Summer 2026 Dettling Rye Release
Dettling Rye Allocation Drawing Goes Live on Friday July 31st at 9am ET
One entry per person. Multiple entries will be removed from list
This drop includes two very unique and special Dettling Rye barrels. First, the backstory on these and why they are important. To date, all Dettling Rye barrels released have been from the “300 Series,” including barrels 382, 383, 386, with barrels 384 and 385 remaining unreleased. These are from the first year of rye whiskey production, and I was very conservative here production-wise before confirming the whiskeys’ ultimate direction. All first-year rye production was consolidated prior to being double oaked in new Kelvin Standard Toast #3 Char barrels, and placed in a “cool” area to complete maturation.
All second-year rye production is reflected in barrels 477-484, which we refer to as the “400 Series.” The second year was also consolidated and double oaked, but this time using Kelvin Heavy Toast #3 Char new oak barrels before being placed in a very hot area of the “Original House.” This resulted in a whiskey with a very different profile, color, texture, complexity, and aroma. Same mash bill, same whiskey…different path towards final maturation.
I feel very strongly that one of these approaches created very good whiskey, and one approach created very important whiskey.
***Very Important*** It has come to my attention that very old, thick, and sought-after whiskey produces significant Frosting in the glass. It is the observation of some that the Frosting speed and intensity tends to reflect a whiskey’s quality, age, and barrel impact. I will be paying close attention to this moving forward, and referring to glass Frosting levels as applicable. While this is not established scientific fact, it is a widely held belief within the historic whiskey connoisseur community and one I find worthy of continued observation.
Barrel 481, 58% ABV, 6 Year, Pewter Wax
Visual: Heavy dark, heavy oil, significant glass Ambering with rotation, slow heavy Rifling. Stunning!
Nose: floral & herbs, best described as Chinese “five-spice”, olive bloom, potpourri, colas, and mead. Expect 15-30 min or longer-super intense, super complex.
Palate: Cola nut, grape-like fruit, vanilla cola, Dr. Pepper, Andes mints, similar to the nose as well, very complex.
Frosting: Moderate-Heavy, Rapid
Overall: Barrel 481 has less oak impact than 484. Notes are super close, but with less oak. Nose intensity is surprising. The lower oak presence allows for the above notes to be prominent and more obvious. You will find more in the whiskey than I have listed here. This is a very conservative summary. This whiskey is very, very special.
After Glass: Intense, complex, milk chocolate late.
Pricing: $300, Limit One Per Customer
Barrel 484, 58.35% ABV, 6 Year, Pewter Wax
Visual: Heavy dark, heavy oil, significant glass Ambering with rotation, slow heavy Rifling. Stunning!
Nose: Higher oak intensity is evident, floral & herbs, best described as Chinese “five-spice”, olive bloom, potpourri, colas, spearmint, and mead. Expect 15-30 min or longer-super intense, super complex.
Palate: Max balanced oak, cola nut, grape-like fruit, vanilla cola, Andes mints, similar to the nose as well, very complex.
Frosting: Moderate-Heavy, Rapid
Overall: Barrel 484 is extremely similar to 481 but with a very mature oak presence. If you love big agestatement whiskey with balanced oak intensity, this barrel is for you. Nose intensity is surprising. When I was working with these two barrels, I was struck by the sheer intensity of the nose once it started producing in full force. These barrels exceeded what I thought was possible in terms of intensity. Very, very special whiskey!
After Glass: Intense, complex, milk chocolate, maple syrup.
Pricing: $300, Limit One Per Customer
Pricing Notes:
Not sure if we are the first to price every barrel independently but here it is! I am concerned about the “hit/miss” problem in the whiskey world, and everyone hates getting one barrel they love and then another that just doesn’t hold up at the same cost. Special Releases should be special, but they can’t all be on the same level. This is my effort to price according to vintage, color, complexity, texture, finish, intensity, etc. as objectively as possible.
Notes on the notes:
My goal with the tasting notes is to accurately describe the whiskey so that every customer can make an informed purchasing decision. The notes are intended to be easily understandable and found independently by multiple guest palates. The notes are chronologically written in the order in which the notes were experienced. As the glass sits poured the nose and palate will change, and the notes are intended to accurately represent these chronological changes over time. The “After Glass” is the empty glass with no liquid. It is imperative to remove any trace liquid from the glass and continue nosing it until it begins to tell its story.
Pro Tips:
Smell your glass prior to pouring. Make sure any detergent or municipal water smells are gone. Have two glasses handy and pour into one. Dump the one into the other, so now you have an empty glass to nose for the After Glass while enjoying the whiskey. Picking up the glass to nose washes air over the glass, removing some of the notes! When you are really being serious, leave the glass on the table to smell it without touching the glass.
Glossary
Ambering – The degree to which whiskey imparts its amber color to the glass during rotation.
Rifling – The pronounced channels and flows that form as whiskey returns to the bowl of the glass after coating the interior surface.
Frosting – The hazy coating that develops on the glass as the whiskey rests, often associated by enthusiasts with mature, highly concentrated whiskey.
After Glass – The lingering aroma that remains in the empty glass after all liquid has been consumed or removed, often revealing subtle characteristics not readily apparent during the initial nosing.