Fiddler Bourbon (second release), ASW Distillery, 86 proof, $35

Since opening its distillery doors last summer, ASW has released an apple brandy, an American single malt rye and a wheated bourbon called Fiddler that's been flying off the shelves since hitting the market in November. Fiddler is a triumph--a true distiller's bourbon. "Foraged" from whiskeys "with promise", ASW "fiddles with" the spirit using a number of blending and aging techniques. ASW's Chad Ralston said of this latest Fiddler iteration, " We hand-harvested three white oaks in Jackson County, Georgia in 2015, split up the heartwood and seasoned it outdoors for over a year, then fashioned the heartwood into staves that we charred and placed into Fiddler Bourbon barrels for the last couple of months of maturation." All of this fiddling created a highly-nuanced spirit with notes of maple syrup and vanilla. We hear there's a third release in the works. Stay tuned.

199 Armour Dr. NE Ste C, Atlanta. 404-590-2279, aswdistillery.com.

Watch the story behind Fiddler Heartwood Bourbon:

>

 Lawn Dart is a vodka-based liqueur vapor-infused with lemon peels and cold-pressed ginger juice. Photo courtesy of Old Fourth Distillery

Credit: Beth McKibben

icon to expand image

Credit: Beth McKibben

Lawn Dart ginger lemon liqueur, Old Fourth Distillery, 75 proof, $28

487 Edgewood Ave. SE, Atlanta. 844-653-3687, o4d.com.

 Outlier No. 3 is a collaboration between Independent Distilling and Three Taverns to distill Georgia’s first bierschnaps using the brewery's Feest Noel ale. Photo courtesy of Independent Distilling Co.

Credit: Beth McKibben

icon to expand image

Credit: Beth McKibben

Outlier No. 3 Bierschnaps, Independent Distilling Company (IDC), 90 proof, $54

731 East College Ave., Decatur. 770-842-8100, independentdistilling.com.

Scotch-style whiskey release party from Monday Night Brewing and ASW Distillery, $65

Be one of the first people to taste (and bring home a bottle of) Monday Night Brewing's scotch-style whiskey in collaboration with ASW Distillery on Feb. 27. Tickets are $65 and include a tour, tastes and souvenir bottle of this soon-to-be-released whiskey. For tickets: freshtix.com/events/monday-night-asw-whiskey-launch . Release party to be held at ASW. Can't attend the party? The whiskey is due to arrive at a store near you in early March.

Monday Night Brewing, 670 Trabert Ave, NW, Atlanta. 404-352-7703, mondaynightbrewing.com.

ASW Distillery, 199 Armour Dr. NE Ste C, Atlanta. 404-590-2279, aswdistillery.com.

In addition, head down I-16 to Savannah and take a tour of that city's first legal distillery since Prohibition. Ghost Coast, which officially opened in mid-February, is located about a half mile north of the historic river district in the renovated 1950s nightclub Frozen Paradise. Tours will highlight Savannah's liquor-soaked past, the distillery floor and include tastes of its first release, Vodka 261. The vodka is a nod to the 261 years since the end of Georgia's first official prohibition and the founding of Ghost Coast. Tour and tasting: $12.50. Tour, tasting, souvenir Vodka 261 bottle: $32. 641 Indian St., Savannah. 912-298-0071,  ghostcoastdistillery.com

4 cocktails (plus Champagne) for the calorie-counting Atlantan

Read more stories like this by liking Atlanta Restaurant Scene on Facebook, following@ATLDiningNews on Twitter and @ajcdining on Instagram.

About the Author

Featured

Demonstrators protest President Donald Trump and Elon Musk on Presidents Day in front of the Capitol in Atlanta on Monday, February 17, 2025, as part of nationwide demonstrations organized by the 50501 movement. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC