Dettling 1867 Distiller Notes:

2025 premium drop is our largest to date and includes some very unique and special barrels. In an ideal world every barrel would be selected at its peak. This is not generally the goal in the whiskey world, but I am very interested in pursuing this idea to the greatest extent possible. Two of the barrels in this premium drop represent what I believe are barrels that are at their peak. Gold Top Barrel #279, and White Top Rye Barrel #387. I have been evaluating them for so long that I have determined that over the last 6 months to a year they have not materially developed and are therefore at their “peak”.

Dynamic Pricing:

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 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.

I have also priced the “standard” type releases here slightly above the typical “in the wild” retail price, so we are not competing against our great brick and mortar retailers. If you have a retailer that gets Dettling, please buy it there!

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 for any trace liquid to be removed from the glass and keep nosing the glass 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 and removes the notes! When you are really being serious leave the glass on the table to smell it without touching the glass.

Barrel # 291 Not Selected

Very similar to #279, but with more peach skin, peach fruit, peach pit, and bark. I have determined to allow this barrel to continue on its journey. Keep a sharp eye out for this barrel in the future if you enjoyed #279. Maybe next year…

Barrel #389 Not Selected

Barrel #389 is a superior direct sibling to 388, but with some citrus, cherry, toasted sage, and all tasting notes are more intense. I have decided this barrel must remain, and if you enjoy 388 this barrel will be a must have. Maybe next year…

Barrel # 471 Not Selected

Sweet condensed milk, Thai Tea, thick oily texture, bursts of mocha, floral complexities, damn. If you enjoy barrel #470 then prepare to sell a kidney next year. If we had rickhouses full of these, every other distillery could just pack up and go home. I must keep this barrel for further development. Maybe next year. The question will be WHAT COLOR WAX?

Barrels 577, 534

Typical brown wax releases. These are from standard toast barrels, which has more fruit on the nose and less intensity. The standard toast Kelvin barrels to me result in a very pound-able whiskey, but if you are looking for the “classic” Dettling profile these are much lighter and fruitier.

If you have access to Dettling releases with your club or a brick and mortar retailer please leave these here for the folks that can’t buy Dettling. I priced them slightly above our standard “in the wild” retail price to encourage people to shop locally when possible. These were both barrel picks for South Korea, but bottled in 750 ml once the export orders were filled.

Price: $125