Distillery profile

ASW Distillery

Explore the distillery's history, craft, production, and the distinctive character of its whiskies.

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ASW Distillery

Overview of the Distillery

ASW Distillery is an Atlanta-based craft distillery that combines traditional copper pot stills with a Southern grain-in method. The distillery operates three tasting rooms in the city and produces bourbon, rye, several single malts, as well as vodka and gin. Notably, they use hand-hammered copper pot stills and the declared motto Southern Pot-Still Pioneers.

History

Origin Story and Cultural Roots

The story behind ASW weaves together families with roots in Ireland, France, and England into a shared starting point for the distillery’s interest in whisky and brandy. Tales from the 1600s–1700s are used as a cultural backdrop for the founders' inspiration.

University of Georgia and American Spirit Whiskey

The friendship between Jim Chasteen and Charlie Thompson at the University of Georgia led to the development of a recipe for a smooth and versatile whiskey, called American Spirit Whiskey, which became the starting point for later commercial activity.

Justin Manglitz and Production Expertise

Meeting Justin Manglitz, a self-taught homebrewer and later Master Distiller, provided practical production expertise. Justin contributed the implementation of hand-hammered copper pot stills and introduced the hybrid grain-in approach in production.

Development of Three Locations in Atlanta

Activities have grown to three fixed locations in Atlanta: the original distillery in Buckhead (199 Armour Drive), a barrel house and tasting room in West End (ASW Exchange, 1000 White Street), and a location near The Battery Atlanta (900 Battery Avenue, Suite 1035). These locations are used for production, storage, retail, and guest experiences.

Raw Materials and Production

ASW combines double distillation in hand-hammered copper pot stills with a Southern grain-in method, where the grain’s solids are retained throughout production. The distillery’s production profile consists of small-batch runs with a focus on experimentation, both in grain profiles and in distillation techniques. In addition to whisky, neutral spirits and gin are also produced; for example, activated charcoal filtration is used for vodka, and gin is made on a juniper-forward base with Southern-inspired botanicals. Barrel house facilities are used for aging and barrel picks.

Aging and Cask Types

There is a dedicated barrel house at ASW Exchange, used for aging and barrel picks. The page does not mention specific cask types or finish details, but highlights active aging and customer involvement in selecting the casks.

Whiskeys

The portfolio spans bourbon and rye, as well as a range of single malt series and a double malt. Central names include Fiddler Bourbon, Resurgens Rye, Duality Double Malt, and single malts such as Maris Otter, Optic Promise, Red X, and Burns Night. Along with spirits such as Hunker Vodka and Winterville Gin, it offers a broad product line sold through the three tasting rooms and through selected distributors in several U.S. states.

Whiskey Type / Series Flavor Profile Status
Fiddler Bourbon Bourbon Current; Core range; Available through ASW's tasting rooms and via distributors in select states.
Resurgens Rye Rye Current; Core range; Available through ASW's tasting rooms and via distributors in select states.
Duality Double Malt Double Malt Current; Core range; Available through ASW's tasting rooms.
Maris Otter Single Malt Single Malt Current; Core range; Available through ASW's tasting rooms.
Optic Promise Single Malt Single Malt Current; Core range; Available through ASW's tasting rooms.
Red X Single Malt Single Malt Current; Core range; Available through ASW's tasting rooms.
Burns Night Single Malt Single Malt Current; Core range; Available through ASW's tasting rooms.
American Spirit Whiskey The original recipe developed by the founders during their time at the University of Georgia; the name was used for their early, smooth-drinking whiskey. Current

Visit the Distillery

ASW welcomes guests in three tasting rooms: ASW Distillery in Buckhead, ASW Exchange in West End, and ASW at The Battery. Walk-ins can participate in public tasting sessions, while Buckhead offers guided tours and tastings at designated times. Closing days and private events are announced via their Google Maps listings and Instagram.

The stated opening hours are ASW at The Battery: daily 9:00–22:00. ASW Distillery (Buckhead): Wednesday–Thursday 11:00–18:00 (retail only), Friday retail 11:00–15:00 and tours + tastings 15:00–20:00; Saturday 13:00–18:00; Sunday 14:00–18:00. ASW Whiskey Exchange (West End): Thursday 15:00–21:00, Friday 15:00–23:00, Saturday 13:00–23:00, Sunday 13:00–19:00.

Philosophy and Craft

ASW highlights a mission as Southern Pot-Still Pioneers: to unite tradition and innovation by combining Scottish-inspired double distillation in copper pot stills with a Southern grain-in method. The philosophy emphasizes patience, perseverance, and constant experimentation with new grain profiles, distillation techniques, and aging methods.