reserve Bourbon Academy. He also has served as Master Distiller for-a-day at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience under the tutelage of Artisanal Distiller Charlie Downs.Matt’s day job is instructing 7th grade World Geography, and he is the proud father of two daughters. During the summer, Matt teaches bourbon history courses at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York state. Read Matt's full profile.
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Matt Evanshttps://www.bourbonbanter.com/author/matt-evans/
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Matt Evanshttps://www.bourbonbanter.com/author/matt-evans/
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Matt Evanshttps://www.bourbonbanter.com/author/matt-evans/
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Matt Evanshttps://www.bourbonbanter.com/author/matt-evans/
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