Rabbit Hole to Premiere Mizunara Founder’s Collection 15-Year-Old Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in Japanese Oak

Second Founder’s Collection Expression Explores the Marriage of Terroir and Innovation

Louisville, KY– Kaveh Zamanian, founder and whiskey maker of Rabbit Hole proudly presents Mizunara Founder’s Collection 15- Year-Old Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in Japanese Oak, the second expression of Rabbit Hole Founder’s Collection and the brand’s oldest and most exquisite offering to date.

Representing an uncompromising commitment to innovation and elevating the practice of whiskey making to a high art, Mizunara Founder’s Collection pairs Rabbit Hole’s rarest expression of Kentucky Straight Bourbon with oak from Japan’s most pristine forest to create the ultimate double-oaked bourbon. The extraordinary and rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon was aged for 15 years in new charred American oak and spent another year of aging in virgin Japanese Mizunara oak.

Rabbit Hole Mizunara Founder’s Collection is the marriage of two traditions and terroirs, thoughtfully blended and finished to create a bespoke whiskey experience. It is comprised of ten rare 15-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskeys selected by Kaveh from his private collection, each with a distinct flavor profile exclusive to the specific barrel in which it was aged. Each whiskey was well balanced and exceptional on its own, yet when blended, the whiskeys created a story of dimension and complexity, as aroma, taste and finish came together in perfect harmony.

To explain the creative process behind this singular release, Kaveh Zamanian takes us back to the days before he began Rabbit Hole. It was then that he began curating his personal collection of whiskey barrels, selecting those that spoke to him, each with a splendor of their own. Kaveh purchased these barrels, admittedly not knowing what he would do with them. He cloistered the charred American oak barrels, allowing them to expand, contract and deepen the whiskey’s complexity for fifteen years of vibrant seasonality in Kentucky.

Guided by innovation and with a touch of the mad scientist in him, Kaveh instinctively knew that this special whiskey could be made even richer by additional aging in virgin Mizunara casks. So he worked for two years to acquire the right casks, ultimately selecting the family-owned Ariake Sangyo cooperage in Shochu Island, Japan to provide their aromatic, handcrafted casks for this special whiskey. Made from indigenous wood harvested from 200-500 year old oak trees and charred at levels 3 -5 mm, the hand-shaped Ariake Sangyo casks bring forth notes of scented wood, mint and an array of exotic flavors.

When the yearlong Mizunara cask aging was complete to his liking, Kaveh decided that this truly rarefied whiskey simply had to be shared and he did so at cask strength, so the true essence of the whiskey would take center stage.

Kaveh said, “I have long had a desire to explore the impact of terroir on whiskey. By blending and maturing 15-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon in new Japanese Mizunara oak, I set out to push the envelope on innovation, creating a truly unique expression that gives connoisseurs an opportunity to experience the marriage of two whiskey terroirs. It was a bold choice, an act of risk and reward for me to take some of the oldest and finest bourbon from my personal collection and finish it in Mizunara casks. I could not be more pleased with the result; Rabbit Hole Mizunara Founder’s Collection is one of the finest whiskeys I have ever tasted and I take great pride in being able to share it with those who have a passion for one-of-a-kind whiskey.”

The experience of Mizunara Founder’s Collection begins with the eyes: a mesmerizing mahogany liquid inspired by the rich hue of henna demands attention. On the nose, enticing notes of banana, apple, pear, cherry, mint, black pepper and vanilla captivate the senses. The palate becomes enveloped in oak, spice, custard, nutmeg, black pepper, tobacco and cinnamon which make way for a flourish of honey, rose and currant. The finish is luxurious, rich and buttery, with banana, stone fruit and notes of warm earth.

Kaveh Zamanian suggests that spirits enthusiasts enjoy Mizunara Founder’s Collection 15-Year-Old Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in Japanese Oak at its full strength or with a touch of water to release additional dimension yet encourages imbibers to drink this rare spirit as they please.

“Our whiskey is a metaphor for life and we believe that when you find something you love, it is cause for celebration. And every celebration, no matter how big or small, should be had in the company of those you treasure,” said Kaveh.

Rabbit Hole Mizunara Founder’s Collection will be available beginning in April at fine retail shops. Only 1,403 sequentially-numbered bottles will be released for a suggested retail price of $1,500 per bottle.

This cask-strength offering is 114.2 proof/51.7% ABV.

In keeping with Rabbit Hole’s design aesthetic, the striking, yet understated presentation pays tribute to the liquid inside the bottle and consists of a wooden box adorned with an engraved rabbit and gold appointments and includes a personal note from Kaveh Zamanian. The front and back panels of the box may be removed to allow the bottle and the liquid within to be displayed in their full grandeur.

About Rabbit Hole Founder’s Collection

Released in 2020, Rabbit Hole Founder’s Collection is a platform under which Kaveh Zamanian develops special expressions that showcase his creativity and commitment to the artistry of whiskey making. These one-of-a-kind releases are limited edition, caskstrength and released bi-annually.

About Rabbit Hole

Diversifying the spirits landscape with one-of-a-kind whiskeys is Kentucky-based Rabbit Hole. Established in 2012 by Founder and Whiskey Maker Kaveh Zamanian, Rabbit Hole unifies heritage techniques with innovative, exclusive mash bills to create singular expressions of super premium American whiskey. Through its signature bottlings – Cavehill Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Boxergrail Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, Dareringer Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in PX Sherry Casks and Heigold Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Rabbit Hole turns the whiskey world on its tail, inviting imbibers to take a sip and dive down the rabbit hole, where “there’s no going back™.” The brand’s iconic, awe-inspiring distillery, named the architectural icon of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, produces 1.2 million proof gallons annually and showcases the entire process of crafting bourbon from grain to bottle, unlike any other distillery in the country. Follow Rabbit Hole on Instagram @Rabbit Hole and Facebook @ Rabbit Hole Distillery.

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