GSN Review: Rabbit Hole Barrel Finished Bespoke Gin

Rabbit Hole recently expanded its portfolio of spirits with “Bespoke Gin,” a London Dry Gin aged and finished in the brand’s “Boxergrail” Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey barrels.

Rabbit Hole Bespoke Gin marks the first new product outside of the American whiskey space for the rapidly-growing, Kentucky-based spirits brand. “I have always had a soft spot for gin and wanted to create my own, an expression that brings forth subtle nuances of rye against the backdrop of botanicals. Rabbit Hole Bespoke Gin is everything I wanted it to be and more. It’s a spirit that celebrates the opulence of traditional English gin and the enduring charm of Kentucky rye. One barrel, two distinct spirts, it speaks to our ongoing commitment to innovation.”, said Kaveh Zamanian, Rabbit Hole’s CEO, founder and whiskey maker.

Rabbit Hole Bespoke Gin begins with a London Dry Gin, fashioned from botanicals of angelica, coriander, juniper, lemon peel, licorice, orange peel and orris root. Rabbit Hole imports the gin to its urban Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, where the liquid is left to rest for 9 to 12 months, in the very same #3, wood-fired, toasted and charred new American Oak barrels that Kaveh and his team use to age its Kentucky Straight Rye whiskey.

Rabbit Hole Bespoke Gin is presented in sequentially hand-numbered bottles that give a nod to the world-class tailors of London’s Saville Row. The glass is embossed with an eye-catching herringbone pattern and the shoulders of the bottle are prominent. Tactile gold treatments appear subtly throughout the presentation, alongside pale green elements that are reminiscent of the verdant branding on Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. A bar-top cork features a gold coin emblazoned with a bold message, “Beholden to No One” which invites imbibers to blaze their own trails, just as Kaveh Zamanian did when he founded Rabbit Hole.

Rabbit Hole Barrel Finished Bespoke Gin (89 proof)
Visual: Medium-light gold.
Nose: Spiced citrus and piney juniper with a soft caramel wash throughout.
Taste: Almost dessert-like in character. Loads of toasty sweetness and warming mellow bourbon notes mix incredibly well with the high notes of botanicals. The gin comes through loud and clear, but the barrel aging has softened and mellowed the brightness, creating something entirely new and luscious.
Finish: Long and suffused with lingering, near buttery creaminiess.
Overall: I’m reminded of Old Tom gin, but with a more fascinating character profile. This is easily a sipping gin, something which can’t be said for most of them. But, this will also make for an incredible gin forward cocktail. Really spectacular!
GSN Rating: A+

For more information go to: Rabbit Hole Distillery