Rabbit Hole Distillery
About the Distillery
Rabbit Hole Distillery is located in Louisville, Kentucky, and produces bourbons and rye whiskies with a modern, experimental approach. The distillery is known for distinctive mashbills, small-batch production, and a range of exclusive releases: from core offerings such as Cavehill and Heigold to distillery-only cask-strength releases and Founder's Collection finishes like Amburana and Mizunara.
History
Kaveh Zamanian is the prominent founder and figurehead of Rabbit Hole, and his profile highlights both entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to whiskey-making. Under his leadership, the distillery has built a product portfolio spanning from ongoing releases to clearly defined collectibles: single-barrel releases, distillery-series at cask strength, and a Founder's Collection with longer-aged and cask-finished releases. The story at Rabbit Hole is less about dates and more about a methodical focus on mashbill innovation, small-batch control, and collaborations on casks, such as the PX Sherry partnership for double-barrel releases.
Raw Materials and Production
Rabbit Hole's production approach is built on experimental mashbills and the use of several specialty grains; examples range from honey-malted barley to chocolate-malted wheat and barley. The distillery describes its approach as culinary: blending grains to create complexity. Another central technique is to age at a low entry proof to draw more of the wood's components into the whiskey. Casks are prepared with both toasting and charring to combine caramelized sweetness and deeper, smoky notes. The production operates in very small batches—never harvesting more than 15 casks at a time—giving a high degree of control over each run, including single-barrel releases and distillery-exclusive cask-strength bottles.
Maturation and Cask Types
Maturation ranges from new American oak casks to exotic finishing casks. There are releases aged in new American Oak, double-barreled PX Sherry finishes through a collaboration with a Spanish partner, as well as special experiments with Amburana (Brazilian wood) and Mizunara (Japanese) finishes. Additionally, there is a consistent focus on combining toasted and charred treatment of casks and on working with a low entry proof to increase the wood's influence.
Whiskies
Rabbit Hole's portfolio includes both core releases and more specialized series. Among the recurring names are Cavehill, Heigold, Dareringer, and Boxergrail, while Raceking and selected Founder's Collection releases (Amburana, Mizunara) illustrate the distillery's interest in cask experimentation. In addition to single-barrel releases, the range includes a Distillery Series with cask-strength releases and distillery-exclusive 4–6-year experimental finishes.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Age | Cask & Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavehill | Bourbon | 5-6 years | Four grain triple malt, aged 5-6 years. Described as a bourbon that blends tradition and innovation and offers good value. | Current; Core range | |
| Heigold (High Rye double malt) | Bourbon | 4-6 years | A high-rye, double malt expression aged 4–6 years; highlighted for balance and complexity as well as characteristics that make it suitable for cocktails and to enjoy neat. | Current; Core range | |
| Dareringer (Double Barrel PX Sherry Cask) | Bourbon | PX Sherry Casks (Double Barrel Finish); Finish: Double Barrel PX Sherry Finish | Wheated bourbon with a Double Barrel PX Sherry finish, created in collaboration with a partner in Spain to add complex layers from sherry cask. | Current; Core range | |
| Boxergrail (Sour Mash Rye) | Rye | A sour mash rye that honors Louisville's boxing heritage. Mashbill stated as predominantly rye. | Current; Core range | ||
| Raceking (Five Grain Double Chocolate Malt) | Bourbon | 6 years | New American Oak barrels | Limited-edition five-grain mashbill with chocolate-malted wheat and barley; described as chocolate-forward and aged in new American oak barrels for 6 years. | Limited; Core range; Limited editions / Distillery and selected retailers |
| Distillery Series (Cask Strength) | Bourbon | 4-6+ years | A cask-strength series of 4–6+ year old bourbons, available exclusively at the distillery and aimed at curious and adventurous tasters. | Limited; Distillery-exclusive / Limited | |
| Single Barrel Whiskey (Series) | Bourbon | Single barrel release | Series with single barrel releases from the distillery. | Active; Series / Ongoing releases | |
| Amburana (Founder's Collection, 12 Years) | Kentucky Straight Bourbon | 12 years | Brazilian oak (Amburana) barrels | 12-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon aged in Brazilian Amburana oak barrels as part of Founder's Collection. | Limited; Founder's Collection / Limited |
| Mizunara (Founder's Collection, 15 Years) | Kentucky Straight Bourbon | 15 years | Mizunara oak finish; finish: Finish in Japanese Mizunara oak | 15-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon with a finish in Japanese Mizunara oak, part of Founder's Collection. | Limited; Founder's Collection / Limited |
The Whiskies' Style and Flavor Profile
Across Rabbit Hole releases, three clear, cask-related directions emerge: chocolate from the chocolate-malted grains in releases like Raceking, caramelized sweetness from the combination of toasting and charring on the casks, and a deeper, smoky or charred dimension from charred finishes. These elements appear consistently in the descriptions of both core and limited releases.
Visiting the Distillery
The distillery offers tours by reservation. Tours are limited to a maximum of eight people, and tastings are for guests who are of legal drinking age. Ticket prices are listed for example as General Adult $32, Military/Veteran & Senior $26, and Minors/Non-drinkers $16. Opening hours are stated as weekday daytime hours (typically 10:00–18:00) with weekend closures on the first or last day depending on the listing, and last bookings are 30 minutes before closing. Booking is required for tours.
The stated hours are Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sunday - Monday closed. (Hours may vary for private events; last booking 30 minutes before closing.)
Philosophy and Craft
The distillery's stated values include a culinary approach to mashbills, low entry proof for increased wood extraction, use of both toasted and charred cask treatment, and a deliberate small-batch process. Rabbit Hole combines these techniques with single-barrel and cask-strength releases as well as experimental finishes to push what modern American whiskey can be.