Whisky: ASW Duality Malt Pinot Noir Finish
Producer: Privately Owned
Distillery: American Spirit Whiskey (ASW)
Region: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Whisky Type: Double Malt (Malted Barley and Malted Rye)
Age: NAS
ABV: 53.9%
Aged in Cask: New charred American oak, Pinot Noir casks
Price Range: $$
American Spirit Whiskey (ASW) is a distillery in Atlanta, Georgia. It started operations in 2016 and is the most awarded Craft Whiskey Distillery since 2018 at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the second legally licensed distillery in Atlanta since 1933, and the first distillery in Atlanta to distill single malt whisky.

I had this expression on my last visit to ASW as one of five whiskeys on a flight and was very impressed. Later that day, the Distillery Tour Manager told me it was a limited release produced in collaboration with a local restaurant that provided the Pinot Noir casks with only a few hundred bottles left in circulation.

From the website:

“Georgia’s 1st-Ever Double Gold Medal Whiskey, Duality is also the world’s 1st whiskey to mash, ferment & distill malted rye and malted barley in the same batch. It drinks like a rye, with the finish of a smoky single malt”

Vital Stats:

• Mash Bill: 50% rye malt, 50% cherry-smoked barley malt
• Distillation Method: Double-distilled, our Vendome copper pot stills, with the feints of our Tire Fire Heavily Peated Single Malt incorporated
• Barrel Type: New, 53-gallon, char 3 & 4 American white oak barrels 
• Barrel Fill Proof: 105-120 proof
• Bottling Details: Bottled at 88 proof after slow-dilution proof-down, except Cask Strength version. Non-chill-filtered & no color added.

Tasting Notes for Duality Malt Pinot Noir

Nose: Aromas of red fruits, specifically cherries. There is also a hint of cinnamon, vanilla, oak, and smoke. The aromas of fruits and bubble gum remind me of Glenfiddich 19 and Blue Spot Irish Whiskey. A lovely nose that makes me want to take a sip.

Palate: Sweet arrival of cherries and caramel, building immediately to cinnamon, light smoke, clove, and pepper. This transition is elegant and savory. There is a slight earthy flavor, which I enjoy. It could be the cereal malt note of the malt.

Finish: Medium to long. Bolder spices from the rye appear with more intensity and enhance the experience.

Conclusion: Duality Pinot Noir finish is a whiskey with personality because it brings the charming fruits from the Pinot Noir casks, the earthy character of the malt, and the spicy rye notes into one cohesive experience. The malt barley and rye provide depth to what otherwise would be a decent fruity whiskey. I highly recommend it for those who like single malt and rye. Love it. Cheers!

Score:  4/5⭐

Check more American whiskey reviews here. Check my interview with Jesse Cumbest, Tasting Room Manager of ASW here .