Almost
three years ago, I visited what was then the newest Wisconsin distillery. It is
called Awildan Distilling. Founded in nearby Sun Prairie in February 2020 by Jeff Olson,
the distillery equipment was all ordered, and then COVID-19 hit. The production
of his copper pot stills from Portugal by Hoga Company was set aside, and Jeff
was stuck waiting it out. In December 2021, he resumed setting up the
distillery and began producing whisky, rum, and genever.
Jeff’s
two hand-hammered stills have custom-made heads and lyne arms, allowing him to
embrace traditional Scottish distilling methods. One is a 600-liter tank, and
the other is a 100-liter tank. All of his distilling is done in-house in
obviously small batches. He also employs an electric boiler and chiller.
Jeff
and I met because of his mother, who I had never met. She posted a proud momma
Facebook update talking about Jeff’s brand-new facility. I saw the post,
decided that I needed to see what the hoopla was all about, and discovered Jeff
had opened his doors only two days prior! He asked me how I heard about it, and
it was the subject of a good laugh. I recall him mentioning that his mother was
his biggest cheerleader. That’s how it should be, right?
Jeff’s
“spiritual” journey started as a home brewer before becoming the head brewer at
Madison’s Karben4 Brewing. In 2017, he went to Scotland and engaged in a
week-long production opportunity at Strathearn
Distillery, which is Scottland’s smallest, and
from there, he was hooked.
Jeff
utilizes Golden Promise barley, a heritage variety primarily grown in
Scotland. He then uses Kveik, a Scandinavian yeast strain that has been used
for brewing for centuries. His fermentation process averages about three days,
and he double-distills it in his copper pot stills. The hearts are used to make
whisky or to be redistilled with botanicals for genever, while the heads and
tails are saved for a future spirit run.
Awildan’s
newmake has an entry proof of 123° and is aged three years in 30-gallon used
barrels from Driftless
Glen of Baraboo and FEW Spirits
of Evanston, Illinois. Jeff also made barrel-aged spiced rum, and afterward, he
used it as a finishing cask for his American Single Malt.
On
June 7, 2025, Jeff held his Small Batch
American Single Malt Whisky release party.
Naturally, I had to go. I was shocked to see how much his distillery had grown;
he had taken over the space previously occupied by the other businesses. I went
to the tasting room upstairs, had a neat pour of his whisky, and did the
#DrinkCurious thing.
And
now, it is time for my honest, no-strings-attached review.
- Whiskey Type: American Single Malt
- Distiller: Awildan Distilling
- Age: 3 years
- Mashbill: 100% malted Golden Promise barley
- Cooperage: Vintage 30-gallon barrels
- Alcohol Content: 62.7% ABV (125.4°)
- Price per 750mL: $65.00 at the distillery
Appearance: I used
a Glencairn glass to explore the whisky neat. The liquid was brilliant gold; it
formed a thicker rim, which, in turn, released a wavy curtain of thick, fast
tears.
Nose: After
allowing the whisky time to breathe, I brought the glass just under my nostrils
and inhaled. The aroma was rich, featuring notes of butterscotch, pears, cocoa
powder, and oak. I opened my mouth and took in the air, which revealed a healthy
dose of dark chocolate and orange zest.
Palate: The texture
was dense and buttery. While the initial sip warmed my throat, my palate was
already acclimated for the second. On the front, I tasted cocoa, butterscotch,
and toffee. My mid-palate was met with notes of roasted almonds, figs, and pipe
tobacco. The back featured notes of clove, cinnamon, and oak spice.
Finish: The freight
train finish rolled on and on. Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, oak spice, cocoa,
vanilla, and toffee made for a complicated journey. The duration held for 2:46,
and I found my tongue and gums were left buzzing.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Three
years is a long time for aging American Single Malt in 53-gallon barrels. Many
distilleries turn out delicious ones anywhere from six months to two years. Add
to that the fact that Jeff used 30-gallon barrels, which means it is
approaching elderly status.
The result is an excellent
sipping experience from the beginning to the end. The whisky is well-balanced
and drank at about its stated proof. Also notable is the fact that, unless I
knew Jeff used smaller barrels, there were none of the common tells to clue me
in.
I didn’t want to spill the
beans on how I acquired this whisky. Let’s just say I was so impressed I took a
Bottle home and cracked it open for this review. Cheers!
My Simple, Easy-to-Understand
Rating System
- Bottle = Buy It
- Bar = Try It
- Bust = Leave It
Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit
but begs you to do so responsibly.
Nicely done, sir!
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