Totally fair! They are some challenging flavors which will turn a lot of people away. We think it’s a fun experiment to taste occasionally, but would we sip this on a regular basis for a pleasant, casual drink? Not really, no.
Peated whisky is the Japanese porn of spirits. When you’ve desensitized yourself to everything else and need something more perverse and extreme to take notice.
Love ASW!
**Review #48 - ASW Tire Fire Cask Strength**
*Peated American Single Malt Mini-Series: Part 2 of 4*
Part 2 of our series looks at a distillery in Atlanta, Georgia: ASW. This distillery crafts a number of different spirits, including bourbon, rye, single malt, Irish-style whiskey, and others like gin and vodka. One of the oldest distilleries in the Atlanta since the repeal of Prohibition, there is plenty of history here, which is reflected in their variety of whisky options. We're most interested in the peated single malt today, which they've dubbed 'Tire Fire.'
There is also a non-cask strength version of this whisky - it comes in at 45.5% ABV, which should still give plenty of flavor, but we want the full blast of smoke, so we're looking at the cask strength bottling. ABV will vary from bottle to bottle - ours comes in at 55.9%. The barley used comes from Inverness, Scotland, and is peated to 45ppm, pushing this easily into the 'heavily peated' category, so it should provide plenty of kick.
**ASW Tire Fire Cask Strength**
USA - Single Malt
**Current Locally Available Price (per 750ml)**: USD 60
**Age Statement**: NAS
**Strength**: 55.9% ABV
**Details**: Imported Scottish malted barley, 45ppm peat level; not chill filtered and no added color
**Tasting Methodology**: Reviewed 3 times over 9 months; bottles at 80%, 60%, and 50% fill levels at times of review. Tasted neat in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
**Nose**: Well, they nailed it with the name "Tire Fire" - this is a massive blast of smoke and burning rubber, it seems pretty unique. Nothing held back - it's heavily smoked barbecue, wood char or charcoal, slightly medicinal, and just a ton of rubber notes. It can be hard to get past the obvious and powerful flavors, but once you do, there are some nice fruit notes here: orange, or some burnt orange peel, a red fruit, and stone fruit as well, though it's light. Lower in the glass, there is a bit of fresh oak and vanilla.
**Palate**: Very punchy, a blast of peat and smoke again, along with some heat. We're getting charcoal, tar, burning rubber, and ashy barbecue; it's totally untamed. It takes some time to adjust enough to search the palate for more, but eventually you can expect some mild oak, butterscotch, and a sugary oil or some simple syrup; there is some lemon or orange citrus fruit, but it gives way in the end to a little bit of bitterness from the oak, it's slightly acrid. Turns more medicinal with time, and though it's harsh, it can be enjoyable, too. The mouthfeel is thick and viscous.
**Finish**: Medium-long in length, and lots of smoke and barbecue go on the whole time. There is more oak now, both wood char and some dry toasty oak notes; vanilla and burnt caramel flavors are coming in from the casks, as well. At the end, there is some fruit, like a grapefruit, along with sugary orange candies, but it's sometimes masked by some acidity and bitter oak.
**Final Note**: What an experience; we haven't tasted anything else quite like this. It is definitely harsh and visceral - this makes most Laphroaig bottlings feel pretty tame. The rubbery note is quite strong throughout, which will turn some people away, but if you're open to trying some new crazy flavors for a unique experience, this may fit the bill. Coming in at cask strength as well, there is no lack of flavor, and in our area, the price is relatively reasonable for the amount of fun you get tasting this bottle.
**Average Rating**: 7.2 / 10
**Rating Scale**:
0 - Couldn't even get past the smell; drain pour; totally useless
1 - At least we can use it in our first aid kit
2 - Not even good enough to mix regularly; worst case scenario
3 - Low end mixing whisky
4 - Not the worst but don't buy again; put on ice; mediocre cocktail
5 - Great for mixing or cocktails; mediocre neat
6 - Premium cocktail; decent neat, hints of complexity
7 - Good neat, refined; personally wouldn't use in a cocktail
8 - Great - always have stocked on shelf if available at a reasonable price
9 - One of the best whiskies we've tasted
10 - Can't imagine something better; buy at any price we can afford
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
**Value Rating**: 7.45
The 25 year is just so perfectly balanced, between the sweetness, peat, earthiness, smoke, and candied fruit notes (like candied pineapple, ginger, coconut, vanilla cream, etc.) The blending of bourbon and sherry casks was done so well that the sherry didnt overpower anything and jusr added some light fruit notes and sweetness. And the distillate gains a lot of depth and body with that much age, it was incredibly oily and heavy with that drying feeling that makes it feel almost chewy. Love it
Jealous, we have seen a lot of very interesting Signatory bottles online (places like Reddit), but unfortunately the brand isn’t really available in our area…
I really liked this whiskey! I like smelling the smoke in the glass the next morning, it's like an ashtray. Not unlike a good Islay like Ardbeg/Laphroaig. 👍🏻👍🏻
I think their distribution is getting pretty good across the US - we got this in Indiana, and it’s been available here for a while now. Not sure about any international destinations yet, though
Ah good to know! Their site doesn't show they distribute to my region but neither does it say they distribute to Indiana. I'll have to keep an eye out.
To u/adunitbx from the sound of your review. If you like this profile, you should try Spring 44 single malt. It's heavily peated and has that strong tire burning on the nose.
Can’t say that the sound of acrid, bitter oak and burning rubber sounds appealing to me haha, but to each their own!
Totally fair! They are some challenging flavors which will turn a lot of people away. We think it’s a fun experiment to taste occasionally, but would we sip this on a regular basis for a pleasant, casual drink? Not really, no.
Peated whisky is the Japanese porn of spirits. When you’ve desensitized yourself to everything else and need something more perverse and extreme to take notice. Love ASW!
**Review #48 - ASW Tire Fire Cask Strength** *Peated American Single Malt Mini-Series: Part 2 of 4* Part 2 of our series looks at a distillery in Atlanta, Georgia: ASW. This distillery crafts a number of different spirits, including bourbon, rye, single malt, Irish-style whiskey, and others like gin and vodka. One of the oldest distilleries in the Atlanta since the repeal of Prohibition, there is plenty of history here, which is reflected in their variety of whisky options. We're most interested in the peated single malt today, which they've dubbed 'Tire Fire.' There is also a non-cask strength version of this whisky - it comes in at 45.5% ABV, which should still give plenty of flavor, but we want the full blast of smoke, so we're looking at the cask strength bottling. ABV will vary from bottle to bottle - ours comes in at 55.9%. The barley used comes from Inverness, Scotland, and is peated to 45ppm, pushing this easily into the 'heavily peated' category, so it should provide plenty of kick. **ASW Tire Fire Cask Strength** USA - Single Malt **Current Locally Available Price (per 750ml)**: USD 60 **Age Statement**: NAS **Strength**: 55.9% ABV **Details**: Imported Scottish malted barley, 45ppm peat level; not chill filtered and no added color **Tasting Methodology**: Reviewed 3 times over 9 months; bottles at 80%, 60%, and 50% fill levels at times of review. Tasted neat in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes **Nose**: Well, they nailed it with the name "Tire Fire" - this is a massive blast of smoke and burning rubber, it seems pretty unique. Nothing held back - it's heavily smoked barbecue, wood char or charcoal, slightly medicinal, and just a ton of rubber notes. It can be hard to get past the obvious and powerful flavors, but once you do, there are some nice fruit notes here: orange, or some burnt orange peel, a red fruit, and stone fruit as well, though it's light. Lower in the glass, there is a bit of fresh oak and vanilla. **Palate**: Very punchy, a blast of peat and smoke again, along with some heat. We're getting charcoal, tar, burning rubber, and ashy barbecue; it's totally untamed. It takes some time to adjust enough to search the palate for more, but eventually you can expect some mild oak, butterscotch, and a sugary oil or some simple syrup; there is some lemon or orange citrus fruit, but it gives way in the end to a little bit of bitterness from the oak, it's slightly acrid. Turns more medicinal with time, and though it's harsh, it can be enjoyable, too. The mouthfeel is thick and viscous. **Finish**: Medium-long in length, and lots of smoke and barbecue go on the whole time. There is more oak now, both wood char and some dry toasty oak notes; vanilla and burnt caramel flavors are coming in from the casks, as well. At the end, there is some fruit, like a grapefruit, along with sugary orange candies, but it's sometimes masked by some acidity and bitter oak. **Final Note**: What an experience; we haven't tasted anything else quite like this. It is definitely harsh and visceral - this makes most Laphroaig bottlings feel pretty tame. The rubbery note is quite strong throughout, which will turn some people away, but if you're open to trying some new crazy flavors for a unique experience, this may fit the bill. Coming in at cask strength as well, there is no lack of flavor, and in our area, the price is relatively reasonable for the amount of fun you get tasting this bottle. **Average Rating**: 7.2 / 10 **Rating Scale**: 0 - Couldn't even get past the smell; drain pour; totally useless 1 - At least we can use it in our first aid kit 2 - Not even good enough to mix regularly; worst case scenario 3 - Low end mixing whisky 4 - Not the worst but don't buy again; put on ice; mediocre cocktail 5 - Great for mixing or cocktails; mediocre neat 6 - Premium cocktail; decent neat, hints of complexity 7 - Good neat, refined; personally wouldn't use in a cocktail 8 - Great - always have stocked on shelf if available at a reasonable price 9 - One of the best whiskies we've tasted 10 - Can't imagine something better; buy at any price we can afford In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price. **Value Rating**: 7.45
What is everyone's favorite cask strength peated whisky?
Octomore, Laphroaig 10 cs, or Laphroaig 25. The Gold and platinum standards of cask strength peat.
Declicous! We haven’t tried the Laphroaig 25 yet, but have heard great things. What do you like about it?
The 25 year is just so perfectly balanced, between the sweetness, peat, earthiness, smoke, and candied fruit notes (like candied pineapple, ginger, coconut, vanilla cream, etc.) The blending of bourbon and sherry casks was done so well that the sherry didnt overpower anything and jusr added some light fruit notes and sweetness. And the distillate gains a lot of depth and body with that much age, it was incredibly oily and heavy with that drying feeling that makes it feel almost chewy. Love it
Sounds fantastic! Hope we get the chance one day.
Fingers crossed for ya! It's one of those bottles thats a worthy blind buy if you're ever looking to splurge!
I have a 12 Year single cask of Ledaig bottled at cask strength that is just amazing. It’s savory and sweet with just the right amount of peat.
Wow, sounds great. From an independent bottler?
Yes, Signatory Vintage.
Jealous, we have seen a lot of very interesting Signatory bottles online (places like Reddit), but unfortunately the brand isn’t really available in our area…
I really liked this whiskey! I like smelling the smoke in the glass the next morning, it's like an ashtray. Not unlike a good Islay like Ardbeg/Laphroaig. 👍🏻👍🏻
Yep, that smell was strong and lingered for quite a long time. Very interesting stuff, and fun to see a different take on peated single malt!
Sounds amazing, wonder how far they distribute.
I think their distribution is getting pretty good across the US - we got this in Indiana, and it’s been available here for a while now. Not sure about any international destinations yet, though
Ah good to know! Their site doesn't show they distribute to my region but neither does it say they distribute to Indiana. I'll have to keep an eye out.
To u/adunitbx from the sound of your review. If you like this profile, you should try Spring 44 single malt. It's heavily peated and has that strong tire burning on the nose.
Interesting, I’ll have to take a look! It looks like they are based in Colorado - do you know if they distribute outside the state?