By Richard Thomas
Ranking: B
(Credit score: Rabbit Gap)
Louisville’s Rabbit Gap Distillery is each one of many newcomers to Bluegrass whiskey and on the identical time a part of its new class of medium-sized distillers (distinct from each the legacy and new “Kentucky Majors” and the small producers sometimes related to craft whiskey). Contemplating the corporate went from basis to acquisition by Pernod Ricard in an area of simply seven years, I’ve all the time felt they had been began with an eye fixed on being purchased out within the first place. It’s the blink of an eye fixed in whiskey phrases. That hasn’t stopped them from turning into a fixture of Louisville’s Nulu district or the broader Kentucky bourbon scene.
The corporate launched Boxergrail, which regardless of being three years previous has a couple of course of tweaks that promise to differentiate it from the corporate’s customary rye whiskey. Opposite to what some discussion board dwellers suppose, Rabbit Gap’s rye could also be a by-product of MGP’s ubiquitous 95% rye inventory, however it has by no means come from that Indiana distillery. Though by no means formally confirmed, it’s typically identified that it was initially made beneath contract with New Riff in Newport, Kentucky earlier than the corporate had its personal plant up and working. Larry Ebersold, former Grasp Distiller of what’s now known as MGP (his stewardship was again within the Seagram period), consulted for each corporations.
These tweaks embody reducing the entry proof, which implies extra water within the barrel. That is a vital shift within the chemistry of maturation, however not a cheap one. Michter’s, for instance, is firmly dedicated to their 103 entry proof, far beneath the usual used at many of the Kentucky Majors for his or her common manufacturing. The barrels are each well-toasted and charred, which can also be an costly, nearly boutique option to make, and the model is a small batch. Some nerds scoff on the time period, and it’s ill-defined and open to abuse, however right here Rabbit Gap has stated meaning batches of 15 barrels or much less. So, what Rabbit Gap is doing by way of barrel choice and mixing software is per the unique intent of the time period as coined within the Nineteen Eighties.
When it comes to identify, Rabbit Gap founder Kaveh Zamanian should be a combat fan: it’s a nod to Louisville’s boxing legacy. That’s an fascinating alternative, given the city is finest often known as the Derby Metropolis. It’s most well-known for Muhammad Ali, however was additionally the hometown of Ali rival Jimmy Ellis; a heavyweight champion from the very early twentieth Century named Marvin Hart; and Adolpho Washington, who was born in Lexington, however residing in Louisville throughout his cruiserweight contender and championship years within the Nineties. The common model is 95 proof, however this Founder’s Assortment cask power model is older at 8 years and stronger at 103.8 proof (if that sounds low for a cask power, recall the decrease entry proof at first of maturation).
The Whiskey
A pour of this Boxergrail takes on a middling amber look within the glass, and I discovered the nostril fairly faint on the outset. Giving it a while to air introduced the scent out higher. Though the nostril led with a caramel nougat, apples and berries present, there have been mild traces beneath that had been Scotch-like, because the minor notes of wooden had been certain up with cereals and grassiness. The flavour turned decisively away from that unamerican course, nevertheless, centering itself on caramel and sweet corn, with the woody undertones taking over nuts and natural companions for that stage of the expertise. The end introduced the wooden to the forefront, working mild, however oaky.
The Value
On-line retailers are itemizing this present model of the Founder’s Assortment Boxergrail at between $250 and $350.
