RANKED: TOP THREE BOURBONS
FOR 2022

It's not easy to find the best bourbon to complete your dinner or fill out your liquor shelf. Kentucky delivers a wealth of flavorful options. The signature notes of oak that are essential to any bourbon come with a wide range of complements, from the rich chocolate flavors to a bright berry taste... 

 

We recommend Heigold, Dareringer, and Cavehill from our collection as your best bourbon options for 2022. These three bourbons will please customers looking for originality and quality poured out of a perfectly charred and toasted barrel. Also, each of these bourbons comes with a meaningful story behind it.

Heigold - Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (High Rye Double Malt)

Heigold is a 95-proof whiskey from Rabbit Hole that offers sweet sipping. This bourbon nods to Kentucky's German heritage with its ingredients and name. If you like liquor with a backstory, this is one of the best bourbons for your shelf.

Inspiration

Heigold gets its name from Christian Heigold, a German immigrant who came to Kentucky in the 1840s. Heigold settled in Louisville, and visitors can still view the original facade of his home to this day. A skilled stonecutter, Heigold constructed a masterpiece of a dwelling with patriotic scenes, presidential busts, and images of his family carved into the building's facade. Though only a quarter of these carvings remains, Heigold's patriotism is evident in the remaining designs.

The Heigold facade is all that remains of The Point, a neighborhood that once housed the immigrant families who were unwelcome in other parts of the city. The Great Flood of 1937 washed away most other remnants in the area. The fervent spirit of Christian Heigold was the inspiration for the Kentucky Straight Bourbon of the same name. Heigold is one of our best bourbons because it aspires to be as bold and inspirational as the man.

Production

We distill Heigold with a mash of corn, malted barley, and malted German rye, proof it down to 110, and then barrel it. The distillate matures in toasted char #3 American White Oak barrels. Over three years, Kentucky's climate perfectly ages the whiskey. The cold winters and warm summers allow the barrels to expand and contract, pushing the golden whiskey in and out of the wood so it can fully absorb the flavor imbued by the meticulous 20-minute charring process.

Tasting Notes

Heigold delivers a complexity of flavor without the harsh bite. It is the best bourbon for those who want to steer clear of the burn. At this bourbon's base, you'll enjoy a distinctive sweetness reminiscent of root beer, licorice, and brown sugar. The full palate has orange, clove, almond, oak, and vanilla cream notes. The finish is fruity and sweet, with hints of gingerbread and a slight cedar taste.

Dareringer - Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Finished in PX Sherry Casks)

Sweet and spicy with hints of sherry, Dareringer may be the best bourbon you'll find for deep flavors and undeniable elegance. We created this modern whiskey with a woman in mind, and it is just as enchanting as the lady who inspired it.

Inspiration

The wife of Rabbit Hole founder Kaveh Zamanian inspired Dareringer's creation. Though Kaveh originally had a penchant for Scotch, his wife lured him away to discover the delights of bourbon. His ensuing infatuation with the drink led him down a rabbit hole, for which the distillery gets its name. Dareringer is a bourbon as elegant and charming as the woman who inspired its name and creation, making it one of the best bourbons for a refined flavor.

Production

Dareringer is a small-batch bourbon because we produce it in batches of no more than 15 barrels to retain the liquor's distinctive flavor. It comes from a mash comprising 68% corn, 18% wheat, and 14% malted barley. Like all bourbons, the whiskey first ages in a new oak barrel. We both toast and char these barrels. Next, we finish the bourbon in handmade sherry casks imported from Spain. This bourbon never goes through any chill filtering.

Tasting Notes

If you enjoy fruity flavors, Dareringer might be the best bourbon you find. Lift it to your nose and enjoy the aromas of cherry, raspberry, and marmalade. The palate delivers a veritable burst of fruit with notes of blueberry, boysenberry, and grape balanced by a touch of caramel, mint, and oak spice. The bourbon finishes with roasted nuts, light raisins, and wet oak.

Cavehill - Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Four Grain Triple Malt)

Cavehill is the best bourbon for whiskey drinkers who are just venturing into the world of more complex bourbons. This spirit is an accessible find with a distinctive flavor without becoming overpowering.

Inspiration

Our inspiration to create Cavehill comes from the deep bourbon tradition in Louisville, Kentucky. This area of gently rolling hills and deep caverns gave birth to the distinctive whiskey drink now known as bourbon. As the home of some of the world's best bourbon, this area is worth naming the beverage after.

Production

Cavehill's mash features 70% corn, 10% malted wheat, 10% honey malted wheat, and 10% malted barley. We produce this liquor in small batches of no more than 15 barrels each. Cavehill comes from barrels that are both toasted and charred for the most complex flavor profile.

Tasting Notes

Cavehill is the best bourbon choice for a balanced flavor. The aroma is fresh and sweet with notes of rose petals, caramel, and sweet corn, plus hints of cinnamon sugar and freshly baked bread tease the flavor. Furthermore, the palate features milk chocolate, sweet black cherry, and butterscotch. Though you can detect a hint of oak, Cavehill has a very light flavor. Cavehill finishes with some extra heat provided by spice, pepper, and a hint of smoke. This bourbon has a long finish with a lingering sweetness that shifts from honey to cinnamon.

Rabbit Hole offers the best bourbon for consumers who want a memorable flavor without the burn. We thoughtfully craft Heigold, Dareringer, and Cavehill from fine ingredients in the heart of bourbon territory. If you're ready to discover the best bourbon addition to your collection, this is the perfect place to start.