Rabbit Hole Founder's Collection Raceking Bourbon 750ML

Rabbit Hole Founder’s Collection: "Raceking" Double Chocolate Malt Bourbon (750ML)

Rabbit Hole "Raceking" is an absolute thoroughbred of contemporary whiskey innovation, representing the pinnacle of ultra-premium, experimental distilling. Crafted at Rabbit Hole’s state-of-the-art distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, by visionary founder and Whiskey Maker Kaveh Zamanian, this highly coveted release is a cornerstone of the brand’s prestigious, limited-edition Founder’s Collection.

Named in honor of Kentucky’s legendary, deep-seated horse racing heritage, Raceking is bred from a daring, culinary-forward approach to grain selection. While traditional bourbons rely on simple, unmalted corn and rye, Raceking leverages a highly complex five-grain mash bill that pushes the chemical boundaries of flavor extraction.

The Masterful "Pedigree" Blend

The secret engine behind Raceking’s jaw-dropping decadence is its double chocolate malt architecture:

• 70% Corn (The sweet, classic Bourbon baseline)

• 13% Rye (For structural spice)

• 10% Malted Rye (For a deeper, earthy biscuit complexity)

• 4% Chocolate Malted Wheat (German-sourced; introduces a velvety milk chocolate texture)

• 3% Chocolate Malted Barley (British-sourced; adds a roasting, dark-cacao intensity)

The magic occurs during the malting process, where the wheat and barley grains are gently roasted until they crack and caramelize, developing heavy cocoa solids. The whiskey is aged in signature, handmade American white oak casks from the legendary Kelvin Cooperage. These barrels are explicitly fired using a traditional wood-fueled flame, subjecting the staves to a rigorous toast before a deep char. This process caramelizes the wood sugars and complements the roasted grains flawlessly.

Note on Proof and Batches: Raceking was originally introduced as a highly limited Cask Strength expression bottled at a commanding 109.2 Proof (54.6% ABV). Following its massive cult success, Rabbit Hole expanded the legacy by unveiling a deeply matured, highly polished 6-Year-Old iteration bottled at 95 Proof (47.5% ABV), offering collectors multiple award-winning expressions to explore.

Tasting Notes: Flavor and Aroma Profile

Because of the heavy chocolate malts and toasted Kelvin staves, the liquid displays a profoundly deep, dark mahogany and espresso-bean color in the glass, with dense, slow-crawling legs.

• Aroma (Nose): Aggressive, warm, and extravagantly gourmand. The bouquet opens with a massive wave of rich baker's cocoa, hot fudge, and freshly baked pumpernickel bread, beautifully underpinned by secondary top notes of creamy toffee, toasted almonds, brown sugar, and vanilla bean.

• Palate (Taste): Full-bodied, silky, and extraordinarily mouth-coating. The entry floods the tongue with an opulent arrival of roasted espresso beans, dark chocolate truffles, and caramel ganache. Across the mid-palate, it turns beautifully complex and spicy—unrolling layers of black cherry syrup, sweet pipe tobacco, cinnamon bark, clove, and a touch of cardamom.

• Finish: Exceptionally long, structural, and drying. The rich dessert qualities recede gracefully, closing with a trailing signature of earthy leather, charred oak, barrel spice, and a delicious, lingering dark chocolate dust.

Connoisseur Service Rituals

• The Glencairn Resting Window: A whiskey of this complexity demands a slow, deliberate approach. Pour 1.5 oz neat into a Glencairn or a tulip-shaped glass at room temperature. Let the liquid sit completely unhurried for 10 to 15 minutes before your first sip. This allows the heavy chocolate grain lipids and roasted coffee notes to separate from the ethanol, smoothing out the spirit's bold finish.

• The Single-Drop Bloom: If the wood-fired barrel spice or tobacco notes feel slightly upfront, do not add ice, which will instantly solidify the rich, roasted grain oils. Instead, add two drops of room-temperature distilled water to lower the surface tension, instantly releasing hidden waves of brown sugar, hazelnut, and milk chocolate.

Elite Food Pairings

Raceking’s spectacular calibration of roasted cocoa bitterness, dark fruit sweetness, and heavy wood tannins allows it to function as a monumental pairing asset alongside high-percentage chocolates, charred meats, and rich desserts.

• Single-Origin High-Cacao Dark Chocolate: An absolute textbook masterclass pairing alongside 72% to 85% single-origin dark chocolate blocks. The bitter, earthy cacao profiles flawlessly mirror the bourbon's native chocolate-malted grains, melting luxuriously on the tongue.

• Flame-Charred Prime Steaks: Pair a glass next to a dry-aged, wood-fired ribeye steak or espresso-rubbed beef brisket. The bourbon’s tobacco, leather, and roasted coffee properties lock onto the charred meat crust beautifully.

• Rich After-Dinner Confections: It behaves beautifully next to a slice of flourless chocolate cake, a warm pecan pie, or an artisanal sea-salt caramel tart, where the sweet fats soften the oak tannins.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does this bourbon actually taste like chocolate?

Yes, it possesses a distinctly noticeable, natural chocolate-forward profile. However, it is vital to understand that this is not a flavored whiskey or a sugary liqueur; there are absolutely no artificial syrups, cocoa extracts, or sugars added post-distillation. The deep notes of roasted coffee, milk cocoa, and dark chocolate are derived 100% naturally from the heavy roasting of the specialty chocolate wheat and barley grains before they are mashed and distilled.

What does it mean that the barrels were "toasted and charred with a wood fire"?

Most industrial cooperages use automated gas burners to rapidly char the insides of their barrels. Rabbit Hole partners with Kelvin Cooperage, where master artisans use traditional wood-stoked fires to slowly toast the oak staves before applying the final char. This gentle, slow-heating wood process allows the heat to penetrate deeper into the oak, creating a thick caramelized layer beneath the char that imparts unparalleled notes of toffee, hazelnut, and vanilla to the aging bourbon.

How should I store this premium bottle?

Thanks to its robust alcohol framing, Rabbit Hole Raceking is completely shelf-stable at room temperature once opened. It will never spoil or drop out of equilibrium. You do not need to refrigerate it. Simply store the bottle upright on your home bar cart or inside a liquor cabinet away from direct sunlight to protect its natural coloration, and ensure the premium heavy cork is seated firmly after use to prevent slow evaporation.