The Story
15-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon from Kaveh Zamanian's personal barrel collection, finished in rare Japanese Mizunara oak casks. Cask strength. One of the most ambitious releases from Rabbit Hole Distillery.
Rabbit Hole Distillery was founded in Louisville by Kaveh Zamanian, a clinical psychologist who pursued distilling as a second calling and built one of the most architecturally striking and technically ambitious craft distilleries in Kentucky. The Founders Collection represents Zamanian's most personal expression — releases drawn from his own private reserve of aged barrels, not standard production stock.
The Mizunara edition of the Founders Collection begins with 15-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon barrels from Zamanian's personal collection — spirit that has been maturing since the earliest days of his bourbon journey — then transfers to rare Japanese Mizunara oak casks for a final finishing period. Mizunara (Quercus mongolica) takes 200 years to mature to barrel-making size, imparting incense, sandalwood, and coconut notes found nowhere in American or European oak. The combination of 15-year Kentucky bourbon depth and Mizunara's exotic aromatic influence produces a double-oaked expression of unusual complexity.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Deep amber with warm Mizunara-influenced tones.
- Nose: The 15-year bourbon base delivers caramel and vanilla; the Mizunara adds incense, sandalwood, and a warm exotic spice.
- Palate: Rich and layered — the aged bourbon structure supports the Mizunara's distinctive aromatic complexity. Concentrated and unusual.
- Finish: Long and evolving — Japanese oak spice and incense fading into warm caramel.
Specs
- Distillery: Rabbit Hole Distillery, Louisville, Kentucky
- Founder: Kaveh Zamanian
- Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Mizunara Oak Finish
- Base: 15-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon from Zamanian's personal barrel collection
- Finish: Japanese Mizunara oak casks
- Bottling: Cask strength, double oaked
- Presentation: Wooden gift box
- Size: 750ml
Browse all bourbon at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Kaveh Zamanian? Kaveh Zamanian is the founder of Rabbit Hole Distillery in Louisville. A clinical psychologist by training, he founded Rabbit Hole as a second career and built a distillery known both for its striking architecture and for ambitious, unusual releases. The Founders Collection draws from his personal barrel reserves rather than standard production stock.
- What is Mizunara oak? Mizunara (Quercus mongolica) is a Japanese oak species that takes 200 years to mature to barrel-making size and imparts incense, sandalwood, and coconut notes found nowhere in American or European oak. It is one of the rarest and most sought-after finishing woods in premium whisky and bourbon production.
- What does double oaked mean? Double oaked means the bourbon has spent time in two different types of oak — in this case, first in standard new charred American oak for 15 years, then in Japanese Mizunara oak for the finishing period. Each wood type contributes its own character to the final expression.
- Is the Founders Collection Mizunara a limited release? Yes — it is drawn from Zamanian's personal barrel reserve rather than ongoing production. Once those barrels are exhausted, this specific expression cannot be repeated.
Details & Craftsmanship
Every detail has been carefully considered to bring you the perfect product.
Description
15-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon from Kaveh Zamanian's personal barrel collection, finished in rare Japanese Mizunara oak casks. Cask strength. One of the most ambitious releases from Rabbit Hole Distillery.
Rabbit Hole Distillery was founded in Louisville by Kaveh Zamanian, a clinical psychologist who pursued distilling as a second calling and built one of the most architecturally striking and technically ambitious craft distilleries in Kentucky. The Founders Collection represents Zamanian's most personal expression — releases drawn from his own private reserve of aged barrels, not standard production stock.
The Mizunara edition of the Founders Collection begins with 15-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon barrels from Zamanian's personal collection — spirit that has been maturing since the earliest days of his bourbon journey — then transfers to rare Japanese Mizunara oak casks for a final finishing period. Mizunara (Quercus mongolica) takes 200 years to mature to barrel-making size, imparting incense, sandalwood, and coconut notes found nowhere in American or European oak. The combination of 15-year Kentucky bourbon depth and Mizunara's exotic aromatic influence produces a double-oaked expression of unusual complexity.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Deep amber with warm Mizunara-influenced tones.
- Nose: The 15-year bourbon base delivers caramel and vanilla; the Mizunara adds incense, sandalwood, and a warm exotic spice.
- Palate: Rich and layered — the aged bourbon structure supports the Mizunara's distinctive aromatic complexity. Concentrated and unusual.
- Finish: Long and evolving — Japanese oak spice and incense fading into warm caramel.
Specs
- Distillery: Rabbit Hole Distillery, Louisville, Kentucky
- Founder: Kaveh Zamanian
- Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Mizunara Oak Finish
- Base: 15-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon from Zamanian's personal barrel collection
- Finish: Japanese Mizunara oak casks
- Bottling: Cask strength, double oaked
- Presentation: Wooden gift box
- Size: 750ml
Browse all bourbon at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Kaveh Zamanian? Kaveh Zamanian is the founder of Rabbit Hole Distillery in Louisville. A clinical psychologist by training, he founded Rabbit Hole as a second career and built a distillery known both for its striking architecture and for ambitious, unusual releases. The Founders Collection draws from his personal barrel reserves rather than standard production stock.
- What is Mizunara oak? Mizunara (Quercus mongolica) is a Japanese oak species that takes 200 years to mature to barrel-making size and imparts incense, sandalwood, and coconut notes found nowhere in American or European oak. It is one of the rarest and most sought-after finishing woods in premium whisky and bourbon production.
- What does double oaked mean? Double oaked means the bourbon has spent time in two different types of oak — in this case, first in standard new charred American oak for 15 years, then in Japanese Mizunara oak for the finishing period. Each wood type contributes its own character to the final expression.
- Is the Founders Collection Mizunara a limited release? Yes — it is drawn from Zamanian's personal barrel reserve rather than ongoing production. Once those barrels are exhausted, this specific expression cannot be repeated.
