One of Our Favorite Double Oak Bourbons Returns

We’re back with our first ASW single barrel of 2026, and one of our favorite double oak expressions on the market: ASW Fiddler Encore finished in Georgia oak.

We brought you our first Georgia oak single barrel in May of last year, and have been chomping at the bit to get another one going. As far as profiles go, this is one not to miss for double oak fans and skeptics alike. It delivers those warm cherry and seasoned oak notes up front, with added layers typically found in secondary aging, but without the extra heft that many of those expressions carry.

The Georgia oak finish has been getting a lot of attention lately, including a win for Best Small Batch Bourbon (6 to 10 Years Old) at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. After traditional aging in a charred white oak barrel, the whiskey undergoes secondary maturation in a new, charred Georgia white oak barrel from a local cooperage known for its wider grain, allowing for greater interaction between the spirit and the wood. This is a high-wheat, MGP-distilled bourbon aged in Atlanta and finished for over two years in Georgia oak.

 
The nose is thick and rich, with notes of heavy simple syrup, caramel drizzle, chocolate pudding, and fragrant, sweet seasoned oak.

The palate is dense and syrupy, led brightly by cherry cola concentrate, citrus oleo, marshmallow fluff, and sweet oak. Gentle, warming spices nip softly at the sides of the tongue, alongside pleasant charred oak and black tea-like tannins.

The finish carries a soft fizziness, with just the right amount of seasoned oak and light leather, but ultimately leans into bright cherry and smoked vanilla cream notes that linger.