On the Road

Get to Know Rabbit Hole Distillery

By: Erin Oliver

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I recently had the privilege to experience Rabbit Hole Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. As a native of this state, who’s been on my fair share of bourbon tours and tastings, the novelty of this spot was clear from the get-go. Unlike the facilities I’ve visited that are tucked into rural areas via winding backroads, this spot is instead nestled in the heart of NuLu. Just East of downtown, the distillery integrates seamlessly into this hip, food-focused area.

Through intentionality, stunning design, and approachable expressions for all types of whiskey drinkers, Rabbit Hole is keeping bourbon fresh, nuanced, and communal.

Some Background

Founder Kaveh Zamanian fled from Tehran at age 14 to the United States. He spent time in Phoenix, New York, and finally Chicago, where he paid for school to become a clinical psychologist by working at restaurants and bars. While he dedicated more than 20 years to academia and psychology, he describes his experience in the food industry as the catalyst to becoming a bourbon maker.

He soon met the love of his life, Heather, a born-and-bred Louisvillian. He visited Kentucky with her for the first time in 2003 and was captivated by bourbon’s rich history and tradition. In 2012, he closed his practice and embarked “down the rabbit hole.”

Why Rabbit Hole Stands Out

Rabbit Hole Paper Plane at The Overlook PC Erin Oliver — Image courtesy of Erin Oliver

Completed in 2018, the 55,000-square-foot, open-concept distillery is a modern marvel in its own right. It’s no surprise the building has earned several architectural honors, including the 2018 Grand Award from the Metal Construction News Building & Roofing Awards and a 2019 AIA Kentucky Design Award.

Rather than hide the mechanics of the distilling process, Rabbit Hole plops visitors right smack in the middle of the process. Every production step is visible, including the small room that bottles every Rabbit Hole batch for the entire world.

Transparency is just as prominent in their product as the building. I learned about chill filtering, a process many distillers use to prevent cloudiness from appearing in their bourbon at lower temperatures, and one that Rabbit Hole abstains from. This is a choice left to the maker, as some believe chill filtering affects the richness of the spirit. They must be onto something, as I picked up on a unique texture.

While many whiskey brands source their rye from larger producers, Rabbit Hole distills its own in house. And as someone who typically excuses themselves from a coughing fit after sipping rye, I found Rabbit Hole’s to be smooth and non-invasive.

Beyond distilling its own rye, Rabbit Hole limits its signature whiskey batches to no more than 15 barrels, allowing greater flexibility and creativity from batch to batch—something I appreciated as a drinker drawn to what’s different.

Cherry on Top

The tour concluded at their rooftop bar The Overlook–an unsurprisingly beautiful panoramic view of the NuLu area, with craft cocktails and flights ready to keep the party going. It may be home to my favorite paper plane to date.

With its epic structure and unique expressions, Rabbit Hole manages to honor Kentucky’s bourbon tradition without feeling bound by it—a balance that refined both my appreciation for the industry and my pride in my home state.