Today, we're diving into Rabbit Hole Cavehill, a four-grain Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey that has certainly piqued our interest. This 95-proof bourbon, with a mash bill of 70% corn, 10% malted wheat, 10% honey malted barley, and 10% malted barley, brings a unique profile to the table. The Cavehill is known for its small-batch production, with no more than 15 barrels per batch, which adds an element of exclusivity to each bottle.
The following review is taken from our episode "Memento / Rabbit Hole Cavehill Bourbon." Click the link to listen to this review in audio format.
Nose
Brad: The nose is really beautiful. It's got some nice caramel and vanilla, along with toasted marshmallow and strawberry. Toward the end, I even found myself thinking about cream of wheat, but in a good way—a nice, sugary cream of wheat. I liked it a lot, so I gave it an 8/10.
Bob: I like this a lot too. It’s very bright on the nose. I get a lot of almond extract, almost like an almond cake, which goes along with the vanilla and other notes you mentioned. There’s also quite a bit of blueberry—fresh-picked, not syrupy. And there’s just the slightest hint of brininess, a subtle salty note. The nose is off-the-charts good. I’m going to give it an 8.5/10.
Taste
Brad: The palate matches the nose perfectly. For me, it turned into more of a floral, honey, agave direction, along with some caramel from the nose. It also got a little minty at the end, like a sweet mint. I absolutely love this. I’m giving it an 8.5/10.
Bob: This is definitely not an unsweet whiskey, but the sweetness we usually get from wheated bourbons isn’t the dominant flavor here. I’m still picking up on that blueberry, almost like a dark fruit underlying it—maybe black cherry or raisin for some people. There’s a lot of vanilla too, and it gets heavy on the char for me. I really like it; the combo of dark char with nice dark fruit is super unique. This isn’t a flavor profile we get on many bourbons. I’m giving it an 8/10.
Finish
Brad: As we get into the finish, I think everything you want is here. It’s a little oaky, with the mint continuing to come through. The cream of wheat blends with some fruity notes and almost turns into an orange creamsicle flavor on the finish. I’ll give it an 8/10.
Bob: The finish is just more of the same from the palate, which is nice. It’s consistent—dark blueberry, almost a blueberry compote, dark cherry, and that barrel char mixed with light effervescence. There’s lots of vanilla, caramel, and brown sugar that finally come out at the end. I’m going to give it an 8/10.
Balance
Brad: I think balance is where this stands out. There’s enough complexity here with a nice balance of flavors that move from the nose to the taste to the finish really well. I give it a 9.5/10.
Bob: I also think the balance is great. The flavors are well-integrated, and nothing feels out of place. I’m giving it an 8.5/10.
Value
Brad: In Ohio, you can get a 750ml bottle of Cavehill for $60. Honestly, I think that’s a pretty good value. This is a B+ whiskey across the board, so $60 feels right on par for what you’re getting. I give it an 8/10.
Bob: I’ll say this—$60 is a bit steep for a four-year bourbon, and Rabbit Hole has always priced their stuff on the higher side. However, I think the product is good, so I’m swayed to give it a better score. I’ll give it a 7/10 on value, but that’s with the caveat that I’m scoring it high because the whiskey is good, not because the production justifies the price.
Final Scores
Brad: I’m coming out to a pretty high score here— 42/50.
Bob: I’m at 40/50, which brings us to an average of 41/50 or an 82/100. This is our highest-scoring whiskey in a while, and it’s nice to have one we can heartily recommend.
Conclusion
Rabbit Hole Cavehill Bourbon is a complex and well-balanced whiskey that offers a unique flavor profile, especially for a wheated bourbon. At a score of 41/50, it’s an easy recommendation. While the $60 price point might be a bit high for some, the quality of the bourbon justifies the cost. If you're a fan of nuanced, layered whiskeys, Cavehill is definitely worth trying—whether you get a pour at the bar or add a bottle to your collection. For us, this is a go-to choice, especially for those looking to explore something outside the typical bourbon profile.
