Dettling Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon - Review
The Dettling Distillery, operated by Big Escambia Spirits, marks a significant milestone in the history of American whiskey as the first legal bourbon producer in Alabama since Prohibition9. While the Dettling name traces its roots to 1867 in Brunnen, Switzerland—where Franz-Xaver Dettling established a renowned kirsch distillery—its American chapter began in 2014 when Seth and Vicki Dettling founded Big Escambia Spirits in Atmore, Alabama(1)(5)(8). The Dettlings licensed the historic Swiss trademark, merging European heritage with a distinctly Southern approach to bourbon production(1)(10).
Seth Dettling’s vision was to create a family-owned, grain-to-glass distillery that could rival the best in the industry(8)(9). Situated on the family’s farmland near the Big Escambia River, the distillery emphasizes complete control over the agricultural process, with most grains—especially a carefully selected non-GMO corn—grown on-site in Alabama’s fertile southern soils(1)(9). The climate, characterized by intense heat and humidity, plays a crucial role in the rapid aging and unique flavor development of Dettling bourbons(9)(10). Unlike many craft distilleries that source spirits, Dettling is committed to authenticity, using only full-sized 53-gallon barrels made from multi-year air-cured American oak, and even cultivating their own yeast strains(1)(9).
The distillery’s cask strength single barrel bourbon has quickly become its flagship expression, celebrated for its transparency and distinctiveness. Each barrel is hand-selected by Seth Dettling, often from the upper rickhouse where temperature swings are most dramatic, resulting in deep color and robust character(2)(3)(4). These bourbons are aged at least four years, though many barrels exceed five years, and are bottled at cask strength, with proofs typically ranging from 100 to 115(2)(3)(4)(10). The mash bills are innovative, frequently incorporating specialty grains from the craft beer and baking industries, and each single barrel bottling is unique, reflecting both the diversity of Alabama’s climate and the experimental spirit of the distillery(6)(7)(10).
Dettling’s cask strength single barrel bourbon is not only a testament to the revival of Alabama whiskey but also to the possibilities of regional American craft distilling, blending heritage, innovation, and a fierce dedication to quality(9)(10).
Review:
Nose: A dark luxardo cherry note comes to the forefront along with notes of toffee and tobacco. On the second nose, I get a hint of peanut shells and soft vanilla as well. The age does come through here as the ethanol is quite present but still pairs with the other sweet and savory notes I had outlined prior. I would say the dominating notes here are cocktail luxardo cherries and peanut shells. It is very nice and unique for something of this age (The single barrel I have is only five years and five months old).
Palate: On the palate, the cherries immediately flood over the palate and coat your mouth. This is a shockingly oily whiskey for being so young. I think you can attribute the viscosity and the flavor to the widely varying temperature fluctuations that the rickhouse sees in Alabama. On the second sip, I taste the vanilla and tobacco wood notes that play really well to the fruity notes initially made present. Lastly, I get quite a bit of almost extract on the back end with some baking spice such as nutmeg and cinnamon. Despite the ethanol on the nose, this does not drink as hot as it smells, without knowing what it was and guessing the proof, I would have guessed just over 100 proof (This bottle is at 112.24 proof). Excellent!
Finish: The finish is lovely. It lasts about 20-30 seconds after the sip and introduces even more flavors than what was on the nose and palate. On the finish, I taste Christmas cookies with toffee bits and lastly when taking a breath, notes as if i just had a sip of string drip coffee with french vanilla coffee maid creamer. The coffee note is the most prominent on the back end and what I would say is a very welcome ending to this sip.
Overall: (89). This is a bang up bourbon. I am thoroughly surprised at the flavor that Seth, Vicki, and their team were able to get out of this for being such a young spirit. My friend mentioned to me “why haven’t they come up with a way to age bourbon/whiskey faster?” and oddly in this case, with the climate that Alabama brings, I believe this is as close as we’ll get to speeding up the process. It provides a nice balance between syrupy vanilla notes along with more tannic note such as tobacco and coffee. I can confidently say that I haven’t had an unfinished bourbon ever taste (or act) like this. This is a really nice, unique bottle.
Value: 60/100; (+0 on the overall). I paid $79.99 for this bottle and I think it is fair! I wouldn’t pay more than $90 for it. I think it offers a great range of notes but also is a young bottle that can be produced at a faster pace, just based on the location of the distillery.
Availability: Becoming more available in many markets! You may have to look around for this one for a little bit but at a larger store, I think you could find it.
Citations:
https://www.reddit.com/r/bourbon/comments/17zyulp/review_1_rbourbon_1_dettling_cask_strength_single/
https://www.reddit.com/r/bourbon/comments/194ia9w/review_310_dettling_single_barrel_cask_strength/
https://whiskeyconsensus.com/dettling-cask-strength-single-barrel-bourbon-review/
https://talesofthecocktail.org/homegrown-alabama-bourbon-arrives/
