ASW Distillery Joins the Party at BeltLine-Adjacent Development in West End

ASW Distillery, which has been operating in Buckhead since August 2016, is expanding with a new outpost at West End’s forthcoming Lee + White development. Construction on the facility is expected to begin later this year, reports the Atlanta Business Chronicle, and a timeline for opening has not yet been determined.

ASW will reportedly take up a 10,000-square-foot space, which will have room to house roughly 1,000 barrels of spirits. The need for extra storage is the primary reason for the expansion — ASW has run out of space at its current home on Armour Drive, according to the ABC — but the distillery may add a tasting room at its new location, too. The facility will officially be known as the ASW Rickhouse.

Lee + White, named for its location at the intersection of Lee and White streets, is becoming a local booze capital of sorts. Last fall, Westside-based Monday Night Brewing announced expansion plans for the development, and Decatur’s Wild Heaven Beer joined the roster in March. Banyan Roots Brewing Co., a new brewpub focusing on sour beers and high-gravity, barrel-aged brews, is also on board.

It’s no coincidence that ASW’s announcement comes two days after Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed legislation that will allow the state’s breweries and distilleries to bypass wholesalers and sell directly to consumers.

“This week marks an historic time of modernization for craft beverage laws in our great state,” Jim Chasteen, ASW co-founder and CEO, said in a statement provided to Eater Atlanta. “While we envisioned having additional barrel storage at some point, Governor Deal and the Georgia Legislature have effectively super-charged our plans. This change, when combined with an unparalleled real estate development in terms of showcasing local and craft brands, along with the continued growth of our sales volume and production capacity make this a transformative opportunity for our company.”

• ASW Distillery Coming to West End’s Lee + White Project [ABC]
• Monday Night Brewing Will Anchor Southwest Atlanta's First Major BeltLine Development [EATL]
• Wild Heaven Beer Plans to Join Monday Night Brewing on BeltLine’s Westside Trail [EAL]
• New Breweries Planned for Sandy Springs and West End [EATL]
• All Booze News [EATL]