Rabbit Hole Distillery, the architectural wonder located in Louisville, has announced the launch of Boxergrail Founder’s Collection 8 Year Old Rye Whiskey. Building on the success of the previous 6 Year Old Boxergrail expression, the new rye whiskey offers a rich, bold, and smooth drinking experience. The release of Boxergrail 8 Year Old also marks the latest addition to Rabbit Hole’s celebrated Founder’s Collection, curated by distillery founder, Kaveh Zamanian.
I was lucky enough to be in Louisville when the launch was announced and had an opportunity to chat with Zamanian about the new release, as well as taste it for myself.
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The Boxergrail Founder’s Collection 8 Year Old Rye Whiskey
Named for Louisville’s tendency to produce world-renowned boxers, including Muhammad Ali, Boxergrail rye is distilled from a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, and matured for 8 years in wood-fired, toasted, and charred (level 3) American oak barrels. It is then bottled at cask strength (51.9% ABV).
I asked Kaveh what prompted the jump from six to eight years old. “The road map was, from the very beginning, that our core range would be somewhere between four to six years old, our single barrels six to eight, and anything over eight years old would go in the Founder’s Collection,” explains Kaveh. “The objective’s always been for Boxergrail, Heigold, and Cavehill, in particular, to get to that eight, to ten to 12, to, 15 year old range. That’s the direction we’re going.”
Of course, Kaveh says, all Rabbit Hole bottlings are always led by a sensory panel, and nothing is bottled until it is ready. Boxergrail 8 Year Old Rye, Kaveh promises, will take the drinker on a journey of flavor.
“I can’t wait for you to taste it. It’s getting more and more complex from a flavor standpoint. There are additional notes that you pick up in it thanks to the charred barrels from Kelvin Cooperage and the extra aging. Imagine, you’re going on a sensory trip but that trip is getting more colorful and more magical.”
Boxergrail Founder’s Collection 8 Year Old is presented in a luxurious, heavy decanter with a gold cork that features the Founder’s Collection crest and a sleek sash.
Tasting Notes
The official tasting notes, provided by Rabbit Hole Distillery, are as follows:
“On the nose, it promises an enticing bouquet of mint, cinnamon, anise and brown sugar, followed by a palate that balances notes of ginger, tobacco and blood orange with a long, dramatic finish of allspice, herbs, tobacco and oak.”
I was lucky enough to sample the new Boxergrail rye on a recent trip to Rabbit Hole Distillery. For me, the rye is rich and warming with noticeable spice and charred oak, followed by hints of burnt citrus fruits and brown sugar.
At 51.9% ABV, it packs a punch. I enjoyed it both neat and with a drop of water, which allowed the orange flavors to come to the forefront alongside the earthy and herby notes.
Having recently started my rye whiskey journey, I found the Boxergrail 8 Year Old to be bold yet gentle. It was not overwhelmed by the charred oak but in fact, struck a wonderful balance between spice, sweetness, and herbaceous flavors.
Buy The Boxergrail Founder’s Collection 8 Year Old Rye Whiskey
Only 1,200 bottles of Boxergrail 8 Year Old Rye Whiskey have been created and are available at Rabbit Hole Distillery (Louisville, KY) and in selected markets nationwide. The RPP is $299.99.
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About The Rabbit Hole Founder’s Collection
This newest addition joins other iconic bottlings in Rabbit Hole’s Founder’s Collection. The collection features limited edition, cask strength expressions crafted by Kaveh Zamanian and is a testament to his commitment to innovation and pushing the boundaries of whiskey-making.
Other bottlings in the Founder’s Collection include Amburana, a Kentucky Straight Bourbon finished in Brazilian Oak, Nevallier, a 16 Year Old Bourbon finished in French Oak, and a Mizunara finish.
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