A Return to Atmore - OWA x Five Star’s Dettling “Bama Beast II” Pick
OWA and Five Star went back to Dettling in Atmore and picked Barrel #650, the double-oaked, 118.5-proof sequel to the sold-out Bama Beast. Bama Beast II is here.
The History
Last year, a memorable trip was made to lower Alabama to visit one of the whiskey world’s most viral modern sensations. Dettling 1867, located in Atmore, AL, has been producing some of the most unique and sought- after craft whiskey since its inception in 2014.
On our first trip, Sam from Five Star Liquor & Wine and the OWA team led a group to make our inaugural pick, Barrel #539, that was aptly named the “Bama Beast”. From prior Dettling pours, we knew this barrel was “a fastball right down the middle”, as one put it. “Bama Beast” had all the classic Dettling notes, including dark chocolate, espresso coffee, and red stone fruits, but just dialed up to the absolute max flavor volume.
The member response was great, as the barrel sold out in under ten minutes, even with a one-bottle limit per person. So in 2026, the return was scheduled for September. And the pressure to repeat such greatness… was on.
The Pick Team Plan
The OWA admins agreed that Dettling holds a special place in many members’ hearts. So we decided to use this pick as an opportunity to say “thank you” to our most loyal and consistent members. Consistent in the way of always being active in our various social media platforms. For being good OWA representatives at various venues, within the storefronts, and amongst the people that frequent those places.
We had three returning pick team members from last year’s team combined with five OWA member invitees to comprise the group. The one mission for the team was given: find something as, if not more so, memorable as “Bama Beast” with a twist on the flavor profile.
Pick Day
We arrived at Dettling on a warm September morning. Greeted by the owners, Seth and Vicki Dettling, the group was instantly inundated with the teachings of Seth and all the questions they had for him. He spoke on many of the characteristics that makes Dettling’s great whiskey, including the quality of grains used, the importance of the distillation process, and how each barrel tells a different story along its aging process.
As Seth was given some insight into the flavors the group was interested in, we set out to the rickhouses with a few barrel lots to look into for sampling. And that was when the pick truly began.
The Decision
After spending quite some time in the rickhouses, which reached up to 140 degrees at times during our visit, we pulled samples from five different barrels. As the group took its time during deliberation and sampled each barrel, one barrel slowly began to stand out amongst the rest. And Barrel #650 was the pick.
Double-oaked and aged for 58 months, Barrel #650 comes in at 118.5-proof and is packed with flavor. The barrel showcases notes of dark cola, black cherry, Mexican hot chocolate, molasses, and caffe americano. Appropriately named as the sequel to the inaugural pick, we are naming Barrel #650 the “Bama Beast II”.
We thank all the OWA members invited on the trip, as they took time out of their schedules to help pick the “Bama Beast II”. This is something we hope to do again in the future, where some of our most active members get to join. So for all those who would jump at the chance to be on an OWA pick, get in the socials and let’s get to know you!
Arriving in October, “Bama Beast II” is sure to be another special OWA X Five Star pour experience for many in 2026.
