Rabbit Hole Founder's Collection Raceking Bourbon 750ML

Rabbit Hole Founder's Collection Raceking Bourbon 750ML is a cask-strength, five-grain Kentucky bourbon bottled at 54.6% ABV (109.2 proof) in a 750ml format. This distinctive expression earned a Double Gold medal at the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition and a Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, distinguishing itself through an unconventional mashbill that incorporates both German chocolate-malted wheat and British chocolate-malted barley.

Quick Facts: ABV: 54.6% (109.2 Proof)  |  Origin: Louisville, Kentucky, USA  |  Five-Grain Cask Strength Bourbon  |  Distillery: Rabbit Hole Distillery

Production & Heritage

Rabbit Hole Distillery, based in Louisville, Kentucky, built its reputation on unconventional grain combinations and transparency in production. Raceking stands apart from the rest of the Founder's Collection through its five-grain mashbill: 70% corn, 13% rye, 10% malted rye, 4% chocolate malted wheat, and 3% chocolate malted barley. The chocolate malts — sourced from Germany and Britain respectively — undergo a specialized kilning process that darkens the grain and introduces roasted, cocoa-forward character before fermentation even begins. The bourbon matures in new American oak barrels that are toasted and charred the traditional way using wood-fueled fire, handcrafted by the master coopers at Kelvin Cooperage.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich toffee and toasted almonds lead the nose, followed by brown sugar and a subtle dried fruit sweetness. There is an underlying warmth from the high proof that carries hints of vanilla and toasted pecan.

Taste: The entry is full-bodied and immediate, with roasted espresso beans and baking cocoa anchoring the mid-palate. Caramel and dried cherry sweetness emerge next, layered with gentle clove and cardamom spice. The chocolate character here is refined — dry and elegant, more dark chocolate shavings than sugary milk chocolate — with fig and vanilla rounding out the profile.

Finish: Long and complex, trailing off into tobacco leaf and supple leather. Lingering dark chocolate and a faint peppery warmth from the rye content close out each sip with authority.

How to Drink Raceking Bourbon

At 109.2 proof, Raceking rewards patience. Start neat to experience the full chocolate-malt complexity, then add a few drops of water to unlock the more delicate dried fruit and spice notes that can hide behind the proof. For cocktails, three stand out: an Old Fashioned, where the cocoa and espresso depth pairs beautifully with a demerara sugar cube and orange peel; a Boulevardier, where the bourbon's tobacco and dark chocolate notes create a brooding counterpoint to Campari's bitterness; and a Revolver (bourbon, coffee liqueur, orange bitters), which amplifies the roasted espresso character already present in the spirit itself.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who values unusual mashbills and production transparency
• Side-by-side tasting sessions comparing chocolate malt bourbons and malted grain whiskeys
• After-dinner sipping alongside dessert courses featuring dark chocolate or espresso
• Adding a cask-strength anchor to a curated Kentucky bourbon collection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Raceking Bourbon taste like? Raceking delivers a layered profile dominated by roasted espresso, dry baking cocoa, caramel, and dried cherry, with a long finish of tobacco and dark chocolate. Its five-grain mashbill and cask-strength bottling give it a full-bodied, spice-driven intensity uncommon in standard bourbons.

How does Raceking compare to Woodford Reserve Five-Malt Stouted Mash? Both expressions use chocolate malt to introduce roasted, cocoa-like depth, but Raceking is a true bourbon with a corn-dominant mashbill bottled at cask strength (54.6% ABV), while Woodford Reserve Five-Malt Stouted Mash is classified as a malt whiskey and typically bottled at a lower proof. Raceking tends to lean more toward espresso and tobacco, whereas the Woodford expression emphasizes stout-like malty sweetness.

Is Raceking good for sipping neat? Yes — its complexity and layered tasting profile make it an excellent neat pour, though a few drops of water can help open up more delicate fruit and spice notes for those sensitive to higher proof levels.

Where is Raceking made? Raceking is produced at Rabbit Hole Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. The distillery sources its chocolate-malted wheat from Germany and its chocolate-malted barley from Britain, while the barrels are crafted by Kelvin Cooperage using traditional wood-fired toasting and charring.

What foods pair well with Raceking? Dark chocolate truffles complement its cocoa and espresso notes naturally. Smoked brisket or barbecued short ribs match the bourbon's tobacco and leather undertones. Blue cheese or aged Gouda echo the caramel and dried fruit elements. Pecan pie or a fig tart plays off the toasted nut and dried fruit aromas in the spirit.

What sizes does Raceking come in? Raceking is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Raceking worth the price? Raceking positions as a premium, limited-release bourbon within Rabbit Hole's Founder's Collection tier, sitting above their core range. Its five-grain mashbill, cask-strength bottling, and Double Gold medal credentials place it competitively among specialty bourbons that reward experienced palates seeking something beyond conventional profiles.

Why Raceking?

What separates Raceking from nearly every other bourbon on the market is the deliberate inclusion of two chocolate malts — ingredients borrowed from the brewing world — within a five-grain mashbill. This is not a flavored bourbon or a finishing experiment; the cocoa and espresso character is baked into the grain bill itself, creating depth that cannot be replicated through barrel treatment alone. A Double Gold at the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition and Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition confirm that this approach delivers at the highest competitive level. For drinkers who have explored the standard corn-rye-barley bourbon landscape and want genuinely different flavor architecture at full cask strength, Raceking makes a compelling case.