Rabbit Hole Distillery has added a double chocolate malt bourbon dubbed “Raceking” to its Founder’s Collection. The whiskey is the third expression to join the Kentucky brand’s Founder’s Collection series.
Named in honor of Kentucky’s time-honored tradition of horse racing, Raceking explores how malting organically expands the range of flavors in whiskey. The whiskey uses a chocolate wheat from Germany and a chocolate barley from the UK to achieve the aromatic top notes and rich essence of chocolate. When cooked according to Rabbit Hole’s own methods and met with aging in wood-fired, toasted and charred new American Oak barrels, the “flavors of the whiskey become intricately nuanced, says a press release.” Bottled at a cask strength of 54.6% ABV, the mash bill is 70% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Rye, 4% Chocolate Malted Wheat, 3% Chocolate Malted Barley.
“Malting, like whiskey, is a part art, part science,” explained Kaveh Zamanian, founder and whiskey maker of Rabbit Hole. “Each malting house has standard techniques, along with individual master maltsters who bring their own creativity to the process. I tasted the chocolate grains from two malting houses, was impressed by the flavors, and immediately knew I wanted to translate those unique qualities to our whiskey. Of course, there’s always an element of uncertainty but the potential reward is worth the risk. So we made the whiskey, laid down barrels, and waited to see how it turned out I have to say four years later, it is a truly unique and simply outstanding expression. I’m especially proud with Raceking because it represents our passion for creativity and innovation, and our commitment to redefining the standard of American whiskey.”
On the nose, the bourbon delivers aromas of rich cocoa brown sugar and toasted bread. The palate features warm, luxurious flavors with hints of hazel, cinnamon spice, black cherry and tobacco. The finish offers earthy notes of wood and leather complimented by lingering chocolate.
“Ultimately, I hope that Raceking, like our other whiskies, invokes curiosity and sparks conversation about what whiskey is and what it can be,” said Kaveh.
Only 1,365 sequentially-numbered bottles of Rabbit Hole Raceking Founder’s Collection will be made available and priced at $295 per bottle. The bottles hit shelves in select fine retail shops this month.
For more information, head over to the distillery’s official website.
In May Rabbit Hole released a 15-year-old cask strength Kentucky straight bourbon, finished in Japanese Mizunara oak as the second addition to its Founder’s Collection.
