Rabbit Hole Heigold High-Rye Double Malt Bourbon

I was first introduced to Rabbit Hole a few years back at a tasting with the founder. I'd noticed their distinctive bottles on shelves but hadn't tried them. Often, unique bottles and labels are more about marketing than the spirit inside, but that's not the case here. I'm genuinely impressed by the quality, attention to detail, and transparency this distillery demonstrates. Heigold: Bright orange amber. The nose has chocolate-covered cherries, a hint of peanut brittle, buttery pancakes, apple cider, balsam, and a little spearmint. The mouthfeel is pleasantly viscous, with orange oil and clove appearing, followed by a bit of heat on the finish. More chocolate-covered cherries and some oaky vanilla emerge, reminiscent of a woody orange creamsicle in a pleasing way, with a lingering spice. It has great flavor depth, is sweet, and very smooth. This can be found for under $65. Would I get it again? Yes. 4.25, up from 4.0 on my prior tasting. I hope the prices don't increase significantly when they have age-stated releases. Cavehill: Almost the same orange amber color as Heigold. The nose offers caramel apples, Honey Nut Cheerios, balsam, and some ethanol. There's a trace of dust, which I usually associate with Wild Turkey. It has a similar light viscosity to Heigold. I detect some peanut on the palate. Oakiness and woodiness appear on the back end, along with cinnamon red hots, vanilla, and again, chocolate-covered cherries. The heat is more noticeable than one might expect for 95 proof. It's very good and smoother than the high-rye Heigold, but it lacks Heigold's complexity. It's a solid choice and can be found for $55-60. Would I get it again? Yes. 4.0. Dareringer: Dark amber with a slight rust hue. It has chocolate notes of fudge, cocoa powder, Cocoa Puffs cereal, raisins, and honey, with spearmint. It's almost like a mudslide cocktail. The palate has both width and depth, with more intensity than the nose. The ethanol, which was hidden on the nose, shows up on the finish. Angel's Envy was one of the first bourbons to adopt the common Scotch whisky practice of finishing in sherry casks, but Dareringer does it much better. This can be found for around $80. Would I get it again? Yes. It's exceptionally good. 4.5. Starlino: A slightly lighter amber than Heigold and Cavehill. It unmistakably presents as rye. Sweet red grapes, rosemary, sage, rye, baking chocolate, freshly cut grass, and some cooling menthol. The chocolate and herbal notes are dominant on the palate; some pleasant rye spice emerges at the end. The higher alcohol is well-managed, despite this being the highest proof of the four, and a sweet, medium-length finish follows. This is finished in Hotel Starlino Rosso vermouth. I received this bottle as a gift at the aforementioned Rabbit Hole tasting a couple of years ago. Only 2112 375ml bottles were made, and it was only available at the distillery. It doesn't seem to be available online, and I have no information on its price. Would I get it again? Yes, provided the price was reasonable. It's very good. 4.0. These four Rabbit Hole bottlings are distinct whiskies. Heigold is a "high rye" bourbon; Cavehill is a four-grain bourbon; Dareringer is a sherry-finished bourbon; and Starlino is a Kentucky rye finished in vermouth casks. I prefer Heigold over Cavehill; it's sweeter and more complex. Dareinger is in a different category and is arguably more complex than Heigold, with significant flavor depth. Starlino, being a rye, is also in a different category. These comparisons aren't competitions but rather exercises to highlight the different aromas and flavors one can detect when compared to other whiskies or spirits, aiming to provide a clearer picture of their relative aspects and offer more focus than a single spirit tasting. When Rabbit Hole was established in 2012, they sourced whiskey from New Riff distillery. However, they have been producing their own spirits since 2018. The company describes its offerings as "super premium" on its website, and I concur. They are very good, and I believe Rabbit Hole bourbons and ryes will only improve as their existing stocks mature. Note: All spirits were tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

Earlier this year, I participated in a bourbon tasting event hosted by the founder of Rabbit Hole, a prominent figure in the spirits industry. While I had noticed Rabbit Hole's products in stores, I hadn't yet sampled them. That tasting experience changed my perspective, and I became a convert. The founder is establishing a top-tier distillery with a strong emphasis on quality. I've managed to acquire the Dareringer and Cavehill locally, but had been unsuccessful in finding the Heigold. During a recent trip to New Hampshire, I discovered it in one of the state-run liquor stores for $50, approximately $15 less than its online price, and decided to purchase it. The spirit presents a clear, oiled-teak hue. The sweet aroma reveals notes of caramel, vanilla, orange blossom, a hint of ethanol, and licorice. On the palate, there's a taste of bitter orange, char, and a subtle dusting of spicy white pepper. A vanilla note remains on the finish. Overall, it's a sweet and easily consumable spirit with a noticeable rye spiciness (Heigold is known for its high-rye mashbill: 70% corn, 25% malted rye, and 5% malted barley). The 95 proof is less pronounced than the number might indicate. The aging period of just "over 3 years" suggests potential for further development.

It has a dull, golden-brown appearance with average viscosity. The aroma offers notes of brown sugar and vanilla, layered over a less distinct scent of mushy apples and cereal. Initial flavors include burnt sugar, leather, and oak with a tannic vanilla character, followed by a subtle citrus presence. The malt cereal contributes to a smooth yet somewhat thin mouthfeel. A gradual build of grassy, then peppery rye spice emerges and persists through an unremarkable finish. Adding ice softens the oak tannins and rye spice, diminishing its overall character. This is a decent drink, but I'd rate it lower than both the Cavehill and Boxergrail. This is especially true considering its higher cost, which is frustrating when comparing it to other excellent high-rye bourbons available at a lower price point. The Dareringer sherry cask is also superior at a similar price. I'm still not keen on their tall, rectangular bottles, though I do appreciate the aesthetic of their labels (despite the limited information regarding mashbill and aging).

The nose reveals the sweetness from the corn, perhaps some candied orange, which is expected given the mash bill. The taste is citrus and caramel or butterscotch, with the rye appearing on the finish with pepper and spicy notes, along with leather and a touch of dark fruit. Adding a drop of water or chilling it with a whiskey stone improves the flavor perception in my view, as at room temperature the spicy finish can overwhelm the initial citrus and sweet flavors. I believe this performs much better than its typical rating on this platform and elsewhere suggests.

Perhaps influenced by the name, the aroma has a "golden" quality for me, suggesting honey, vanilla, and graham cracker with a sharp rye note. The taste evokes baklava: nuts, butter, and cinnamon with additional honey and vanilla. The rye acts as a thin layer of phyllo dough, providing just enough structure to prevent a completely gooey result. A soft honey finish. After sampling a couple of Rabbit Hole bourbons, I'm starting to understand their style. They offer pleasant and balanced whiskeys that lean sweet and are somewhat pricey.

This is a truly excellent bourbon from start to finish. The nose is exceptionally pleasing with light oak and spice. It offers some classic sweetness and subtle fruit. The taste and finish are the standout elements, consistent with the nose. I appreciate the spicy finish; it's not heat-driven by proof but a nice peppery spice. My only minor critique is that it doesn't strike me as complex, but rather a very enjoyable lower-proof sipper, albeit a more expensive one. Heigold is definitely my preferred choice among the standard Rabbit Hole selections. Recommended.