ASW Distillery

What ASW Distillery does

ASW Distillery is a privately held, Atlanta-based craft distillery founded in 2015 that produces and sells a portfolio of bourbon, rye, single malt whiskey, vodka, and gin under the Fiddler, Resurgens, Duality, Maris Otter, Hunker, Winterville, and Bustletown brand families. Production centers on a hybrid approach that combines traditional Scottish-style double copper pot distillation (on Vendome copper pot stills) with a Southern-style grain-in fermentation that leaves grain solids in throughout fermentation, an unusual technique among craft distillers. The portfolio also leverages specialty inputs such as foraged Georgia white oak staves, Bloody Butcher corn malt from Riverbend Malthouse, and Maris Otter barley malt, supporting flagship expressions including Duality Double Malt (the world's first whiskey to mash, ferment, and distill malted rye and malted barley in the same batch), Maris Otter Single Malt (named 2020 World's Best Craft Whiskey by the San Francisco World Spirits Competition), and Resurgens Rye (Atlanta's first rye since Prohibition).

The company generates revenue through three reinforcing channels. Direct-to-consumer operations include three owned tasting rooms in Atlanta (Buckhead, The Battery Atlanta near Truist Park, and the West End / Lee+White BeltLine ASW Whiskey Exchange with 1,000+ aging barrels), where it sells bottles, tours, tastings, cocktail classes, cooking classes, and ticketed special releases priced from free tours up to $195 for HAZMAT releases. Wholesale distribution is live across seven U.S. states — California (LibDib), Colorado (Momentum Beverage), Florida (XXI Wine & Spirits), Georgia (United Distributors), Massachusetts (Atlantic Beverage Distributors), Tennessee (Athens Distributors), and Texas (Greenlight Distribution) — with Seelbachs.com serving as an online off-footprint channel and nationwide shipping via a licensed partner for B2B corporate gifting (custom-label bourbon, engraved glasses, bespoke cocktail kits). Enterprise revenue is anchored by a Private Barrel Program (~$192 bottles per barrel, 4–6 week lead time), flagship collaborations such as the Fiddler Chin Music Bourbon with the Atlanta Braves, and NIL-linked Hunker Spirits sold with the University of Georgia's Classic City Collective.

The company claims to be the most awarded craft distillery since 2018 at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, with Double Gold medals across Duality Double Malt, Resurgens Rye, Druid Hill Irish-Style, Tire Fire, and Fiddler Chin Music expressions, and was self- or founder-financed across its history with two disclosed funding rounds totaling roughly $6.7M. Leadership comprises co-founders Charlie Thompson (Co-Founder + CEO) and Jim Chasteen (Co-Founder), Master Distiller Justin Manglitz, plus functional heads for sales, marketing, HR, private events, and education operating across three tasting locations.

Name

ASW Distillery

Legal name

ASW Distillery

Website

https://aswdistillery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ASW Distillery is a privately held Atlanta craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, single malt whiskey, vodka, and gin, selling through three Atlanta tasting rooms, seven-state wholesale distribution, and B2B corporate gifting to whiskey enthusiasts and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers (THAFALAJ), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)

Keywords

• Craft distillery
• Bourbon whiskey
• Craft spirits
• Whiskey production
• Distillery tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Spirits Sales: Direct sales of award-winning bourbon, rye, malt whiskey, vodka, and gin through 3 tasting rooms and online via Seelbachs.com. Products include Fiddler Bourbon, Resurgens Rye, Duality Double Malt, Maris Otter Single Malt, Hunker Vodka, Winterville Gin, and Bustletown Vodka.
2. Tours and Experiences: Revenue from distillery tours, barrel tastings, cocktail classes, cooking classes, and special release events. Pricing ranges from free tours to $195 for special HAZMAT releases.
3. Corporate Client Gifts: Custom label bourbon, engraved whiskey glasses, bespoke cocktail kits sold to corporate clients. Includes nationwide delivery through licensed shipping partner.
4. Private Barrel Program: Private selection programs for individuals and companies to select barrels with custom gold decals. One barrel yields 192 bottles typically, with 4-6 week lead time.
5. Wholesale Distribution: Sales through state distributors across 7 states: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Texas.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ASW Distillery is an Atlanta-based craft distillery that manufactures and sells award-winning bourbon, rye, malt whiskey, vodka, and gin. The distillery combines traditional Scottish-style double copper pot distillation with Southern-style grain-in distillation using Vendome copper pot stills. Beyond spirits production, the company operates three Atlanta tasting rooms, offers private barrel selection programs, and provides corporate client gifting services.

Product overview

ASW Distillery is an Atlanta-based craft distillery and independent whiskey bottler offering a diverse portfolio of spirits across whiskey (bourbon, rye, malt), gin, and vodka categories. The portfolio centers on the Fiddler Bourbon and Rye brand (featuring multiple expressions: Heartwood, Toasted, Soloist, Chin Music, Wheated, Encore, Antique, Big Green Egg, and Toasted Rye), supported by Resurgens Rye, Duality Double Malt, and a series of single malt expressions (Maris Otter, Optic Promise, Burns Night, Red X, Tire Fire, Druid Hill Irish-Style). Clear spirits include Hunker Vodka, Winterville Gin, Barrel Rested Winterville Gin, and Bustletown Vodka. Beyond product sales, ASW operates three tasting room experiences, a private barrel selection program, corporate client gifting services, and ticketed events including tours, cocktail classes, and cooking classes. The distillery's production approach combines traditional Scottish double copper pot distillation with Southern grain-in distillation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fiddler Bourbon Flagship bourbon product line featuring multiple expressions including Heartwood (foraged high-wheat, triple-oaked), Toasted Bourbon, Soloist (Atlanta's first straight bourbon), Chin Music (Atlanta Braves collaboration), Wheated Bourbon, Encore Bourbon, Antique Bourbon, Big Green Egg Bourbon, and Toasted Rye. Named for Master Distiller Justin Manglitz's fiddling skills. Targeted at craft whiskey enthusiasts.
• Resurgens Rye An Appalachian-style rye whiskey made from 100% malted rye (including chocolate malted rye), producing a smooth, chocolatey profile. Atlanta's first rye whiskey since Prohibition and a Double Gold Medal winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Targeted at craft whiskey enthusiasts and rye aficionados.
• Duality Double Malt The world's first whiskey to mash, ferment, and distill malted rye and malted barley in the same batch. Georgia's first-ever Double Gold Medal whiskey. Drinks like a rye with the finish of a smoky single malt. Targeted at craft whiskey enthusiasts seeking innovative expressions.
• Maris Otter Single Malt An unpeated single malt distilled from Maris Otter barley malt (known as the 'holy grail' of brewing malts). Named the World's Best Craft Whiskey at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2020 and awarded a Double Gold Medal. Targeted at craft whiskey enthusiasts seeking premium single malts.
• Tire Fire Single Malt A heavily peated Islay-style single malt distilled from 100% peated malt (45 ppm phenol content) sourced from Inverness, Scotland, double-distilled on copper pot stills with an extended tails cut to capture phenolic content, matured in new charred oak and finished in Richland Rum casks. Multiple Gold Medal winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Targeted at peated whiskey enthusiasts.
• Optic Promise Single Malt A single malt distilled from 50% optic malt and 50% golden promise malt, unpeated, presented at cask strength, non chill-filtered, with no color added. Targeted at craft whiskey enthusiasts.
• Burns Night American Single Malt A peated single malt named for Scottish poet Robert Burns, featuring the original recipe of Master Distiller Justin Manglitz with notes of butterscotch, charred peach, and pear. Gold Medal winner at SFWSC 2019. Targeted at craft whiskey enthusiasts.
• Red X Single Malt Distilled from 100% Red X German brewing malt, finished with staves of oak heartwood hand-harvested by Master Distiller Justin Manglitz. Silver Medal winner at SFWSC 2021. Targeted at craft whiskey enthusiasts.
• Druid Hill Irish-Style Whiskey An American Irish-style whiskey crafted with 70% malted barley and 30% unmalted barley from a 6th generation family farm in County Louth, Ireland, triple-distilled on copper pot stills. Double Gold Medal winner at SFWSC 2021. Targeted at craft whiskey enthusiasts seeking Irish-style whiskey.
• Hunker Vodka A seven-times distilled vodka made from 100% Midwest corn, activated-carbon-filtered and bottled at 80 proof. A collaboration with Athens, Georgia's Classic City Collective to support NIL efforts of ASW founders' alma mater (University of Georgia). Targeted at vodka consumers and UGA athletics supporters.
• Winterville Gin A dry gin named for Winterville, Georgia, featuring 13 botanicals including angelica root, anise, cardamom, coriander, cucumber, grapefruit, hyssop, juniper, lemon, lime, orange, marigold (Winterville's city flower), and pepper; vapor-infused at 95 proof. Silver Medal winner at SFWSC 2022. Targeted at gin enthusiasts.
• Bustletown Vodka The first spirit distilled at ASW's Battery Atlanta location; seven-times distilled for a smooth, refined profile. Gold Medal winner at SFWSC 2022 and 91 points at International Wine & Spirits Competition 2021. Targeted at vodka consumers.
• Barrel Rested Winterville Gin Winterville Gin finished in whiskey barrels with added coffee, grains of paradise, and sage, presented at 100 proof. Targeted at craft gin enthusiasts.
• ASW Tasting Rooms & In-Person Experiences Three Atlanta tasting room locations: ASW Distillery (Buckhead, featuring whiskey pot stills), ASW Whiskey Exchange (West End/BeltLine, barrelhouse), and ASW at The Battery Atlanta (near Braves stadium, featuring vodka and gin stills). Offerings include distillery tours, rickhouse tours, cocktail classes, cooking classes, private events, and ticketed experiences with prices ranging from $35 to $195. Targeted at visitors, tourists, and local Atlanta whiskey enthusiasts.
• Private Barrel Picks Program Private selection program allowing individuals, groups, and companies to select from 3-4 barrels of spirits, design a custom label, and take delivery of approximately 192 bottles with a 4-6 week lead time. Each barrel includes a custom gold decal. Targeted at bourbon collectors, groups, and corporate clients.
• Corporate Client Gifts Corporate client gifting including custom label bourbons and ryes with company branding, engraved whiskey glasses (minimum 25 units), and bespoke Old Fashioned cocktail kits featuring Fiddler Wheated Bourbon and maple bacon cocktail syrup. Nationwide delivery through a licensed shipping partner. Targeted at companies seeking premium client appreciation gifts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Named World's Best Craft Whiskey 2020 (Maris Otter Single Malt)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• LibDibcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCalifornia state distributor for ASW spirits
• Momentum BeveragecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColorado state distributor for ASW spirits
• XXI Wine & SpiritscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlorida state distributor for ASW spirits
• United DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGeorgia state distributor for ASW spirits
• Atlantic Beverage DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMassachusetts state distributor for ASW spirits
• Athens DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTennessee state distributor for ASW spirits
• Greenlight DistributioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTexas state distributor for ASW spirits
• Seelbachs.comcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline retailer for ASW spirits outside Georgia distribution footprint
• SweetWater BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarrel aging partnership - ASW sends barrels to SweetWater to age beers. Joint Fiddler Big Green Egg Bourbon collaboration where barrel was used for aging special IPA.
• Monday Night BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarrel aging partnership at both locations - whiskey barrels used for aging beers
• Variant BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarrel aging partnership - whiskey barrels used for aging beers
• Wild HeavenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarrel aging partnership - whiskey barrels used for aging beers
• Atlanta BravesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial whiskey collaboration - Fiddler Chin Music Bourbon is the flagship bourbon of ongoing collaboration with the MLB team. Includes World Champions Release bourbon finished on maple bats celebrating Braves championship.
• Chef Nikki / The Smokey MangominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner chef for Cooking with Spirits classes at ASW Exchange location
• Classic City CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIL partnership with Athens, Georgia organization representing UGA athletics for Hunker Spirits brand - portion of proceeds donated to general NIL efforts

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Old Fourth Distillery: Atlanta-based craft distillery producing whiskey, vodka, and gin with a tasting room and tours. Closest geographic and product analog to ASW — same city, similar DTC-led model, comparable size.
• Castle & Key Distillery: Kentucky craft distillery with restored historic grounds, tasting rooms, tours, and a diverse bourbon/rye/gin portfolio. Comparable experiential DTC strategy and small-batch craft positioning.
• Corsair Distillery: Nashville-based craft distillery known for innovation (triple malt, experimental grain bills) and tasting room experiences. Similar innovation-led, multi-SKU craft model with national distribution ambitions.
• Balcones Distilling: Waco, Texas craft distillery producing award-winning bourbon, rye, malt, and rum with a strong innovation narrative. Comparable size, awards profile, and tasting room presence in the Southeast/Texas region.
• Wilderness Trail Distillery: Kentucky craft bourbon and rye producer with co-distillery partnerships. Comparable craft scale, multi-state distribution, and bourbon/rye core portfolio.
• FEW Spirits: Evanston, Illinois craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, gin, and vodka with tasting room. Similar diverse craft portfolio and DTC + wholesale GTM model.
• Smooth Ambler Contradiction: West Virginia craft distillery with award-winning bourbon, rye, and gin and tasting room experiences. Comparable size and awards-driven craft positioning.

Emerging players

• Rabbit Hole Distillery: Louisville-based craft distillery (Pernod Ricard-backed) focused on innovative bourbon expressions with a modern tasting room. Comparable innovation-led positioning but with significantly more institutional capital.
• Bardstown Bourbon Company: Kentucky-based craft bourbon producer and contract distiller with a large visitor experience. Overlapping product, DTC, and innovation narrative but at materially larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Woodford Reserve: Brown-Forman-owned premium Kentucky bourbon with extensive tasting/tour experiences and national distribution. Represents the scaled craft-premium benchmark ASW aspires toward in brand and pricing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ASWDistilleryAtlanta
• Facebookfacebook.com/ASWDistillery
• Instagraminstagram.com/aswdistillery
• Xx.com/aswdistillery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ASW Distillery