Rabbit Hole Cavehill Cask Strength Liquor Barn Single Barrel 750ML

Rabbit Hole Cavehill Cask Strength Liquor Barn Single Barrel 750ML is a barrel-proof, four-grain Kentucky bourbon bottled uncut at cask strength in a 750ml format. This single barrel selection earned a Silver medal at the 2023 Bartender Spirits Awards, underscoring the intensity and complexity that Rabbit Hole's triple malt mashbill delivers when left at full barrel proof. Where the standard Cavehill is proofed down to 95 proof (47.5% ABV), this release lets the barrel speak entirely for itself — each bottle's exact proof varies depending on the individual barrel selected.

Quick Facts: ABV: Cask Strength (varies by barrel)  |  Origin: Louisville, Kentucky, USA  |  Style: Single Barrel, Barrel Proof  |  Distillery: Rabbit Hole Distillery

Production & Heritage

Rabbit Hole Distillery was founded in Louisville, Kentucky by Kaveh Zamanian, a clinical psychologist turned whiskey maker whose fascination with flavor science shaped the brand's grain-forward philosophy. Cavehill takes its name from the historic Cave Hill neighborhood near the distillery and is built on a distinctive four-grain mashbill: 70% corn, 10% malted wheat, 10% malted barley, and 10% honey malted barley — making all three secondary grains malted, a technique Rabbit Hole calls "triple malt" that coaxes deeper sweetness and complexity from the grain bill. The bourbon matures in hand-selected Kelvin Cooperage American white oak barrels that undergo a slow toasting process over a wood fire for up to 20 minutes before charring, drawing natural sugars from deep within the wood fibers. For this cask strength single barrel release, individual barrels were chosen at peak maturity and bottled without proofing down or blending.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark chocolate and cocoa powder lead immediately, followed by layers of roasted chestnuts, honey, and a thread of dried fruit. A second pass reveals subtle leather and a faint floral quality reminiscent of lavender.

Taste: The entry is rich and full-bodied, with bittersweet chocolate and espresso hitting the front palate. At mid-palate, caramel and molasses develop alongside baked apple and toasted almond, giving the bourbon a layered sweetness balanced by barrel char. Spice builds steadily as black pepper, clove, and cedar take hold toward the peak, amplified by the cask strength proof.

Finish: Long and warming, with roasted grain, dark chocolate, and a lingering peppery heat that persists well after the sip. Hints of orange peel and cedar round out the close, leaving a dry, tannic grip on the palate.

How to Drink Cavehill Cask Strength

Start this bourbon neat to appreciate the full barrel-proof experience, then add a few drops of water to open the sweeter malt and fruit characteristics hiding beneath the proof. A single large ice cube also works well, gradually tempering the heat and revealing more of the honey and caramel undertones. For cocktails, the cask strength intensity holds its ground in an Old Fashioned, where the chocolate and espresso notes pair naturally with aromatic bitters. It drives a rich, full-bodied Boulevardier, as the bourbon's roasted grain backbone stands up to Campari's bitterness. A Whiskey Sour benefits from the higher proof as well, since the barrel strength carries through citrus and simple syrup without thinning out.

Best For

• Bourbon enthusiasts exploring barrel-proof single barrel selections
• Gifting a whiskey collector who values unique mashbills and limited picks
• Side-by-side tasting alongside the standard 95-proof Cavehill to study the effect of proof on flavor
• Cocktail experimentation where a high-proof, malt-forward bourbon adds depth and structure

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cavehill Cask Strength taste like? It delivers a bold profile centered on dark chocolate, espresso, roasted nuts, and caramel, with building spice from black pepper and clove amplified by barrel proof intensity. The triple malt mashbill contributes a distinctive honey sweetness and baked apple quality not common in standard bourbon profiles.

How does Cavehill Cask Strength compare to Maker's Mark Cask Strength? Both are cask strength Kentucky bourbons with wheat influence, but Cavehill uses three distinct malted grains (malted wheat, malted barley, and honey malted barley) rather than Maker's Mark's traditional red winter wheat mashbill. The result is a more grain-forward, chocolatey, and nutty profile in the Cavehill, while Maker's Mark Cask Strength tends toward bolder baking spice, vanilla, and fruit.

Is Cavehill Cask Strength good for sipping neat? Absolutely — barrel-proof bourbon rewards neat sipping for those who enjoy full-intensity flavor, and a few drops of water will soften the heat while unlocking additional honey and fruit notes.

Where is Cavehill Cask Strength made? It is distilled, aged, and bottled at Rabbit Hole Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, in the heart of bourbon country.

What foods pair well with Cavehill Cask Strength? Dark chocolate truffles echo the bourbon's cocoa and espresso character. Smoked brisket or pulled pork complement the barrel char and spice. Pecan pie mirrors the roasted nut and caramel sweetness. Sharp aged cheddar provides a savory counterpoint to the malt-driven sweetness. Crème brûlée's caramelized sugar top aligns with the bourbon's toasted oak influence.

What sizes does Cavehill Cask Strength come in? This single barrel selection is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Cavehill Cask Strength worth the price? It positions as a premium single barrel cask strength bourbon, competing in the segment around the $100 mark where barrel-proof selections from craft and heritage distillers overlap. The unusual four-grain triple malt mashbill and individual barrel variation provide genuine differentiation that justifies the premium tier placement.

Why Cavehill Cask Strength?

What separates this release from the crowded field of barrel-proof bourbons is the triple malt mashbill — the use of malted wheat, malted barley, and honey malted barley together in a single bourbon is uncommon and produces a distinctly layered sweetness you won't find in traditional corn-and-rye or corn-and-wheat recipes. The slow-toasted Kelvin Cooperage barrels add another dimension, caramelizing wood sugars before charring even begins. A Silver medal at the 2023 Bartender Spirits Awards and another Silver at the 2023 London Spirits Competition confirm that the quality holds up under professional evaluation. For drinkers who have worked through the usual single barrel picks and want something genuinely different in mashbill and flavor architecture, this Cavehill cask strength barrel delivers exactly that.