Don’t get tripped up: The Raceking of today is connected to the Raceking of the past, but it’s not the same thing. The original Raceking was a limited edition offering that was part of Rabbit Hole’s Founder’s Collection series, but now it’s gone more mainstream, featuring the same five-grain mashbill featuring chocolate-malted wheat and chocolate-malted barley, an (older) 6 year old age statement, and a lower, standardized proof.
“Raceking reflects how I like to approach bourbon, with respect for tradition but a willingness to explore its edges,” said Kaveh Zamanian, founder of Rabbit Hole Distillery. “With this release, we wanted to honor Kentucky’s legendary horse racing tradition. The name Raceking reflects that heritage and embodies the careful, deliberate process required to craft a bourbon worthy of a thoroughbred pedigree. Every element, from our five-grain mash bill to the toasted and charred barrels, was designed to create a bold, distinct flavor that celebrates both Kentucky’s history and Rabbit Hole’s approach to thoughtful whiskey making.”
With the cask strength designation dropped, Raceking’s price has also plummeted, from an MSRP of $395 to just $95 for the new edition.
We covered two editions of the Founder’s Collection bottling, most recently in 2023. Now we’re ready to see how the people’s Raceking compares.
Rabbit Hole Raceking Bourbon (2026) Review
The incorporation of two chocolate-malted grains is no joke, and straight from the bottle, Raceking smells just like you opened the door of a chocolate factory. The intense aroma of cocoa powder blows off a bit after a moment, making room for cinnamon and some gentle notes of wood shavings. It’s all well-integrated into that pastry shop attack, a chocolate croissant, freshly baked.
All of these carry through to the palate, though it surprised me as coming across as slightly boozy and youngish, with some undercooked cereal elements in the mix. These are short-lived, however, and soon enough the more exuberant elements of the whiskey take over again. As Drew has mentioned in previous reviews of the old Raceking, coffee bean is a clear component on the tongue, along with some dark cherry fruitiness. There’s an ample wood influence in the mix, but it’s well-integrated into the experience. The only real shift I can see here is the lack of any smoky qualities, which could well be driven by the choice to bottle this at a lower abv.
Ultimately, this feels like you’re getting the full Raceking experience of yesteryear, and I have to think you probably won’t miss the reduction in proof. The $300 you’ll save on a bottle — that you’ll notice.
95 proof.
A- / $95
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