Skip to main content

Rabbit Hole Distillery is launching the perfect bourbon for chocolate fans

Rabbit Hole Distillery is launching the perfect bourbon for chocolate fans

By Christopher Osburn Published April 20, 2026

Whiskey glass — istock/GMVozd

Horse racing and bourbon seem to be entrenched in the history of the Blue Grass State. That said, Kentucky’s Rabbit Hole distillery is celebrating the beginning of racing season by launching Raceking, a six-year-old, limited-edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Rabbit Hole Raceking

First introduced in 2022, the 2026 version is made from a unique five-grain mash bill that includes chocolate-malted wheat and chocolate-malted barley. It’s matured for a minimum of six years in hand-crafted, toasted, and charred American oak barrels from the renowned Kelvin Cooperage.

Recommended Videos

According to Rabbit Hole, the result is a nuanced, memorable whiskey that begins with scents of toffee, toasted almonds, and brown sugar. Sipping it reveals flavors like roasted espresso beans, cocoa powder, caramelized sugar, clove, and cardamom. The finish is long, warm, and ends with a mix of pipe tobacco and dark chocolate.

“Raceking reflects how I like to approach bourbon, with respect for tradition but a willingness to explore its edges,” Kaveh Zamanian, founder of Rabbit Hole Distillery, says.

“With this release, we wanted to honor Kentucky’s legendary horse racing tradition. The name Raceking reflects that heritage and embodies the careful, deliberate process required to craft a bourbon worthy of a thoroughbred pedigree. Every element, from our five-grain mash bill to the toasted and charred barrels, was designed to create a bold, distinct flavor that celebrates both Kentucky’s history and Rabbit Hole’s approach to thoughtful whiskey making.”

Where can I buy it?

Raceking is currently available at select alcohol retailers and on Rabbit Hole Distillery’s website for the suggested retail price of $95 for a 750ml.

Christopher Osburn

Writer

Christopher Osburn is a food and drinks writer located in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. He's been writing professional

Topics

Liquor, Beer, Wine & Drinks

Food & Drink

The best value single malt whisky from every region of Scotland

Take a tour of Scotland with these gateway whiskies

Aberlour

If you’re new to the world of Scotch whisky, you might just assume that it all tastes the same. Well, not only are there major differences in aroma and flavor between many well-known whiskies, but there are also five distinct regions, and each has its own unique flavor profile. Each region is also home to many value whiskies. Today, I’m going to highlight one from each. But before I get into that, I need to start at the beginning.

When I first started writing about alcohol, Scotch whisky seemed a little overwhelming to me. When I first tasted it, I thought they all tasted the same. That changed when I was given a dram of single malt whisky from The Macallan alongside a dram of single malt whisky from Laphroaig. Boy, was my mind blown.

Food & Drink

Craft beer and spirits, Indigenous style

A look at a unique tribal label within the craft beer industry

Talking Cedar Brewery & Distillery.

When an industry fails to reflect the community, it falls short. That's the case for everything from fashion and music to the craft beer movement. Diversity in production honors the diversity in consumers.

In terms of beer, it's long been a white and male dominated affair. Lately, marginalized folks have made strides and craft beer has partnered up with some organizations doing great work. But so much work is left to do.

Food & Drink

How to survive a winery when you hate wine but your date loves it

Wineries for beginners from a beginner

Architecture, Building, Wood

Navigating the world while trying to operate outside societal norms can be difficult. When everyone in your friend group or family works a Monday-through-Friday, 9-5 job and you are the one jetsetting twice a month and calling multiple places home, it can be quite a challenge to maintain relationships. I have been able to find a way to maintain relationships (mostly) even though my life doesn't make sense to most people. It doesn't make sense to me most of the time either, but that is a conversation for another time. But one of the things that has been difficult for me is finding a way to navigate the wine world. My friends like wine. My dates like wine. Clients like wine. It is like the Roman Empire all over again, every time I go somewhere, someone is trying to pour me a bourdeau or a prosecco, or a riesling, or something or other that I don't know or understand. They are inviting me to wine tastings. They are trying to refine my palette.

But here is the rub. I really hate wine. Lately, I have considered myself a person intensely dedicated to brown beverages. I am a coffee in the morning, bourbon in the evening, and cola in between kind of man. And I like it that way. Navigating the culture of what wine goes with what meal is overwhelming and overcomplicated in my head. Coffee goes with every breakfast or dessert. Pepsi and Coke go with burgers and pizza every time. And, let's face it, bourbon goes with anything. So, why am I ranting about wine? Because I got an opportunity to visit the Susana Balbo winery in Mendoza, Argentina. Did I accept an invitation simply for the opportunity to sample Argentinian meat (which may be the best in the world)? You're damn right I did. Did I learn that I didn't hate wine as much as I thought, and there is a way to survive wineries when everyone around you loves it but you don't? Sure did. And here is how you can, too.