When we think bourbon, we think Kentucky, and for good reason. But you can find great bourbon that originates from all over the U.S. So this week, I thought it would be fun to highlight some terrific bourbons from my home state of Georgia.
I had only tried two of these bourbons before I embarked on this column, so the others were surprises for me. They’re all terrific bourbons, so let’s explore these enticing offerings from the Peach State. Here they are in alphabetical order.
American Spirit Works (ASW) Distillery Fiddler Wheated Bourbon
92 proof, mash bill: a blend of 56% corn, 44% various malts, with 56% corn, 45% wheat, 4% malted barley
MSRP: $39.99
ASW Distillery maintains a prominent presence in metro Atlanta, including a facility at The Battery at Truist Park, where the Atlanta Braves play. Fiddler is one of its flagship lines, and it’s easy to see why.
The nose is primarily chemical to me for some reason, but I get a strong honey-toffee flavor when I taste it neat, with a respectable heat on the back of my tongue. On the rocks, it gets sweeter, and the heat abates somewhat. I think this one will join my regular rotation because it’s an excellent bourbon at a decent price.
Rating: 9.5/10
Side note: Another bourbon I love from ASW is its Hunker Bourbon, a portion of the proceeds of which go to Classic City Collective, the University of Georgia’s name, image, and likeness (NIL) collective. I don’t have any in my collection right now, and I didn’t want to try to describe the flavor from memory, so I didn’t include a review here.
Moonrise Distillery Georgia Bourbon
82 proof (!), I can’t find a definitive mash bill for it, but the distillery bills it as a “four-grain bourbon.”
MSRP: $34.99
Moonrise Distillery sits in Clayton on the Georgia-North Carolina line. I’ve driven by it several times but haven’t visited (yet). It also hosts a speakeasy in downtown Clayton, which I’m dying to check out.
I remember trying the Georgia Bourbon a few years ago, and it didn’t make a big impression on me. I think that had to do with my lack of bourbon education at that time, but this time, I enjoyed it. There’s nothing distinctive about the nose, but the flavor carries a spicy sweetness that goes down smoothly. It’s impressive for a low-proof bourbon.
You can catch the rye on the back of the tongue, but speaking as somebody who isn’t crazy about rye, it’s not too bad. It’s remarkably smooth and drinkable, and it’s hard to beat that price point.
Rating: 8.5/10
Related: Whiskey Wednesday: Tasting the Bourbons of Bluegrass Distillers
Old Fourth Distillery Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon
100 proof, mash bill: 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley
MSRP: ~$49.99
Old Fourth Distillery, named after a historic district of Atlanta, claims that it’s the city’s first legal distillery since Prohibition. Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward has transformed into a hip entertainment district, which makes the distillery’s presence perfect.
This one was a surprise for me. I purchased it on a whim and fell in love. The nose is peppery, but there’s a creamy sweetness to it that I really enjoy. It has a heat that you’d expect from a bottled-in-bond product, but it’s not too strong. On the rocks, the heat dissipates more quickly, but the flavor remains consistent. I’ll be coming back to this one again and again.
Rating: 9.5/10
Thirteenth Colony Southern Straight Bourbon Whiskey
95 proof, mash bill: 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley
MSRP: $47.99
Georgia was the fourth state to join the union, but we were the last colony; hence, this distillery’s name. Americus-based Thirteenth Colony Distilleries is Georgia’s oldest operating distillery, according to its website.
The first thing you notice about this bourbon is the distinctive bottle. The nose is woody, and the heat is prominent but not overwhelming. My primary tasting notes for this one were a caramel sweetness and a bready flavor.
The heat was more powerful when I tasted it neat, but the other flavors came through more prominently on the rocks. It’s an impressive bourbon.
Rating: 9/10
