CRAFT DISTILLERY

ASW Whiskey Exchange

Atlanta,
Georgia
— Bourbon, Rye, Rum, Gin

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

COCKTAILS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

DISTILLERY SNAPSHOT

📞 (404) 590-2279
🌐 http://aswdistillery.com/
📍 1000 White St SW, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA

ABOUT THIS DISTILLERY

ASW Distillery sits in Atlanta’s West End neighborhood, founded in 2008 by Justin Manglitz, Charlie Thompson, and Jim Chasteen. What started as three friends experimenting with small-batch spirits has grown into one of Georgia’s most respected craft distilleries. The operation runs out of a 10,000-square-foot facility on White Street, where they produce bourbon, rye whiskey, rum, and gin using traditional methods combined with modern innovation. The distillery takes its name from the founders’ initials, but the operation has evolved far beyond its humble beginnings. Manglitz, who serves as head distiller, brings a background in chemistry to the operation, while the team focuses on sourcing quality grains and aging spirits in Georgia’s humid climate. They’ve built their reputation on small-batch production and attention to detail, with a particular focus on their bourbon and rye expressions. The distillery has become a destination for whiskey enthusiasts looking to experience Atlanta’s growing craft spirits scene. You’ll find a tasting room that doubles as a cocktail bar, where bartenders mix drinks using ASW’s own spirits alongside carefully selected ingredients. The space reflects the industrial character of the neighborhood while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere for visitors who want to learn about the distilling process and taste the results.

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WHAT SETS THEM APART

ASW stands out for its commitment to aging spirits in Georgia’s challenging climate, which accelerates the maturation process and creates unique flavor profiles you won’t find in traditional bourbon regions. The distillery operates with a grain-to-glass philosophy, milling their own corn, wheat, and rye on-site using a hammer mill. Their approach to barrel aging involves using a mix of new charred oak and used barrels, allowing them to experiment with different flavor development techniques. The humid Atlanta climate means their whiskeys develop faster than spirits aged in Kentucky or Tennessee, creating interesting variations in taste and character. Manglitz’s chemistry background shows up in their precise approach to fermentation and distillation, using scientific methods to ensure consistency while still embracing the craft aspect of small-batch production.

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

FOOD AVAILABLE

COCKTAILS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

The tasting room operates as both a tour destination and a full-service cocktail bar, so you can experience ASW’s spirits neat or in expertly crafted cocktails. Tours take you through the production facility where you can see their milling equipment, fermentation tanks, and copper pot stills in action. The space has an industrial feel with exposed brick and metal fixtures, but the atmosphere stays relaxed and conversational. Staff members know the production process inside and out and can explain how Georgia’s climate affects their aging process differently than traditional whiskey regions. You’ll taste through their core lineup while learning about their grain-to-glass approach and the chemistry behind fermentation and distillation.

IS IT WORTH VISITING

If you’re interested in craft spirits and want to see how whiskey develops in a non-traditional climate, ASW delivers a genuinely educational experience. The combination of tasting room and active distillery means you get both the production story and the finished product in cocktail form. It’s particularly appealing if you enjoy comparing regional differences in whiskey making or want to understand how humidity and temperature affect aging. The location in Atlanta’s West End also gives you a chance to explore a neighborhood that’s seeing significant development and change. However, if you’re looking for the traditional Kentucky bourbon experience with massive rickhouses and decades of history, this won’t scratch that itch.

⚠️ VISITING TIPS

Call ahead or check their website for current tour schedules, as production schedules can affect availability. The West End location means you’ll want to use GPS and pay attention to parking options in the area. If you’re driving, arrive with a designated driver since the tasting portion includes their full-proof spirits. Ask specifically about their barrel aging experiments and how they’re adapting traditional techniques to Georgia’s climate – it’s where their expertise really shows. The cocktail bar component means you can extend your visit beyond just the tour and tasting if you want to experience their spirits in mixed drinks.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ASW Whiskey Exchange — Visitor FAQ

How does aging whiskey in Georgia differ from traditional bourbon regions?
Georgia’s humid climate accelerates the aging process, causing faster extraction of flavors from the oak barrels compared to Kentucky or Tennessee. This means ASW’s whiskeys develop character more quickly but with different flavor profiles than spirits aged in drier, more temperature-stable environments.
Do I need to book tours in advance?
While walk-ins are welcome in the tasting room, it’s best to call ahead for production tours since they depend on distilling schedules. Tours may not be available during certain production activities or maintenance periods.
Can I buy bottles to take home?
Yes, ASW sells their spirits on-site including bourbon, rye whiskey, rum, and gin. You can purchase bottles of anything you taste during your visit, and they often have limited releases available only at the distillery.

GETTING THERE

Find ASW Whiskey Exchange

📍1000 White St SW, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA

 — 

📞 (404) 590-2279

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