I lastly sat down with this rabbit hole deringer bourbon review after seeing that sleek, rectangular bottle staring at me from the liquor shop shelf for way too long. Rabbit Hole is a single of these brands that will feels like it popped up overnight along with a ton of marketing budget, but they've actually been putting in the task in Louisville for some time now. Their entire vibe is "modern bourbon, " which often makes me the little skeptical. I'm keen on the classics, but I've got to admit, there's something regarding the way they approach their particular finishes that piqued my interest.
The Deringer is particularly interesting since it's a wheated bourbon finished within Pedro Ximénez (PX) Sherry casks. If you know anything about sherry, you know PX could be the thick, syrupy, sweet stuff. Placing a soft, wheated bourbon into those barrels sounds like a recipe for the total glucose bomb, and We wanted to see if Rabbit Hole managed to keep it well balanced or if it just tasted like spiked pancake viscous syrup.
Wearing down the Specs
Prior to we get into the particular glass, let's talk about what's really inside. This isn't just an unique sourced whiskey. Rabbit Hole has their own beautiful distillery, and they're quite transparent about their own process. The Deringer follows a mash bill of 70% corn, 25% whole wheat, and 5% malted barley. That 25% wheat is really a pretty high percentage, which usually translates to a very smooth, "bready" mouthfeel—think Maker's Tag or Weller, but with a little more complexity.
It's bottled at 95 evidence (47. 5% ABV), which I think is a wise move. If they'd gone lower, the sherry might have drowned out the bourbon. If they'd gone much higher, the particular alcohol might have fought using the sensitive fruit notes from the wine surface finish. It's aged in toasted and charred barrels first, after that moved over in order to those PX Sherry casks from The country for any finishing time period.
The name "Deringer" is a nod to Henry Deringer, the particular famous pistol creator, which fits into their "pioneering" brand style. It's an awesome story, but let's be real—we're here for the liquid, not the history lesson.
The very first Impression: Nose and Color
Whenever you put this right into a Glencairn, the first factor you see is the color. It's got this deep, mahogany, reddish-amber hue that obviously screams "sherry impact. " It's more dark than your typical five-year-old bourbon, and it looks greasy and full of the particular glass.
The particular nose is how the particular rabbit hole deringer bourbon review gets really enjoyable. As soon since I put the nose to the glass, I didn't get the normal hit of ethanol or harsh maple. Instead, it has been like walking directly into a bakery that's also drying out fruit. There's a huge influx of dark raisins, plums, and cherries. Underneath that, a person get the classic wheated bourbon notes—caramel, vanilla, and a bit of toasted bread.
What's impressive the following is that it doesn't smell "artificial. " Sometimes finished bourbons can smell such as someone just dumped a cup of wine into the particular vat, but this feels integrated. There's a hint of leather and smoking cigarettes right at the final of the smell that keeps this from being as well sweet.
Let's Talk Taste: The particular Palate
Using the first sip, the texture will be what hit me first. It's velvety. That 25% whole wheat really does its job, providing the round, soft mouthfeel that coats the tongue.
The flavor profile follows the nasal area pretty closely, yet with a several surprises. You obtain that initial break open of sweetness—honey and brown sugar—quickly adopted by the PX Sherry influence. We're talking figs, times, and a large dose of darkish chocolate. It's rich, but it provides this surprising hot and spicy kick toward the rear of the palate. I expected this to become one-dimensional and sweet, but there's a pleasant black pepper and cinnamon piquancy that balances out there the fruitiness.
I noticed that as it sits on the tongue, the oak starts to show up. It's a dry maple, which is a nice contrast in order to the syrupy fruits notes. It retains the drink through feeling cloying. In the event that you're a lover of Scotch whiskies finished in sherry (like Macallan or Aberlour), you're going to find a lot of familiar territory right here, but with that will distinct American corn-and-wheat sweetness as the foundation.
The Finish: How It Leaves You
A good bourbon lives or passes away by its finish off. The Deringer remains for the decent quantity of time. It isn't a "hug" that lasts regarding ten minutes, but it doesn't disappear immediately either.
The sweetness fades first, leaving behind a trail associated with cocoa powder, almond, and a bit associated with that dark wine tannins. It's an extremely "clean" finish for some thing so rich. We didn't find personally needing a water chaser immediately, which usually is always an excellent sign. It results in your mouth sense a little dry, which just makes you want to take another sip to get that sweetness back. It's a clever little cycle.
Could it be Worth the particular Price Tag?
Now, we possess to discuss the elephant in the space: the price. Based on where you live, you're looking at anyplace from $70 in order to $90 for the bottle of Rabbit Hole Deringer. In the world associated with bourbon, that's getting up there. A person can buy several legendary bottles regarding $50 or $60, therefore the question is whether the "finish" and the extravagant bottle are well worth the extra 20 bucks.
When you're a purist who only wants "straight" bourbon with no finishes, you'll probably think this is overpriced. When you enjoy experimenting with different flavor profiles, I think this holds its own. You're paying for the craftsmanship of the particular blend and the quality of the PX casks, which aren't cheap to source. To me, this feels like the "special occasion" bottle or a "Friday night treat" pour rather than a day-to-day drinker.
That is This Bourbon For?
This isn't for everyone. In case you love high-rye, spicy, "burn your own throat" bourbons, the particular Deringer might sense a bit as well polite for you. It's a sophisticated put, not a rough-and-tumble one.
Nevertheless, if you love: * Wheated bourbons (Weller, Larceny, Maker's Mark) * Sherry-finished Scotch * Dessert-forward spirits * Whiskey that doesn't require a drop associated with water to become approachable
then this is up your alley. It's also an amazing "bridge" whiskey with regard to people who think they don't like bourbon because it's "too harsh. " The sherry end rounds off the edges and makes it incredibly obtainable.
Conclusions on the Rabbit Hole Deringer
Wrapping up this rabbit hole deringer bourbon review , I've got in order to say I'm happily surprised. I proceeded to go in expecting it to be most style and simply no substance, but the liquid within the bottle actually stands behind the marketing. It's the well-executed finished bourbon that manages to stay true in order to its wheated root base while embracing the particular bold, dark fruits flavors of the Pedro Ximénez casks.
It's not the cheapest container on the shelf, as well as the bottle design—while cool—is a problem to fit into a standard liquor cupboard because it's so wide. But these are minor gripes. If you desire something which tastes like a dark chocolate-covered cherry dipped in bourbon, this is exactly what you're looking for.
Is it the "must-buy" for each single person? Probably not. But in case the truth is it with a bar, it's absolutely worth a pour. And when you're looking to present something to a whiskey lover that's a bit outside the particular usual Buffalo Trace or Woodford Reserve routine, the Deringer is a solid, impressive choice. It's a bold take on what bourbon could be when you're not afraid to fall down a few rabbit holes.