Editor’s Note: We received a review sample of this whiskey from the brand. However, in accordance with our editorial policies, this has not influenced the outcome of our review in any way.
Some years back, Kaveh Zamanian left a 20+ year career as a clinical psychologist to pursue his long-standing passion for fine spirits. This decision led to founding the popular Kentucky distillery Rabbit’s Hole, which opened in 2018 as a state-of-the-art distillery and tourism experience in the Nulu neighborhood in the heart of downtown Louisville.
Rabbit Hole produces several very popular expressions, including its Founder’s Collection, all of which are notable for the use of truly singular mash bills, signature malted grains, and custom-made, hand-selected, toasted, and charred barrels.
What’s in the bottle
The whiskey being reviewed here, Rabbit Hole Founder’s Collection Mizunara Oak, is one of the distillery’s top flight offerings, drawing from a platform Zamanian and team use to develop unique expressions that are released bi-annually and at cask strength.
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For this go-around, the bottle contains 15-year-old Kentucky bourbon, selected from a handful of barrels from Zamanian’s personal collection, and finished for a spell in special Mizunara oak casks from Japan.
“For years, I’ve been fascinated by the terroir and traditions of fine whiskey making,” said Zamanian when this whiskey was released. “When I finally got my hands on a handful of elusive casks from a small family-owned cooperage in Japan, I knew I wanted to create something special to honor the mystique and beauty of Hokkaido’s oak trees. When crafting Mizunara, I chose barrels from my personal collection of Kentucky straight bourbon – each aged to perfection for 15 years – and finished them in casks made of the finest Japanese Mizunara Oak for more than 11 months.
“This special edition whiskey exemplifies the innovation and creativity that goes into each of our Founder’s Collection releases, and we’re proud to share this masterpiece with collectors who favor one-of-a-kind whiskeys.”
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Mizunara was first released in 2021. This re-release, of which only 2,200 bottles were made available, was bottled at 51.9% ABV and priced at $1,500.
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