A few weeks ago, Rosemary and I attended a tasting of the Rabbit Hole Distillery Series Whiskeys. These are whiskeys they only sell at the gift shop at the distillery In Louisville. They gifted us with a bottle of each of the whiskeys we tasted and Matt and I sat down and tasted them the other day and here are our tasting notes.
Rabbit Hole Starlino Rye Finished in Vermouth Casks
Proof: 106.7
Age: No Age Statement
Nose:
- Mike: Caramel, raisins, baking spices and oak wood.
- Matt: Mint, vanilla, rosewater, and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Caramel, vanilla, raisins, cinnamon and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the oak and cinnamon are enhanced. Tasted with a pecan and the cinnamon becomes a red hot cinnamon candy.
- Matt: Vanilla, mint, citrus, rosewater and oak wood. The dried cranberry brought out caramel and brown sugar. The pecan enhanced the oak wood and brown sugar.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak wood, cinnamon and lingering raisin fruit. The dried cranberry enhanced the cinnamon and added nutmeg to the finish. The pecan made the finish very long and spicy with oak wood and cinnamon.
- Matt: Medium long with oak wood, cinnamon and lingering citrus. The dried cranberry added brown sugar sweetness to the finish. The pecan made the finish long with oak and brown sugar.
Rabbit Hole Sucrûlé (4 grain triple malt recipe) Bourbon Finished in Maple Brûlé Casks (Maple Syrup Barrels that have been caramelized)
Proof: 106.9
Age: No Age Statement
Nose:
- Mike: Maple syrup, vanilla, apples, allspice and oak wood.
- Matt: Maple syrup, caramel, cedar and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Maple syrup, vanilla, apples, cinnamon, ginger and oak wood. The dried cranberry enhanced the apple and vanilla. The pecan added a note of milk chocolate.
- Matt: Caramel, maple syrup, honey, ripe red delicious apple, allspice and oak wood. The dried cranberry added a tangerine citrus note and red pepper. The pecan enhanced the caramel and apple and made the spice allspice.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak wood, cinnamon and lingering maple syrup. The dried cranberry added ginger spice to the finish. The pecan made the finish long with oak wood, chocolate and cinnamon with lingering maple syrup.
- Matt: Medium long with oak wood and allspice. The dried cranberry made the spice a red pepper. The pecan made the finish long with oak wood, allspice and lingering maple syrup.
Rabbit Hole Velardé (wheat recipe) Bourbon finished in Oloroso Casks
Proof: 110.9
Age: No Age Statement
Nose:
- Mike: Caramel, prunes, raisins, apples, baking spices and oak wood.
- Matt: Vanilla, cherries, rose petals, citrus and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Caramel, prunes, raisins, apples, cinnamon and oak wood. The dried cranberry enhanced the raisins and caramel. The pecan brought out notes of milk chocolate and ginger spice.
- Matt: Vanilla, cayenne pepper, cherries and oak wood. The dried cranberry made the pepper a hot red pepper jelly. The pecan brought out notes of brown sugar and milk chocolate.
Finish:
- Mike: Long with oak wood, caramel, cinnamon and lingering prunes. The dried cranberry made the finish sweeter with lots of caramel and raisins. The pecan made the finish long and dry with oak wood and chocolate.
- Matt: Medium long with oak wood, cayenne pepper and lingering cherry. The dried cranberry made the finish sweeter with oak wood, pepper and lingering caramel. The pecan made the finish long with oak wood, brown sugar and pepper.
Rabbit Hole Favios (wheat recipe) Bourbon Finished in American Oak Tawny Port Casks
Proof: 118.9
Age: No Age Statement
Nose:
- Mike: Caramel, raisins, baking spices and oak wood.
- Matt: Caramel, brown sugar, leather, grapes and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Caramel, raisins, pears, allspice and oak wood. The dried cranberry made the spice a cinnamon red hot candy. The pecan enhanced the caramel and apple flavors.
- Matt: Caramel, grapes, leather, cola and oak wood. The dried cranberry enhanced the leather and cola notes. The pecan added chocolate and tobacco to the flavor.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak wood, cinnamon and lingering allspice. The dried cranberry made the finish longer and spicier with lots of cinnamon. The pecan made the finish medium long with oak wood and lingering caramel.
- Matt: Medium long with oak wood and leather. The dried cranberry added a note of cola to the finish. The pecan made the finish long with oak wood and leather.
I would pair these whiskeys with a cigar that has lots of vanilla, tobacco and cedar spice in the smoke. I would reach for a Nub Habano cigar.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller