Dettling Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon

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!