"I’ll buy a round for the house…" --John Francis Dodge
Ed Bolian is a shrewd negotiator when it comes to trading in blue chip and collectible automobiles. He’s bought, sold, loved and traded scores of them along with his many fellow enthusiasts. At one point he was the record holder for the cross-country Cannonball Run race. In the course of all this activity it is impossible not to have car stories. It turns out that the very best beverage to share with these stories…is whiskey.
Ed is the Founder and CEO of VinWiki, which began as a app that allowed users to “see the full picture behind a car’s unique history…Only VINwiki allows you to see the vital information about the life of a vehicle.” It was an instant success, and led to the start of a YouTube Channel for car enthusiasts. The popularity of VINwiki has exploded. In late 2024, he selected a blend that he hopes will connect with his audience.
From their website:
“VINwiki was founded in February of 2016 by a team of car guys in Atlanta, GA. Whether it’s blasting across the country on an epic road trip, wrenching on a track car on the weekends, tearing up a mountain road in something exotic, or just searching for that next perfect mod; these guys get what it means to be a gearhead.”
The whiskey that Ed selected for VinWhiskey is a “high-octane” 110 proof, eight year aged, wheated bourbon which is sourced and bottled by ASW in Atlanta, Georgia. VinWhiskey is a prestigious addition to their fine collection of bourbon and rye in their Fiddler lineup which is named, Fiddler Shrewd Negotiator, Gated Community Release No. 1.This particular expression is a social media collaboration experiment, which was released in mid-October, 2024.
From the ASW website:
“When we first set out on our whiskey journey, we made a purposeful decision to craft two lines of spirits: one that we distilled ourselves, and one that allows us to showcase unique spirits from across the country that we then bring in house and ‘fiddle with’. Our Master Distiller, Justin Manglitz, is an accomplished old-time string music fiddler, so we thought the name Fiddler a fitting testament to his virtuoso skills and our transparent line of foraged, ‘fiddled with’ whiskies.”
ASW – Fiddler Shrewd Negotiator, 750ml $119.99 Aged 8 years, 55 ABV/110 Proof. Mash bill: 51% corn, 45% wheat, 4% malted barley. Non chill-filtered, no color added.
The distinct label features Ed Bolian’s Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 in the center. Ed noted that ASW does a great job with their wheated bourbons and the choice seemed to be a good fit. After many rounds of sampling, looking for the perfect expression that would match his vision, Ed found six barrels of an 8 year old, wheated expression that was perfect. After selection, it was proofed down from 118/126 proof to a uniform 110. But this bourbon does not drink like a 110 proof. As far as the proof level goes, it has a mouthfeel more like a high quality 100 proof bottled-in-bond.
It’s a beautiful dark amber color with all the great notes normally found in a fine, allocated wheated bourbons that are currently overpriced on the secondary market. You almost certainly know their names by now. Fiddler Shrewd Negotiator harkens to several of these brands at a fraction of the price.
On the Nose: Not overpowering; subtle notes of mostly caramel and butterscotch.
The Palate: Oak and Spice with the oak in the far background; Spices with nutmeg forward and baked caramel. Maybe a hint of expresso hiding behind that oak.
The Finish: A bit hot but altogether pleasant, with some oakiness.
This is a bourbon for those who are looking for high quality off the beaten path of whiskey expressions. I would take it neat, but I can guess it would make a mighty fine Old Fashioned if you pressed it into service.
For more information:
https://www.aswdistillery.com/vin-whiskey
https://store.vinwiki.com/
