Our second round of barrels from our trip to Atlanta's ASW are in and let me tell you, this may be the most exciting ASW release we've had. While our previous barrels featured some of our mainstay favorites like Georgia Heartwood and Toasted Wheated, today we have three new and unique barrels all over 7 years old. We tasted through a slew of 8+ year wheated Antiques to find the one we landed on today, and it doesn't disappoint. We then move into two 7+ year finished bourbons, a viscous and punchy Oloroso Sherry finished bourbon and a 99.6 proof (at cask strength) maple finished bourbon that fans of Penelope Havana should be quite impressed by. Let's dive in.
ASW Fiddler Antique Bourbon 122.8 Proof #960
The nose is creamy and custardy, vanilla cream puff leading with hints of orange oil, soft florals, and airy chocolate mousse.
The palate is silky yet coating, rounded and nuanced. There’s red fruit presence initially before a creamy, lightly spiced vanilla and a slightly nutty toffee before a sweet oak linger.
The finish is long and softly trailing - with the oak changing from sweeter oak growing a bit more old oak. All the while, still supported with light pops of expressed orange peel and honey.
ASW Fiddler Encore Maple Finished Bourbon 99.6 Proof #1087
This is perhaps one of the best maple barrels we’ve ever had. Coming in just under 100 proof, this sucker drinks easy as can be.
The nose is soft and playful with lighter notes of wildflower honey and maple. Creamy vanilla and plenty of brown sugar syrup with just a whisper of smoke and old fashioned.
The palate is syrupy and extremely crushable. Marshmallows tumbled in orange zest, fresh buttered flapjack stack, the most perfect creme brulee? Look, if you are coming for a maple finished bourbon - this is what you come for.
The finish is plush - sweet and long lasting with maple goodness.
ASW Fiddler Encore Oloroso 120.6 Proof #763
Viscous, plump, and toasty - this is not your regular oloroso finish.
The nose is juicy and saturated, continuing with darker berry notes and heavy, sweet caramel.
This palate is voluptuous and sticky - giving big coating fruit and spice notes right off the rip but quickly transitioning into huge waves of fruit infused brown sugar, damp oak and warming baking spices. Jammy raspberry, candied cherry, and ripe strawberries.
The finish is chewy and custardy - gobs of vanilla cream, red berries, and caramel with a lingering sweet oak and longer linger of sweet red dessert wine.
