ASW Distillery Review: Fiddler Toasted, Georgia Heartwood & Encore Bourbons
ASW Distillery: How Atlanta's Whiskey Pioneer Became One of America's Most Innovative Bourbon Producers
There are certain distilleries that consistently find their way back onto my shelf. Not because they're trendy. Not because they're impossible to find. And certainly not because they're backed by massive marketing budgets. They earn their place because they make whiskey that I genuinely enjoy drinking. For me, ASW Distillery falls squarely into that category.
Over the years I've tasted countless bourbons from every corner of the country. Some have been excellent. Some have been forgettable. A select few have become bottles that I actively seek out whenever I see them. ASW's Fiddler line belongs in that latter group. These bottles are nothing short of incredible!
What makes ASW so fascinating is that they're not simply following the blueprint laid out by Kentucky's legacy distilleries. They're creating something uniquely their own in Atlanta, Georgia while embracing both traditional whiskey-making techniques and a willingness to experiment that many larger producers simply can't match. Today, ASW stands as one of the most awarded craft distilleries in America, but their story began much more humbly than the accolades might suggest.
ASW traces its roots back to 2011 when founders Jim Chasteen and Charlie Thompson launched the company with a vision of creating world-class spirits in Georgia. At the time, Atlanta wasn't exactly known as a whiskey destination. Bourbon conversations revolved around Kentucky, Tennessee, and increasingly Indiana. Georgia wasn't on most enthusiasts' radar.
Instead of viewing that as a disadvantage, ASW embraced it as an opportunity. The company spent its early years establishing itself before opening its Atlanta distillery and beginning production of the whiskies that would eventually put them on the national map. Their arrival marked a significant moment for Georgia whiskey, helping revive a distilling tradition that had largely disappeared from Atlanta for generations.
From the beginning, ASW adopted an approach that remains central to their identity today: they would produce their own spirits while also sourcing exceptional whiskey and applying their own finishing techniques, maturation strategies, and creative influence. Purists sometimes debate sourced whiskey versus house-distilled whiskey. ASW never seemed interested in that argument. This writer and bourbon enthusiast will defend MGP all day long and that is a hill I will die on!
While sourcing their distillate in the early years, they also focused on one question: "How do we make this whiskey better?" That mindset would eventually become the foundation of the Fiddler brand.
One of the more interesting aspects of ASW's portfolio is the origin of the Fiddler name itself. Master Distiller Justin Manglitz is an accomplished old-time fiddle player, and the distillery used that connection to create a line of whiskies that would allow them to "fiddle with" different maturation and finishing techniques. What began as a sourced-and-finished whiskey program evolved into one of the most recognizable bourbon portfolios in the Southeast.
Today, the Fiddler family includes multiple expressions ranging from wheated bourbons and double-oaked releases to Georgia oak-finished whiskeys and experimental cask-finished offerings. Some use sourced whiskey, some incorporate ASW's own distillate, and all reflect the company's willingness to push beyond traditional bourbon boundaries.
What makes ASW Distillery different today than when they first started? Many craft distilleries talk about innovation. ASW actually practices it. Their production portfolio includes bourbon, rye whiskey, American single malt, double malt whiskey, vodka, gin, and specialty releases. The company operates multiple tasting rooms around Atlanta and has developed a reputation for experimentation with local ingredients, custom oak treatments, and unique maturation techniques.
Perhaps most impressive is that they have managed to avoid becoming predictable. Every time I think I have ASW figured out, they release something that reminds me they're still exploring new ideas. That curiosity is exactly why the Fiddler line continues to stand out. And among the many expressions I've tasted, three have become personal favorites.
Fiddler Toasted Bourbon
If you enjoy toasted barrel bourbons, Fiddler Toasted deserves your attention. I honestly thought I had written about these bottles many months ago. You can tell by the fill level that I thoroughly enjoyed this bottle, shared it many times, and could easily get lost in it.
This expression starts with ASW's high-wheat bourbon mash bill and receives additional maturation in toasted oak barrels. The result is a whiskey that manages to deliver richness and sweetness without becoming overly dessert-like.
Deep reddish brown in color with brown sugar, vanilla bean, toasted marshmallow, roasted pecans, cinnamon, and warm caramel immediately jump from the glass. Given a few minutes to open up, deeper notes of flaky pie crust and toasted cedar emerge. The mouthfeel, like all Fiddler expressions, is rich and coating. Sweet wheat character drives the profile initially, followed by layers of caramelized sugar, vanilla cream, cinnamon spice, and toasted nuts. The oak influence is substantial but never overwhelming. Long and warming with lingering baking spices, toasted oak, and sweet caramel popcorn.
Distilled by MGP with a mash bill of corn (51%), wheat (45%), and malted barley (4%) and aged for 6 years, 9 months in char 2 and char 3 American white oak barrels. Finishing took place for 3 years, 1 month in medium and heavy toasted barrels. Bottled at cask strength and non-chill filtered. Batch 25-001.
I told Mutt this morning if I could drink one bottle for the rest of my life, it might just be this one. And I'm not *%&$ing kidding!
ABV: 59.7% (119.4 proof)
Distillery: ASW Distillery
Suggested retail price: $79.99
Drink The Bottles score: 100/100
Fiddler Georgia Heartwood
If there is one bottle that truly showcases ASW's creativity, it may be Georgia Heartwood. After aging, the bourbon is finished with Georgia oak that ASW harvests and chars specifically for the project. Rather than simply adding another barrel finish, the distillery is incorporating a piece of Georgia itself into the whiskey.
Western suede color to the rim with maple syrup, toffee, dark caramel, oak char, baking spices, and dried fruit create an immediately inviting aroma. Rich and concentrated. Brown sugar and caramel lead the way before transitioning into toasted oak, nutmet, ginger, and dark fruit. The Georgia oak influence provides a distinctive earthy spice that separates it from many wheated bourbons on the market. The finish is long, warming, and oak-driven with lingering sweetness and spice.
You're going to think I'm crazy here, but drinking this brought back floods of memories, both as a child and as an adult - Christmas at my grandparents, going to the movies, fishing in a farm pond. This bottle just has that magical ability and I wish I could explain in better. But believe me, this was real.
This particular bottle was part of the "The Big Green Egg" special release, called the Golden Ratio Release. The mash bill is corn (51%), wheat (45%) and malted barley (4%). This is a non-chill filtered, column-distilled whiskey from MGP. Aged in char 3 and char 4 American white oak barrels for about 4 years. The final few months of aging saw the introduction of white oak staves added that were specifically selected by the ASW team. Bottle #221.
ABV: 60.5% (121 proof)
Distillery: ASW Distillery
Suggested retail price: $89.99
Drink The Bottles score: 96/100
Fiddler Encore Review
Encore may be the most adventurous member of the family. ASW uses the Encore label for various cask-finished releases, often incorporating barrels that previously employed maple syrup, port, sherry, or other specialty finishes. Each release vaires, but the philosophy remains consistent: take an already solid wheated bourbon and build additional layers of complexity through finishing.
Slightly lighter in color than Georgia Heartwood, but still displaying inviting colors of polished mahogany. Dark fruit, maple sweetness, raisin, baking spices, and rich oak dance in the nose. The secondary cask influence adds depth without burying the underlying bourbon. Notes of blackberry preserves, caramel, baking spice, cocoa powder (think hot cocoa), and sweet oak create a profile that continually evolves as it sits in the glass. The finish is elegant and lingering with fruit, spice, and oak arriving in waves.
Encore showcases ASW at its most experimental. While finished whiskeys can sometimes feel gimmicky, Encore demonstrates how finishing can enhance a bourbon rather than overwhelm it. When executed well, this style creates an entirely new drinking experience. This one is spot on! The mash bill is the familiar corn (51%), wheat (45%) and malted barley (4%). The "Friends and Family Release" was aged 6 years, 11 months in char 4 American white oak barrels, and finished in Georgia Oak casks for 3 years, 2 months. MGP Distillate. Bottle #610.
ABV: 60.7% (121.4 proof)
Distillery: ASW Distillery
Suggested retail price: $84.99
Drink The Bottles score: 98/100
Final Pour
ASW Distillery represents something I genuinely enjoy seeing in the whiskey world. They respect tradition without being constrained by it. They aren't producing gimmicky products just to sling brown water. They're willing to source whiskey when it serves a purpose. They're willing to distill their own when they want complete control. They're willing to experiment with Georgia oak, toasted barrels, unique cask finishes, and entirely new approaches to maturation.
Most importantly, they're willing to take risks.
The result is a portfolio that consistently delivers character, originality, and quality. For me, Fiddler Toasted, Georgia Heartwood, and Encore aren't simply good craft bourbons. They're examples of what happens when a distillery focuses less on following established rules and more on making whiskey that people genuinely want to drink.
And after spending time with these bottles, it's easy to understand why ASW has become one of the most respected names in American craft whiskey. Oh, did I mention.... they're in GEORGIA! -Jeff
