Debt Collector is an American-style corn whisky from the London-based Doghouse distillery. It is released after three years of maturation in new American oak barrels and is made using a mash bill of corn, malted barley and rye. Fermentation uses Kentucky bourbon yeast. The spirit is made exactly the same as bourbon, but cannot be named as such due to not being made in the US.
Debt Collector is joined in the core range by Debt Collector Unaged Moonshine, which is taken straight from the still and diluted to 50% ABV. This sits alongside Moonshine Cask Aged 1 Year and Moonshine Cask Aged 2 Years. All use the same base spirit and are also reduced to 50% ABV. It offers versatility and can be used in any cocktail that traditionally uses American whiskey – think of the Manhattan, Old Fashioned or Pickleback.
The Doghouse distillery was founded in 2016 by husband and wife team Bradan and Katherine Saunders. It is located in a warehouse in Battersea, south London. After a year of building and equipping the distillery, production began in 2017. They make American-style English corn whisky, gin, vodka and aperitivos. They support British farmers with 100% of their base cereal grown in the English county of Norfolk. By making American-style whisky in the UK, the couple are recognised as pioneers in the English whisky scene. Debt Collector was first released in March 2025.
Doghouse Debt Collector, like the other bottlings in the range, is bottled at 50% ABV. It is available via doghousedistillery.com and selected specialist retailers in the UK. It can also be found in a selection of UK bars, including The Doghouse Bar in Clapham, south London. A bottle will cost around £50.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is deep gold and the nose is fruity and sweet with a warming spicy undertone. Aromas of vanilla toffee, caramel and chocolate coated cherry lead the way. These are supported by further aromas of candied sweet orange peel, brown sugar, dried red apple and a hint of foam banana sweets. Further hints of wormwood, liquorice and menthol in background, along with cinnamon bark, dessicated coconut and clove oil are also present.
On the palate this whisky is sweet and silky with a distinct woody edge. The early palate is laced with maraschino cherry and candied orange, with caramel and golden syrup-like notes also coming through. The dried red apple and foam banana sweets are more dominant now and give a lovely depth. Hints of dessicated coconut, milky coffee and cocoa powder sit in the background.
The luscious fruitiness and sweetness is backed up with some complex warming spice. A youthful white pepper kick develops, but it is deeper than that. Cinnamon and clove are evident, as are hints of menthol, eucalyptus oil and fresh liquorice root. Then a gripping oaky note develops towards the end, and this adds a delicious and mouthwatering dryness. The earlier cherry and a hint of bitter orange oil hit right at the end.
The finish of decent length and is both drying and woody. The warming spices dominate proceedings now, especially once the sweeter and fruitier characteristics have begun to fade. A milk chocolate note lasts longest, alongside the cherry – this is a little more bittersweet than before.
What’s The Verdict?
Debt Collector is impressive. Delicious sipped neat or taken over ice, but this screams at us to make a cocktail. It is so flavoursome and offers great complexity. It makes a superb Manhattan. Hats off to the guys at Doghouse – it cannot have been easy to go against what so many other English whisky distillers are doing, but they have nailed it. We have tasted bourbons that do not have this depth of flavour and character. What is next for Doghouse? We cannot wait to find out.
