Rabbit Hole Straight Bourbon Finished in PX Sherry Casks

Sweet nose, good finish

Awesome American Dream story behind this whiskey: a young Iranian child flees his country after it falls to forces loyal to the Ayatollah Khomeni. He settles in the United States and grows up to be a PhD psychologist. He marries an American from Louisville, KY (also a psychologist) who introduces him to the wondrous world of bourbon. He's hooked (in more ways than one). Years later, Kaveh Zamanian, after a successful career in psychology, founds his own distillery in Kentucky! As for this expression: there's something vinous in the aroma, and you know it was finished in sherry or port casks. A generous ABV with a decent mouthfeel. Then the oak appears, contrasting the sweet notes with a woodiness that doesn't quite meld very well - like something poking out of a stream of flavors. The nosing after the first sip is rich, sweet, and almost scotch-like. This bourbon does have character, no doubt. After successive tipples, the wood notes begin to blend well into the finish. What surprises me about this whiskey is that even though it's PX finished, the aromas aren't as sweet as those found in the Belle Meade Sherry (Oloroso) Cask Finish. Nor are they very nutty. (Someone let me know if my notion of the differences is invalid.) The PX dark fruits are on the palate, but just don't deliver the same degree of depth as those of the Belle Meade. Still, it's a congenial bourbon given it's younger pedigree - 6 yrs vs 9yrs. (Hopefully, they'll make available older stock in the future. And with new ownership by Pernod Ricard, that is a plausible outcome.) If you're getting into finished bourbons, this is a good place to start. Not as outstandingly good and sweet as the Belle Meade, this one retains enough bourbon notes that you'll recognize it as a son of Kentucky (and the extra finish is a bonus). Thanks @jonwilkinson7309 for the 50ml sample and introduction to a very fine craft distillery.

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Incredibly smooth