Matt and I tasted some more Rabbit Hole whiskeys this week. We have the Rabbit Hole Derringer Bourbon Finished in PX Sherry Barrels and the Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Single Barrel Rye Whiskey. We are excited to taste these whiskeys. The Derringer Bourbon is interesting, but the Boxergrail Rye was made and aged at the Louisville distillery. It gives an indication as to what they will be releasing in the future. It is a full four years old and we liked it a lot.
Rabbit Hole Distillery is making very good whiskey. In fact, we like the products coming out of the Louisville Distillery better than the whiskey that was contract distilled for them at the New Riff Distillery in Covington, Kentucky. The new Riff Distillery whiskey was very good, but the Louisville distilled whiskey has more depth of flavor. The future looks bright for Rabbit Hole Distillery.
Rabbit Hole Derringer Bourbon Finished in PX Sherry Barrels
Proof: 93
Age: No Age Statement
Nose:
- Mike: Very much fruit forward with raisins and dates, vanilla and oak wood.
- Matt: Vanilla, dried fruit and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Raisins and dates with vanilla, allspice and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the fruit is enhanced and a cinnamon note comes out in the flavor. Tasted with a pecan and the vanilla is enhanced and a chocolate note comes out. The spice becomes a pepper spice.
- Matt: Creamy vanilla, dates and nutmeg spice and oak wood. The dried cranberry made it very spicy with nutmeg and cinnamon. The pecan brought out caramel and enhanced the oak wood.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak, spice and lingering fruit sweetness. The dried cranberry made the finish longer with lots of cinnamon spice. The pecan made the finish very long with oak and pepper spice.
- Matt: Medium long with oak, dried fruit and spice with a hint of cola. The dried cranberry added a note of French burnt peanut candy. The pecan made the finish very long with lots of oak and cayenne pepper.
Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Single Barrel Rye
Proof: 104.8
Age: Four Years, Four Months Old
Nose:
- Mike: Rye grass, vanilla with a hint of fruit, spice, and oak wood.
- Matt: Very earthy with rye grass, baking spices, caramel and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Rye grass, vanilla, cherries and dates, allspice and oak wood. The dried cranberry enhanced the rye grass and vanilla and made the spice a white pepper. The pecan brought out citrus notes, cinnamon and lots of oak wood.
- Matt: Caramel, rye grass, peach pie, baking spices and oak wood. The dried cranberry made the taste very earthy with a note of boysonberry. The pecan gave it flavors of caramel pie, cocoa butter and popcorn.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak and white pepper. The dried cranberry made the finish longer with more pepper. The pecan made the finish long and dry with oak and cinnamon.
- Matt: Medium long with oak, rye grass and baking spices. The dried cranberry added a note of tobacco and berries – like a pipe tobacco. The pecan made the finish very long with oak, tobacco and lingering caramel sweetness.
I would pair these whiskeys with a Drew Estate Undercrown Maduro cigar. The earthy tobacco and vanilla sweetness would pair well with these whiskeys.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller