Little Lord N° 02

Der kleine Lord N° 02 with chocolate, sherry, and raisin

Der kleine Lord N° 02 is an organic spelt brandy from the Ehringhausen distillery, aged in oak barrels. Sherry, brandy, and mocha barrels give it creamy chocolate notes and a raisin sweetness. Not a liqueur, but a spirit with 42% ABV.

A spelt brandy is produced from grain just like a Korn, but is subsequently laid to rest in wooden barrels for maturation. For Der kleine Lord N° 02 from Werne, three types of barrels are used—sherry, brandy, and high mocha—whose aromas infuse the spirit over the course of years. The result is the darkest and most chocolatey in the series.

Creamy, fruity, velvety

The nose features expressive, almost bold chocolate notes, followed by raisin and a touch of sherry cask.

On the palate, it is full-bodied and smooth, with a richness that one would not initially expect from a grain spirit. The 42% ABV carries the profile without any harsh burn. It finishes with spicy, nutty, and mature notes, with the gentle oak remaining perceptible until the very end.

The fact that a spelt spirit can taste like chocolate without a single gram of cocoa being involved is one of the most delightful surprises in the glass. Everything you taste here comes from grain, yeast, and wood.

A spelt spirit with this depth of barrel influence is not common, as allowing grain to rest for so long requires both patience and storage space. A business must be willing to invest in both.

Sherry, brandy, and high mocha

Three barrel types contribute to this spirit, and each adds something different.

The sherry barrel brings the dark fruit, that raisin sweetness known from an aged Oloroso. The brandy barrel rounds it out and adds warmth. And the high mocha barrel provides exactly the roasted notes that present as chocolate in the glass. Combined, this creates a composition, not a random mix.

The longer a spirit lies in wood, the more color and tannin it absorbs, and the calmer the alcohol becomes. This is exactly why the N° 02 feels so smooth despite its 42% ABV. Time is the essential ingredient here, and it cannot be rushed.

Why it is called Der kleine Lord (The Little Lord)

The collection is named after Heinrich, the family's great-great-grandfather, and by all accounts, the man was quite a character.

He loved trying new things, reportedly had exceptionally good taste according to the family chronicle, and enjoyed dressing so impeccably that the people of Ehringhausen called him "the little lord." It was also he who, about 130 years ago, was the first farmer in the area to grow spelt and liked oak trees so much that he planted an entire forest. Both spelt and oak are present in this bottle today.

The fact that the youngest generation named the wood-barrel collection after him brings things full circle, as Theres and Georg tell it. Distilling has been taking place in Werne since 1962, and the business has been run by the siblings, the third generation, since 2012.

The juries agreed with the N° 02. In 2017 it was named National Clear Spirit of the Year, and it won gold at the World Spirits Award in both 2020 and 2022. Hats off.

At 16 to 20 degrees, neat and enjoyed at leisure

Serve at 16 to 20 degrees Celsius in a bulbous cognac glass, as an aperitif or after a meal.

It pairs well with dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa), aged hard cheese, and a handful of raisins or dates. It is too precious to mix. Those who wish to continue exploring the series will find the lighter, licorice-noted version in Der kleine Lord N° 03, and the entire house is featured in the Ehringhausen Distillery collection. Other spirits of this type can be found in our Korn selection.

Organic control body DE-ÖKO-005 – German Agriculture