Ameireaganach Huddled Mashes No. 1

I received a bottle of this as part of a whiskey exchange with people from across the US. I was paired with someone in Georgia, and this wonderful bottle arrived... and I use the word 'wonderful' intentionally, as this is an enjoyable dram with considerable potential. The negative aspect first - it's quite young. There's that rough mouthfeel and a certain lack of cohesion; a few more years of aging would likely be beneficial, but as it stands, we have something young, bold, and somewhat unbalanced. However, the positive aspect is that what's present is quite tasty. The flavors I would anticipate from an American single malt aged in new oak are all here - chocolate, INTENSE coconut (very creamy), vanilla, rich dark fruit, spices. It's difficult not to appreciate the combination. The mouthfeel, while a bit rough around the edges, is pleasantly full and slightly oily without being heavy. Overall, it's a fine whiskey that simply requires a bit more time to reach its full potential... but once it does, it could well be in the same category as Stranahan's and Westland.

A subtle Rye Whiskey from ASW Distillery in Georgia. It blends old and new world distillation methods, utilizing Scottish double copper pot distillation and Southern grain-in distillation. The initial impression is strawberry jam and citrus, evolving into peach and vanilla, concluding with a brief, delicate guava finish. June 2018 / August 2022

A young bourbon with some presence, yet quite delightful. It's full-bodied with pleasant coconut notes, complemented by lighter but equally enjoyable hints of vanilla and perhaps a touch of leather on the finish. Fortunate to have acquired this spontaneously.