We recently traveled down to Atlanta for our next round of ASW barrel picks. Let me tell you, they were all fantastic! You know how much we already love Georgia Heartwood barrels, but the barrel we have today takes it even further with 1-year and 8-months of secondary aging! Another one of our favorite ASW products, their toasted wheated bourbon, goes even longer with 2-years and 8-months! These are some of the darkest barrels we've had from ASW and if you've had some of our previous picks, you know that says something. We also have our first barrel of Resurgens Rye, a 5-year 6-month 100% malted rye.
Everyone is allowed to have favorites. I've selected and evaluated hundreds of bourbon's for Seelbach's. ASW's Georgia Heartwood is one of the few barrel picks I've sought out from other stores and groups. There is something about the high wheated mash bill combined with the charred oak staves. Georgia Heartwood starts by collecting slabs of white oak. That oak cured in the elements for over a year. The slabs are separated by the sapwood and heartwood. The heartwood is dense with whiskey lactones that impart sweet and nutty flavors. These heartwood pieces are hand split and charred with direct flame. The staves are then added to the barrel to finish for 4-6 weeks. Each barrel is different. Anywhere from 18 to 30 staves are usually added per barrel.
ASW Distillery Fiddler Georgia Heartwood Bourbon #121 59.5%
The nose on this barrel is exceptional. It initially hits sweet with maple and caramel, but give it a moment and it begins to transform. Deeper dark cherries are present with a fragrant smokiness, sweet oak, and leather.
The palate is robust and expansive, with plenty of oak tannins and surprisingly more luxardo cherry than I’d have expected given the secondary aging. Still, smoked butterscotch and even a bit of Dutch apple pie continue long.
The finish is long and clinging, deep, charred marshmallows with lingering cherry cobbler and cigar box.
Rye is one of Georgia's traditional grains, and ASW features it front and center in Resurgens, crafting Resurgens Rye from 100% malted rye, to create a flavorful whiskey that showcases rye’s potential.
ASW Distillery Resurgens Rye Cask Strength #399
The nose begins dense and buttery, lightly spiced with cinnamon and clove before a pillowy semi-sweet chocolate creeps in. It then continues to weave between vanilla, graham cracker, orange zest, and fresh snickerdoodle cookie, all while maintaining chocolate cake and oak in the background.
The palate takes you in a bit of a different direction, beginning robust and spicy - running the gamut from spiced walnuts to dried cranberry to sugared grapes to Milk Duds and back to chewy lemon bar.
The finish is long and dry with fresh rye bread, dark chocolate, luscious plum and cherry fruitiness and toasted pie crust.
Each batch of Fiddler Toasted Bourbon varies and sees ASW first age their unique, 45% wheat mash bill bourbon in new white oak barrels of varying char levels, then finish it in toasted barrels. By varying the toast level and amount of time in the toasted barrel, each batch enjoys its own unique flavor profile. This char 2, heavy toast for over two-and-a-half years shows in both its color, and fantastic flavor.
ASW Fiddler Toasted Bourbon Whiskey #1030
Heavens to Betsy. Rich, granulated sugar, creme brûlée, fresh raspberries, caramel drizzle, and sweet charred oak - this nose is captivating and indulgent.
You’d never be able to guess this barrel was finished for nearly three years. The palate is creamy and viscous, beautiful brown sugar and custard on the front with raspberry iced tea on the back end. It's balanced, fruity, and decadent.
The finish is smooth and creamy with tons of maple and warm toasted oak continuing well into a custardy, slightly smoked long finish.
