Blackened X Rabbit Hole Bourbon 750ML

Blackened X Rabbit Hole Bourbon 750ML is a cask-strength collaboration bourbon finished in Calvados apple brandy casks, bottled at 53.3% ABV (106.59 proof) in a 750ml bottle. This Double Platinum winner at the ASCOT Awards marries a 13-year-old Tennessee straight bourbon with Rabbit Hole's Heigold high-rye double malt Kentucky straight bourbon, creating a layered profile that bridges two distinct whiskey-making traditions.

Quick Facts: ABV: 53.3% (106.59 Proof)  |  Origin: Tennessee & Kentucky, USA  |  Cask Strength, Non-Chill Filtered  |  Distilleries: Sweet Amber Distilling Co. & Rabbit Hole Distillery

Production & Heritage

This release draws from two mashbills: a 13-year-old Tennessee straight bourbon composed of 64% corn and 36% rye, and Rabbit Hole Distillery's Heigold expression built on 70% corn, 25% malted rye, and 5% malted barley. After blending, the whiskey was finished in Calvados apple brandy casks sourced from Normandy, France, adding a fruit-forward dimension to the already complex base spirits. Like all Blackened releases, the barrels underwent the proprietary Black Noise process, in which low-hertz sound waves—often drawn from Metallica albums such as Master of Puppets—pulse against the casks to intensify interaction between the wood and whiskey. The final liquid was bottled at cask strength without chill filtration, preserving its full body and texture.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Apple butter and honeysuckle lead the nose, followed by rhubarb, graham cracker, and a subtle macadamia nut warmth. With time in the glass, dark spices, toffee, and honey-roasted peanuts emerge and round out the bouquet.

Taste: The entry delivers ripe pear and cinnamon stick alongside smoky campfire notes. At mid-palate, bursts of cherry and brown sugar give way to warming rye spice, field clover, honey, and black walnut. Extended time reveals silky maple tones and baked apple from the Calvados cask influence.

Finish: Long and layered, with a drying cocoa note that grounds the lingering sweetness. Cherry pie crust, char, and a subtle pine resinousness carry through to the very end.

How to Drink Blackened X Rabbit Hole

At cask strength, this bourbon rewards a patient neat pour—let it rest five minutes to allow the toffee and baked apple notes to fully open. A few drops of water soften the proof and amplify the Calvados-driven fruit character without sacrificing body.

• Old Fashioned: The high proof and layered spice hold up beautifully against bitters and a sugar cube, with the apple brandy finish adding a unique fruit undertone.
• Manhattan: Rye spice and dark cherry notes in the bourbon complement sweet vermouth, while the cask-strength backbone prevents the cocktail from becoming too soft.
• Boulevardier: The whiskey's toffee sweetness and smoky depth balance Campari's bitterness, creating a rich, autumnal variation of the classic.

Best For

• Collectors who seek limited collaboration releases between notable distilleries
• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who appreciates cask-strength, barrel-finished expressions
• Side-by-side tastings comparing Tennessee and Kentucky bourbon characteristics
• Special-occasion sipping when you want a bourbon that evolves dramatically in the glass

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Blackened X Rabbit Hole taste like? It leads with ripe pear, cinnamon, and cherry, layered over smoky campfire and brown sugar notes that build toward a drying cocoa finish. The Calvados cask finishing contributes distinct baked apple and maple sweetness throughout.

How does Blackened X Rabbit Hole compare to Blackened X Wes Henderson? Both are cask-strength Blackened collaborations, but the Rabbit Hole edition incorporates a high-rye double malt bourbon and a Calvados cask finish, giving it a more pronounced fruit character. The Wes Henderson release used a different blending and finishing approach, and some reviewers have noted it delivers a more traditional bourbon profile at a slightly lower price point.

Is Blackened X Rabbit Hole good for sipping neat? Yes—its non-chill-filtered, cask-strength character rewards neat sipping, particularly after a few minutes of rest in the glass, which allows the initial dark spice intensity to soften into silky, rounded layers of honey, cinnamon, and baked apple.

Where is Blackened X Rabbit Hole made? The bourbon is a blend of Tennessee straight bourbon from Sweet Amber Distilling Co. and Kentucky straight bourbon from Rabbit Hole Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. The blending, Calvados cask finishing, and Black Noise sonic-enhancement process are handled under the Blackened Whiskey program.

What foods pair well with Blackened X Rabbit Hole? Smoked pork belly complements the whiskey's campfire and char notes. Apple tarte tatin echoes the Calvados cask influence. Aged Gruyère matches the toffee and nutty aromas. Pecan pie mirrors the brown sugar and maple sweetness. Dark chocolate truffles align with the drying cocoa on the finish.

What sizes does Blackened X Rabbit Hole come in? The standard release is available in a 750ml bottle.

Is Blackened X Rabbit Hole worth the price? It positions as a premium limited-release collaboration, and its cask-strength proof, 13-year-old component whiskey, Calvados finishing, and Double Platinum ASCOT Award place it in competitive standing within the high-end bourbon category for its price tier.

Why Blackened X Rabbit Hole?

The marriage of a well-aged Tennessee bourbon with Rabbit Hole's grain-forward Heigold expression creates a base that few single-distillery releases can replicate. Finishing in genuine Calvados casks—not generic apple brandy barrels—adds a specificity of fruit character that separates this from the wave of flavored or simply finished bourbons flooding the market. A Double Platinum at the ASCOT Awards and a Gold Medal at the 2023 New York Wine & Spirits Competition validate the blend's quality beyond marketing claims. At 106.59 proof and non-chill filtered, this is a bourbon that delivers full transparency of flavor from barrel to glass.