ASW Distillery and John Deere launch permanent whiskey partnership

ASW Distillery and John Deere have teamed up on two permanent American whiskeys, Fiddler Combine Bourbon and Fiddler Steel Plow Rye, set to launch June 24, 2026 in Atlanta and 13 states. The release ties together agriculture and whiskey history as both brands mark America’s 250th anniversary year.

Why it matters: - ASW Distillery and John Deere are linking two American heritage brands in a permanent whiskey lineup, not a one-off collaboration. - The release is timed for America’s 250th anniversary year and is positioned as a tribute to the role of grain, farming and manufacturing in U.S. history. - Initial distribution starts in Atlanta and 13 states, with broader U.S. and Canadian rollout planned later in 2026.

What happened: - ASW Distillery and John Deere announced “Soil to Still,” a partnership behind two new expressions: Fiddler Combine Bourbon and Fiddler Steel Plow Rye. - The whiskeys launch June 24, 2026 at ASW Distillery’s four Atlanta tasting rooms and at retailers in 13 states. - The release includes Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, New York, Wisconsin and Minnesota. - National and Canadian distribution will follow throughout 2026.

The details: - Both whiskeys are aged eight years and bottled at 112 proof. - ASW Distillery says the spirits are seasoned outdoors for two or more years, then finished with hand-charred, inserted staves for the final two months of aging. - Fiddler Steel Plow Rye honors John Deere’s original steel plow. - Fiddler Steel Plow Rye is described as a complex, robust rye with notes of dark chocolate, raisin and clove. - Fiddler Combine Bourbon nods to the 1947 debut of the self-propelled combine harvester. - Fiddler Combine Bourbon uses a mash bill with 45% wheat, which ASW says is more than double the wheat content of most premium wheated bourbons. - Fiddler Combine Bourbon features tasting notes of heavy caramel, dates, nougat and almond. - Each bottle is priced at $79.99. - ASW says the collaboration reflects shared history running from American-grown grain to the oak used in barrels and finishing staves. - ASW Distillery says it has been the most awarded U.S. craft distillery at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition since 2018. - ASW Distillery’s flagship Fiddler Bourbon won “World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon (6–10 Years)” in 2025. - ASW operates four Atlanta locations, including ASW Flights & Bites at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and distributes nationally.

Between the lines: - The partnership leans into provenance and storytelling, using agricultural history to give the whiskey release a broader cultural frame. - John Deere gets a consumer-facing product that reinforces its brand identity beyond machinery, while ASW gains a heritage-rich marketing platform. - The explicit link to the steel plow and combine harvester turns farm equipment history into a whiskey branding exercise. - Jim Chasteen’s family background and John Deere equipment use are woven into the launch narrative to reinforce authenticity.

What’s next: - ASW plans to expand distribution beyond the first 13 states to broader U.S. and Canadian markets during 2026. - Consumers can buy the whiskeys at ASW’s Atlanta tasting rooms starting June 24, 2026. - More information is available at the company’s announcement.

The bottom line: - ASW Distillery and John Deere are turning shared agricultural history into two permanent premium whiskeys, with a rollout designed to scale well beyond the Southeast.