New Rabbit Hole Distilling Pops Up Out Of Its Kentucky Hole

The steady stream of bourbon distillery development news out of Kentucky does not seem likely to end anytime soon. Fresh off a surge of five new whiskey producers joining the ranks of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association last month comes word now of Rabbit Hole Distilling, which is breaking ground on a new $12 million distillery.

Rabbit Hole Distilling was founded by husband and wife team, Kaveh Zamanian and Heather Bass. They anticipate opening their new facility next fall once construction is complete in the Louisville, Kentucky neighborhood of NuLu, according to the Louisville mayor’s office.

This latest distillery, once up and running, will have the capacity to produce 20,000 barrels of whiskey per year. It will include an event space, tasting rooms, a gift shop, a restaurant, and outdoor space, and will offer daily tours. While said build out is going on, the duo already have some whiskies about ready to roll out in Kentucky and Illinois, including a straight bourbon, straight rye whiskey and a five-year bourbon that’s been finished in 30-year-old ex-PX sherry casks.

“Rabbit Hole Distilling was founded to make outstanding whiskey and inspire more people to discover and enjoy our native spirit,” Zamanian said in a prepared statement. “Celebrating the groundbreaking … is a huge milestone, and we are honored to have so many neighbors and friends here to begin this adventure with us.”

“Congratulations are in order for Kaveh and the entire Rabbit Hole team,” added Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. “Your vision for this site is remarkable, and we cannot wait to toast its completion.”

The addition of Rabbit Hole Distilling to Louisville comes at a time when there’s essentially a renaissance in distillery development going on in the city. All told, there’s around $130 million in related capital improvements spread across ongoing and current projects such as Heaven Hill’s Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Brown-Forman’s Old Forester Bourbon Experience, Angel’s Envy, Kentucky Peerless, the Bulleit Experience at Stitzel-Weller Distillery, the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse, Michter’s, and Copper & Kings.