A little background
Big Escambia Spirits decided to do something that had not been done before: make an Alabama whiskey. They use six different grains in their mash, which is not something usually seen in the whiskey world. This is a “field to bottle” bourbon born in south Alabama and deserves to be called “Alabama Bourbon”, according to the label. The Dettling Cask Strength Bourbon is a single barrel 110.8 proof bourbon that has been aged for just over 3 years. Considering its age, the color is very impressive, it is much darker than what one would expect. Aside from being labeled as “aged for 38 months”, the bottle sampled for this review had no other details identifying the specific barrel. Dettling Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon has a retail price of $69.99.
(Tasted neat from a Halo Glass)
Color
Red Amber
Nose
The nose is not very complex, but does offer some pleasant aromas. White corn is at the forefront, which shows the young age of the bourbon. Orange peel comes in to cut through the sweetness of the corn. Upon being brought closer to the nose, the bourbon gives scents of homemade cornbread and browned sugar. It has a yeast-like presence that is also common in younger bourbons.
Palate
The body is medium-thin. White corn and cracked white pepper dominate the palate in a pleasant way that coats the tip and back of the palate with spice, while the sweetness sticks to the mid-palate. Herbal, oaky, orange peel, and herbal notes come in as the bourbon settles on the tongue.
Finish
The finish is mildly short, yet not disappointing. Barrel char, sweet corn, and the herbal notes are all present.
In conclusion
Dettling Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon is a solid bourbon, and I can definitely see it making its way onto the larger scene in a few years. As for now, I think that its price point is a bit high when only considering taste vs. cost. That being said, it is thoroughly enjoyable and I would recommend to anyone to keep an eye out on Big Escambia Spirits.
NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Big Escambia Spirits. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review this bourbon!
Dettling Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon
110.8 Proof
The Good
- Tastes Older Than It's Age
- Beautiful Color
The Bad
- Value
- Young
Complexity
6
Nose
6
Palate
7
Finish
6.5
Value
6
Tried this with a bottle aged 27 months at 53.8%. I would agree mostly with your assessment, I pick up a hint of wax crayon in the nose and also what I imagine a crayon would taste like in the finish.
Hi Steve, thanks for the comment. I could see there being “crayon-like” notes on this one, as there is definitely a lot going on. Lots of unique flavors I’ve not really picked up on from other whiskies.
Complexity
7
Nose
6
Palate
6.5
Finish
5
Value
5
It really is an interesting bourbon. I did enjoy the varied flavor profile in this bourbon compared to some of the more traditional notes, but the age does come through. It likely needs another 2-3 years to integrate the flavors fully and hopefully develop a better elongated finish.
The Barrel entry proof is currently at 110 proof, I think the warmer climate (compared to KY) would make the lower entry proof a better option for the 6 year product. Still, its quite good, but young. Value is always hard in smaller distilleries, but hopefully will increase as the distillate age increases and the they utilize economies of scale.
We are working on a taste prediction and recommendation algorithm using the data collected in our review section if you would like to check it out. Open to public end of March 2020.
Complexity
10
Nose
10
Palate
10
Finish
10
Value
7
I don’t know that I have had a better bourbon. JD Single Barrel is simply a liquid, compared to this bottle of pure silk.