The Basics: 

ASW Distillery

110.8 Proof

NAS

$70 MSRP

Nose:

Rich smoke, leather, smoke bacon, toasted marshmallow, vanilla milkshake, ocean air, and papaya.

Palate: 

Intense peat, iodine, coconut, demerara sugar, burnt sugar, vanilla bean.

Finish:

Long finish with peat, toasted coconut chips, charred peaches, and ash.

Final Thoughts:

Tire Fire is ASW Distillery’s single malt expression using peated barley with a phenol level 45 PPM (consistent with expressions from Laphroaig, Ardbeg, and other Islay distilleries). This expression specifically takes the base Tire Fire whiskey and ages it for an additional year in former Richland Rum barrels. On the nose, you are hit upfront with the rich smoke coming from the peated barley. For those who are not used to peat, it will take a minute to appreciate the richness of the smoke, and truly begin to identify other aromas coming out of the glass, such as toasted marshmallow, leather, salt, and a touch of papaya. The palate continues along the same lines, while introducing a hint of coconut and Demerara sugar from the rum barrels. The smoke intensity peaks on the finish, followed by charred peaches and more coconut. Overall, this whiskey takes everything great about a peated scotch, while introducing some tropical candy-like notes from the rum that work together really nicely. For those of you who enjoy a bold whiskey, like myself, this is a great peated single malt to check out.