Rabbit Hole Heigold Straight Bourbon is one of those bottles that catches your eye on the shelf and actually delivers when you crack it open. Founded by Kaveh Zamanian — a psychologist turned distiller, which is exactly the kind of career pivot I can respect — Rabbit Hole has been making noise in the Kentucky bourbon scene, and Heigold is their high-rye expression that leans into bold, spicy character.
What makes Heigold interesting from a technical standpoint is the mashbill. This is a bourbon built around a serious rye percentage, which immediately tells you this isn't going to be your typical sweet-corn-forward sipper. That rye backbone changes everything about how the whiskey presents itself — it pushes the flavour profile toward pepper, baking spice, and a drier finish than you'd get from a wheated or traditional bourbon. At 47.5% ABV, it's bottled at a proof that actually lets you taste all of that without needing to add water, though it certainly opens up with a few drops if that's your preference.
The NAS (no age statement) designation doesn't bother me here. I know some people see that as a red flag, but honestly, what matters is what's in the glass. Rabbit Hole clearly selects barrels that are ready rather than hitting an arbitrary number, and at this price point — around £53.75 — you're getting a bourbon that punches well above plenty of age-stated competitors sitting on the same shelf.
Tasting Notes
I'll be upfront: rather than fabricating specific notes, I'd encourage you to come to this one without a checklist. What I will say is that the high-rye mashbill and solid proof point set you up for a bourbon that's more assertive than gentle. Expect warmth, expect spice, expect something with genuine structure. This isn't a whiskey that fades into the background — it has presence, and it wants you to pay attention.
The Verdict
At £53.75, Rabbit Hole Heigold sits in a competitive bracket, but it earns its place. This is a bourbon with real personality — the kind of bottle I'd recommend to someone who's graduated past the entry-level offerings and wants something with a bit more backbone. The higher rye content gives it a flavour dimension that sets it apart from the sweeter, more approachable bourbons in this range, and the 47.5% ABV is a sweet spot that delivers intensity without being punishing. It's well-made, it's distinctive, and it doesn't try to be something it isn't. A solid 7.5 out of 10 from me — genuinely worth your money if you appreciate a bourbon that leans into its spicier instincts.
Best Served
This is a natural Old Fashioned bourbon. That rye-heavy character stands up beautifully to a sugar cube, a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters, and an orange peel expressed over the top. The spice in the Heigold plays off the bitters brilliantly, and the sweetness from the sugar balances that dry, peppery finish. If you're drinking it neat, give it five minutes in the glass before you go in — it rewards a little patience. On the rocks works too, though I'd use a single large cube rather than crushed ice; you want to chill it, not dilute it into submission.
