Rabbit Hole Heigold Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Oaky goodness

Earlier this year I attended a bourbon tasting with Rabbit Hole's founder, Kaveh Zamanian. I'd seen some of Rabbit Hole's bottlings at local stores, but had never tried them. The tasting changed that, and I was converted. Kaveh is building a world-class distillery that is focused on quality. I've been able to purchase the Dareringer and Cavehill locally, but had been unable to find the Heigold. This past weekend I visited New Hampshire and found some in one of NH's state-owned liquor stores at $50--roughly $15 below what I've seen online--and pulled the trigger. Clear oiled-teak color. Sweet nose shows caramel, vanilla, orange blossom, some ethanol, and licorice. On the palate, bitter orange, char, and a dusting of spicy white pepper. Vanilla lingers on the finish. Overall impression is sweet and easy drinking, with some rye spiciness (the Heigold is RH's high-rye mashbill: 70% corn, 25% malted rye, and 5% malted barley). The 95 proof is not as apparent as the number would suggest. The age is only "over 3 years," suggesting that the best is yet to come. N.B. All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

Brown sugar burn with some char

Straight: petty good

Smooth but a bit spicier than I’d prefer.

Vanilla bean and corn on the nose