The Story
16 years. Louisville straight bourbon. The Nevallier expression in Rabbit Hole Distillery's Founders Collection — one of the most age-forward releases from a Louisville craft distillery that has built its reputation on unconventional grain bills and meticulous production.
Rabbit Hole Distillery was founded in Louisville, Kentucky by Kaveh Zamanian — a clinical psychologist turned distiller who applied the same precision he brought to science to bourbon production. The distillery is known for its distinctive grain bills: four-grain bourbons using combinations of corn, malted barley, honey malted barley, and other specialty grains that produce unusually complex distillates compared to standard two- or three-grain Kentucky bourbons.
The Founders Collection represents the apex of Rabbit Hole's production program — expressions from the distillery's oldest and most exceptional barrels, released in limited quantities. The Nevallier at 16 years is named in the Rabbit Hole tradition of French-inspired naming and represents a significant commitment to extended aging from a distillery that distills its own whiskey rather than sourcing. Sixteen years from a distillery founded in 2012 documents the full maturation of Rabbit Hole's earliest production runs.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Deep amber from 16 years in new charred American oak.
- Nose: Rich and complex — the Rabbit Hole multi-grain distillate at 16-year maturity, with caramel, dried fruit, warm spice, and the distinctive complexity that specialty grain bills produce over extended aging.
- Palate: Full and layered — the honey malt and specialty grain character fully integrated with 16 years of barrel influence. Caramel, brown sugar, dried fruit, and warm oak.
- Finish: Long — the Founders Collection hallmark of an extended, evolving close.
Specs
- Distillery: Rabbit Hole Distillery, Louisville, Kentucky
- Founder: Kaveh Zamanian
- Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Age: 16 years
- Series: Founders Collection
- Size: 750ml
Browse all bourbon at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes Rabbit Hole's grain bills unusual? Most Kentucky bourbon uses corn, rye, and malted barley. Rabbit Hole uses specialty grains including honey malted barley and four-grain combinations, producing distillates with more complex flavor precursors than standard recipes. At 16 years, these unusual grain contributions have had time to fully develop.
- What is the Founders Collection? Rabbit Hole's apex program — extremely limited releases from the distillery's oldest and most exceptional barrels. The Nevallier is one of the most age-forward expressions in the Collection, representing Rabbit Hole's earliest production runs at full maturity.
- How does the Nevallier compare to the Founders Collection Mizunara 15 Year? The Mizunara 15 Year adds Japanese oak finishing to the bourbon program. The Nevallier 16 Year is a straight expression without secondary finishing — older by one year and focused purely on American oak maturation without the Mizunara's incense character.
- Is the Nevallier 16 Year still available? 1 unit in current stock at $4,199.
Description
16 years. Louisville straight bourbon. The Nevallier expression in Rabbit Hole Distillery's Founders Collection — one of the most age-forward releases from a Louisville craft distillery that has built its reputation on unconventional grain bills and meticulous production.
Rabbit Hole Distillery was founded in Louisville, Kentucky by Kaveh Zamanian — a clinical psychologist turned distiller who applied the same precision he brought to science to bourbon production. The distillery is known for its distinctive grain bills: four-grain bourbons using combinations of corn, malted barley, honey malted barley, and other specialty grains that produce unusually complex distillates compared to standard two- or three-grain Kentucky bourbons.
The Founders Collection represents the apex of Rabbit Hole's production program — expressions from the distillery's oldest and most exceptional barrels, released in limited quantities. The Nevallier at 16 years is named in the Rabbit Hole tradition of French-inspired naming and represents a significant commitment to extended aging from a distillery that distills its own whiskey rather than sourcing. Sixteen years from a distillery founded in 2012 documents the full maturation of Rabbit Hole's earliest production runs.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Deep amber from 16 years in new charred American oak.
- Nose: Rich and complex — the Rabbit Hole multi-grain distillate at 16-year maturity, with caramel, dried fruit, warm spice, and the distinctive complexity that specialty grain bills produce over extended aging.
- Palate: Full and layered — the honey malt and specialty grain character fully integrated with 16 years of barrel influence. Caramel, brown sugar, dried fruit, and warm oak.
- Finish: Long — the Founders Collection hallmark of an extended, evolving close.
Specs
- Distillery: Rabbit Hole Distillery, Louisville, Kentucky
- Founder: Kaveh Zamanian
- Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Age: 16 years
- Series: Founders Collection
- Size: 750ml
Browse all bourbon at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes Rabbit Hole's grain bills unusual? Most Kentucky bourbon uses corn, rye, and malted barley. Rabbit Hole uses specialty grains including honey malted barley and four-grain combinations, producing distillates with more complex flavor precursors than standard recipes. At 16 years, these unusual grain contributions have had time to fully develop.
- What is the Founders Collection? Rabbit Hole's apex program — extremely limited releases from the distillery's oldest and most exceptional barrels. The Nevallier is one of the most age-forward expressions in the Collection, representing Rabbit Hole's earliest production runs at full maturity.
- How does the Nevallier compare to the Founders Collection Mizunara 15 Year? The Mizunara 15 Year adds Japanese oak finishing to the bourbon program. The Nevallier 16 Year is a straight expression without secondary finishing — older by one year and focused purely on American oak maturation without the Mizunara's incense character.
- Is the Nevallier 16 Year still available? 1 unit in current stock at $4,199.
