Dettling Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon (Under 2 Years)

I had seen some excellent reviews for Dettling from Alabama, so I purchased a bottle while on vacation in Orange Beach, AL. The bottle I have is a 61-month Cask Strength Single Barrel. It is outstanding. The Alabama climate produces a bourbon that is exceptionally dark and rich for a 5-year-old spirit. Aroma: Dark, chocolatey caramel with oak, vanilla, Juicy Fruit, orange cream, coconut, linseed oil, and orange peel. It's reminiscent of Juicy Fruit gum with vanilla, spice, and chocolate. Flavor: White sugar sweetness on the initial taste, followed by strong vanilla and Juicy Fruit. Some pleasant spice, white pepper, and oak appear in the mid-palate. On the back end, the caramel sweetness and spice combine with vanilla and orange peel. Body: It has a thick and creamy mouthfeel, but it's not exceptional when compared to some of my best barrel-strength bourbons. Does the lack of age contribute to a lesser degree of oiliness/thickness compared to the top-tier bottles? Finish: Caramel sweetness, vanilla Juicy Fruit, creamy dark chocolate, white pepper, and spice linger, along with orange peel and vanilla, creating an orange creamsicle sensation as the other notes fade.

My preferred Alabama whiskey. It's becoming difficult to find and is somewhat expensive. Rich, substantial, and oily. Sweet caramel, with a vegetal note that I typically only associate with Texas whiskey. The finish has a hint of young corn flavor. As this is a single barrel, expect some variation between batches. Some bottles I've sampled seemed a bit immature. I'm happy to present this as a fine example of Alabama whiskey. I make an effort to keep a bottle available to offer guests a taste of Alabama.

Appearance: A very dark brown, much darker than most 3-year-old bourbons. Alabama must age like Texas. Nose: Caramel, toffee. Palate: Sweet, caramel. Finish: Proof heat, vegetal finish. I'm a fan. If you like Balcones Bourbon, give this a try. It's the best field-to-bottle Alabama Bourbon available. Adding a bit of water reduces the heat but also dulls the other flavors.

The aroma was slightly sweet and slightly woody. Palate: Immediate heat. Followed by more heat. By the third sip, I detected coffee and chocolate notes along with oats. It had a taste like an oatmeal cookie. Quite flavorful. I believe this has been aged for about 3.5 years in the barrel. Being cask strength, the flavor is impactful. It's certainly worth acquiring a bottle.

A very distinct character and reddish-amber color; licorice, medicinal, Dr. Pepper, stout, chocolate, cherry; spicy. It's very interesting to try, but I can't handle more than one small tasting pour. I appreciate the farm-to-bottle process using corn from South Alabama fields; it's a white wheated bourbon.

Received a sample of this, my first taste of whiskey from Alabama. What a distinct profile; initially, I got notes of raisins and caramel. A very pleasant pour, not too strong, but refreshingly different.