Today we taste another relative newcomer to the Distillery business, Rabbit Hole Distillery out of Louisville Kentucky. On the unusual name, from their website “Our founder fell in love with Bourbon and the dream to be part of a tradition dating back to the early settlers of our Kentucky Commonwealth. He risked it all, going down a rabbit hole to create true, original, one-of-a-kind spirits for the discerning and build a legacy to last lifetimes.” They bottle three different Bourbons; we are trying their Boxergrail Rye. We are not sure what the term Boxergrail is, spellcheck gives us no option, it just says it is not a word. They state on their website that it has something to do with the fighting culture in Louisville. We will just take their word on that.
Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Rye is 95 proof, sells for around $55, and is 3 years old with a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. It is widely available and comes in an elegant-looking corked bottle.
This is Talking Bourbon’s first foray into Rabbit Hole. Did the founder just go down a rabbit hole and has he taken us (and our $55) with him? Or did he end up creating a one-of-a-kind spirit? Let’s drink and find out.
NOSE
Todd: Big smooth aromas of orange, brown sugar, and spice hit you first. Those are followed by leather, pepper, and rye. A very good nose.
Matt: So many smells! starting with citrus, new leather, and brown sugar. Behind that are apples and cherries. I agree, very good nose.
TASTE
Todd: On first sip, I said oh yeah, this is good. The orange I got on the nose becomes a more general citrus, and still get the sweet brown sugar and the rye. Also has an overall fruitiness to it. Frustratingly, there is a flavor I am getting that I just cannot identify.
Matt: Soft but spicey tastes of leather, wood, and Rye. Coming in behind that is pepper, citrus, and cherries. Ice makes it a bit smoother but dumbs it down a bit. Tasty.
FINISH
Todd: Long with a nice peppery burn.
Matt: Long with just more of the same.
OVERALL
Todd: I was skeptical as I always am with new distilleries, add to that the name and how they got it, let’s just say I was not expecting much. But I was wrong, I love this stuff!!
Matt: This is my new favorite rye in the $50 range. In fact, to beat this rye, my next step up would be over $100.
Nose 4.5 out of 5
Taste 9.25 out of 10
Finish 4.25 out of 5
Total score 18 out of 20 barrels.
Well, we found ourselves a keeper. Looks like the founder knew what he was doing. A little on the high end but it is worth it. This is what we look for in rye, not too spicey, not too sweet, traditional flavors like wood and leather along with a very nice fruitiness. A nice alcohol burn to let you know this is an adult beverage but not so overly hot as some we have tried recently. Kind of like how we like some of our food, a little on the spicy side but not so hot that you have to chug milk to stop the heat.
All in all, if you like a rye that is on the soft side, and you like a rye to be more than just spice. Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Rye is for you. We know will always have a bottle on hand. In fact, this made us go out and buy one of their other bottles, Heigold Bourbon. And yes, that is another name that we have no idea what it means. Hopefully, that is a good sign.
Hey! Looking to expand your bourbon palate? Flaviar offers a subscription service that allows you to try a variety of different whiskeys from around the world. With exclusive bottlings, tasting boxes, and virtual events, Flaviar is the perfect way to take your bourbon tasting to the next level.