Fiddler Encore Cigar Box Finish
Distillery: ASW
118 proof
ASW Distillery, founded in 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia, produces Fiddler as its flagship straight bourbon using a high-rye mash bill of 65% corn, 25% rye, 7% wheat, and 3% malted barley, distilled in a hybrid pot/column still setup. The Encore Cigar Box Finish variant undergoes initial aging in new charred oak barrels, followed by finishing in French oak red wine barrels for fruity depth, and then a unique secondary finish in cedar cigar boxes lined with toasted American oak staves from used bourbon barrels, infusing subtle tobacco and woody aromas. This experimental release stands out for its innovative use of cigar box finishing, blending traditional bourbon character with unconventional smoky and herbal notes prized by enthusiasts seeking bold, finished expressions.
Tasting notes
Aroma: Tobacco Notes, Cedar Aroma, Spicy Rye, Silky Texture, Wine Influence
Finish: Cons: Premium Price, Niche Appeal
BATCH: 25-001 CASKS USEDS: Jamaican Rum, Tawny Port, White Port, Amburana, Maple Syrup AGED: 7yrs 9 mos MASH BILL: 45% wheat 51% corn 4% barley
Reviews
Solid but muted wheated finished bourbon. Not a must-buy at $90 MSRP—skip unless you love high-wheat profiles and amburana. Available but not worth chasing.
Nose: subdued molasses, dark sugars, maple, cinnamon, sweet tobacco, orange zest. Palate: maple sweetness, blackberries, baking spice, cherry, caramel, cloves, amburana cinnamon, soft/high-wheat mouthfeel. Finish: short-medium, amburana, oak, bitter char, maple-caramel.
Review rating: 6 / 10
very solid pour
Shelf rating: 5 / 5
On AmitG's Instadram shelf (@amit).
