I trekked into Powell with one job in mind. Go plant myself at the Still House Bar at DoG Distilling, see what they’re up to, and try their cask strength bourbon. The place opened earlier this year and has that clean, new-bar look without feeling stiff. It was hopping when I walked in, but the staff kept things moving, and I ended up with a barstool, a friendly chat, and a pizza that did not disappoint. Local spot, locally distilled, aged, and bottled. Hard not to root for that.
I went straight for the DoG Distilling Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Four years on it, bottled at 115.8 proof. In the glass it’s amber, bright and honest. The legs made a whole show of it, slow and dramatic down the side of the glass, which had me thinking I was in for a big, chewy mouthfeel. Not quite how it played out, but we’ll get there.
On the nose, sweetness leads the parade. Right behind it, I got grapefruit and pear. Not candy sweet, more like fresh fruit and light syrup, the kind you get at a diner when the waitress calls you honey and tops off your coffee before you ask. There’s an herbal scent in there too, familiar as an old porch swing but I can’t place it. Something from back when you’d get sent outside and told not to come back till supper. Whatever it is, it adds a clean, green line through the fruit. The proof peeks out, but it doesn’t singe your eyebrows. It lets you know it’s serious without getting loud about it.
First sip had me thinking, well now, that’s lighter than it looks. Those legs wrote a check the body didn’t quite cash. Not watery, just leaner than expected. Heat lands around the middle of the road. Warm enough to be interesting, not so hot you need to wave a hand in front of your face. A faint sweetness greets you first, and then the cinnamon shows up like a neighbor knocking at dusk. Not big red candy, more like a spoonful of sugar sprinkled with spice.
The funny thing is, the quirks don’t really reveal themselves until you swallow. On the tongue it stays polite. Once you send it down, the flavors start to stack up. I got that herbal note first on the front end of the finish, then the oak steps in, and by the tail end there’s orange drifting through. More orange peel than orange juice, and it lingers. If you like a citrusy exit, this one gives you a good handshake on the way out.
Oak shows mid finish, not a heavy lumberyard, just enough to frame the sweetness so it doesn’t run wild. The fruit leans citrus and a little pear, not much in the way of dark fruit. I didn’t catch any real smoke to speak of, and if there’s nuttiness, it stayed quiet. Grain doesn’t get pushy either, which keeps the profile clean but maybe leaves the middle feeling a touch spare if you’re hunting for that rich cereal chew.
Overall, this drinks like a bright, citrus-forward cask strength with a streak of something herbal. The sweetness is present but not sticky. Spice leans cinnamon and stays friendly. The heat is calm for the proof, which I appreciate. Where it gets a little sideways, for me, is how the flavors hold back on the palate and then jump in after the swallow. It’s like the band was tuning up during the sip and only started the song once I set the glass down. Not a bad song, either. Just a slightly different rhythm than I expected.
For a four year release, the oak behaves. It doesn’t bulldoze the fruit or herbs, and the finish is longer than the lean body suggests. That finish is the best part, honestly. Herbal first, oak second, orange last. If you’re in the mood for a nightcap that ends with a little citrus glow, you’ll be happy. If you want a syrupy, dessert bomb of caramel and vanilla, this ain’t that. This is more bright porch light than campfire.
Back to the bar. The Still House was buzzing, but service was on point. I got the story in quick hits, met folks who were clearly proud of the operation, and watched plates of pizza disappear faster than I could make notes. I’ll be back for a tour when it’s not shoulder to shoulder, and I want to learn more about their lineup and pricing. There’s a lot of charm in a spot like this where you can drink what they made right there in the neighborhood. If you’re anywhere near Powell, it’s worth pulling off the road to see for yourself. Even if your palate lands somewhere different than mine, the bar is a good hang, the folks are kind, and the pizza alone can carry your evening.
As for the bourbon, it lands squarely in the middle for me. Plenty to like, especially the citrusy finish and that fresh herbal thread, and I think some folks will love that exact angle. If your taste leans toward lighter body, medium warmth, and a clean, fruit-forward finish with a little oak framing, this might be your new house pour. If you’re chasing thick and sweet, it may feel a bit lean and a touch out of step until the finish shows off.
I’ll keep my eye on DoG Distilling. For being early in the game at cask strength, they’ve put out something that stands on its own feet. Next time I’ll try it side by side with whatever else they’re pouring and see how the lineup shapes up. For now, I’m glad I made the trip. Powell got a good one with this bar, and I’d tell y’all to stop in, trust your own taste, and let me know what you pick up on that herbal note. It’s right there, I swear, just out of reach, like a word on the tip of your tongue. And then you swallow, and there it is again, waving from the finish with an orange slice.
