Distillery: ASW Distillery – Atlanta, GA
Proof: 90
Age: 4+ (no age statement)
Mashbill: 56% Corn, 44% Various Malts
(blended): 51% Corn, 45% Wheat, 4% Malted Barley
MSRP: $40
Company
ASW Distillery is in Atlanta, GA. ASW = American Spirit Whiskey. ASW is a relatively new distillery, with its first commercial release in 2011. But they are aggressively developing labels. As of the date of this review, they have four bourbons and one rye in the market.
Production
ASW Distillery takes pride in its “Scottish-style double pot distillation” process. The Fiddler Unison Bourbon is aptly named due to its blend of two distillates. ASW married a high wheat bourbon presumably sourced from MGP to their own Corn and Various Malts distillate. It’s an unconventional approach, but as you’ll see in the review, it produced a favorable bourbon.
Fiddler Unison Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes
Nose 4/5
As with most wheaters, cherry is the star of the show. But Fiddler Unison has a distinct banana on the nose. There is also a distant toffee and vanilla that can be picked up.
Palate 3.5/5
If you had asked me to predict, I would have described a warm crust filled with sweet cherry pie filling. Well, forget that. This 90-proof high wheat mashbill is not as expected.
Instead of getting a sweet young bourbon, I got an angry brass-knuckled bourbon that punched me in the face.
From the first sip, a mad dash of baking spice hit me on the back tongue and lingered for an uncomfortably long time. So long that I grew more and more anxious for the sweetness of the banana and cherry.
Had I been wrong to make that assumption? Just as fast as the first flood of spice came, it went away and I was left with the sweet that I had longed for and hoped. The cherry was there and didn’t disappoint. The banana was there.
I felt redeemed in my prediction. But, the trip to get there was not at all expected.
Finish 3.5/5
The long, warm finish is quite remarkable. If you like your bourbon to hang around, this one is for you. It’s sort of like popping a caramel and a red hot at the same time.
Value 4/5
With its light amber color and big bold baking spices, this is one that could use some more time in the barrel. Fiddler Unison is definitely a good choice for a gateway bourbon. Or, perhaps, a daily. For $40, it’s worth picking it up.
ASW Fiddler Unison Review: The Verdict
3.75/5
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 4.25 – 5
- Gold – 3.25 – 4.24
- Silver – 2.75 – 3.24
- Bronze – <2.75
Mike Long is a staff writer at Bourbon Inspector and has an Executive Bourbon Steward designation from the Stave and Thief Society. He’s a former “wine guy” who discovered his love for bourbon years back at a spur-of-the-moment bourbon tasting he attended. He also loves traveling throughout America with his wife of over 37 years, Debby.