Rabbit Hole Dareringer Bourbon PX Sherry Cask Finish 750ML

Rabbit Hole Dareringer Bourbon PX Sherry Cask Finish 750ML is a 93-proof (46.5% ABV) Kentucky straight bourbon finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. This expression earned Platinum at the 2017 SIP Awards, distinguishing itself through an uncommonly layered profile built on dried fruit, sherry richness, and a wheated mashbill.

Quick Facts: ABV: 46.5% (93 Proof)  |  Origin: Louisville, Kentucky  |  Wheated Bourbon, PX Sherry Cask Finish  |  Distillery: Rabbit Hole Distillery

Production & Heritage

Rabbit Hole Distillery was founded in 2012 by Kaveh Zamanian in Louisville's NuLu district and became part of Pernod Ricard's New Brand Ventures portfolio in 2019. Dareringer begins as a straight bourbon distilled from a mashbill of 68% corn, 18% wheat, and 14% malted barley, aged in new toasted and charred American oak barrels before being transferred into 500-liter Pedro Ximénez sherry butts sourced through a partnership with Casknolia in Spain — casks that previously held PX sherry for approximately 30 years. Production is kept deliberately small, with batches limited to no more than 15 barrels at a time, allowing for tight quality control over the finishing process.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: An immediate wave of sherry and dark cherry leads the nose, followed by raisins, currants, and candied lemon peel. Beneath those fruit-driven top notes sit quieter layers of almond, vanilla, and dried flowers.

Taste: The entry is soft and fruit-forward — dried currants, tart cherry, and prominent blueberry and boysenberry tones arrive first, a clear gift from the PX sherry casks. At mid-palate, the wheat-heavy mashbill contributes a silky texture, while nuttiness, licorice, and delicate vanilla develop alongside measured oak influence. The sherry character stays assertive throughout without overwhelming the underlying bourbon structure.

Finish: Light and elegant rather than heavy, with a gentle dryness that keeps things balanced. Roasted nuts, dark fruit, and a whisper of menthol trail off cleanly.

How to Drink Dareringer

Neat at room temperature is the ideal starting point — the 46.5% ABV delivers full flavor intensity without excessive heat, and a few drops of water can further open the sherry-influenced aromatics. For cocktails, Dareringer's fruit-and-nut character makes it a strong candidate for several classics. A Manhattan benefits from the bourbon's inherent dried-fruit sweetness, reducing the need for excess vermouth. An Old Fashioned with a single Demerara sugar cube lets the PX sherry notes shine through without competition. A Boulevardier pairs especially well here, as the Campari's bitterness plays against Dareringer's raisin-and-cherry richness.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who already owns the standard shelf staples
• After-dinner sipping alongside dessert courses
• Introducing sherry-finished whiskey to someone exploring beyond traditional bourbon profiles
• Building a home bar collection focused on cask-finished American whiskey

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Dareringer taste like? Dareringer delivers a fruit-driven bourbon experience dominated by dried currants, tart cherry, blueberry, and raisin, balanced by vanilla, roasted nuts, and mild oak from the wheated mashbill and PX sherry cask finishing.

How does Dareringer compare to Woodford Reserve Double Oaked? Both are finished bourbons in a similar proof range, but their flavor profiles diverge significantly — Woodford Reserve Double Oaked leans into caramel, toasted oak, and chocolate from its secondary barrel maturation, while Dareringer trades those heavier wood tones for sherry-driven dried fruit and nuttiness. Dareringer's wheated mashbill also gives it a softer mouthfeel compared to Woodford's rye-forward grain bill.

Is Dareringer good for sipping neat? Yes — at 46.5% ABV it sits at an ideal proof for neat sipping, delivering concentrated flavor without punishing heat, and the PX sherry finish adds enough complexity to reward slow, attentive drinking.

Where is Dareringer made? Dareringer is produced at Rabbit Hole Distillery in the NuLu district of Louisville, Kentucky. The PX sherry casks used for finishing are sourced from Casknolia in Spain.

What foods pair well with Dareringer? Dark chocolate truffles complement the bourbon's dried-fruit sweetness. Aged Manchego cheese mirrors the nutty, slightly sweet sherry character. Roasted duck with a cherry glaze echoes the tart cherry tasting notes. Baklava reinforces the honey-nut aromatics already present in the whiskey. Blue cheese with fig jam matches Dareringer's rich fruit-and-oak balance.

What sizes does Dareringer come in? Rabbit Hole Dareringer is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Dareringer worth the price? Dareringer positions as a premium bourbon, priced above everyday bourbons but well within the range of other cask-finished American whiskeys. Its small-batch production of no more than 15 barrels per batch and the use of aged PX sherry butts from Spain provide tangible production value behind the price point.

Why Dareringer?

What separates Dareringer from the growing crowd of finished bourbons is specificity — the use of 30-year-old Pedro Ximénez sherry butts rather than generic wine or sherry barrels gives this expression a depth of dried-fruit character that younger or less distinguished casks simply cannot replicate. The wheated mashbill amplifies that advantage, providing a soft, round canvas that lets the sherry influence come through cleanly rather than fighting against heavy rye spice. A Platinum medal at the 2017 SIP Awards and Gold at the 2017 Los Angeles Spirits Competition confirm that the approach translates into the glass. For drinkers who have explored standard bourbon and want to step into something with genuine secondary-cask complexity, Dareringer makes a compelling and well-documented case.