American Single Malt Whiskey
American single malt does not officially exist (yet) as a legally defined category of whiskey in the United States, but producers generally adhere to the same regulations observed in Scotland. It is produced at a single, U.S. distillery from 100% malted barley, distilled to 160 proof, and bottled at no less than 80 proof. American single malt is often aged in used cooperage, like its counterparts overseas. On the other hand, “American straight malt” – which is a legally defined category – must be aged in new oak containers for a minimum of 2 years, echoing the rules for other categories of American whiskey. Today, American producers continue to experiment with barrel regimens for this emerging category.
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Located in Lovingston, Virginia Distillery has quickly garnered a following as one of the premiere distillers of American single malt. The Brewer’s Coalition series features some of the distillery’s oldest single malt finished in casks from popular breweries. For this series, Virginia Distillery enters whisky aged for at least 5 years into beer casks for…
Colorado has quickly become one of the premiere states for American whiskey. At the forefront of high-elevation whiskey is Boulder Spirits, which finds its home at Vapor Distillery in, of course, Boulder. While Colorado produces a variety of American whiskey styles, The Centennial State has largely staked its reputation on whiskey revolving around malted barley.…
The Pacific Northwest is blossoming with American single malt whiskey production, in large part due to the region’s ability to grow barley. Portland’s Bird Creek Whiskey started operations in 2017 and has become a name that whiskey enthusiasts need to know. While the brand ages and bottles its whiskey in Portland, it contracts with an…
Virginia Distillery has been putting out excellent American single malt for several years and just released a new addition to its core product lineup: Blue Ridge Select. The new release boasts a total maturation exceeding 6 years. Virginia Distillery utilizes two-row spring barley for brewer’s pale malt. The malt is fermented for a minimum of…
Iowa’s Cedar Ridge Distillery has hit with its third limited-edition single malt: The QuintEssential: The Untitled Cigar Malt Project. And it’s a complicated one, with five different cask types involved (as near as we can understand the details in the press release): According to master blender Murphy Quint, “The vision for this release was a…
Every September, thousands flock to Bardstown, Kentucky for a three-day exploration of their favorite hobby: Drinking bourbon. And so they did again in 2024 at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. With some 200 whiskeys available for tasting, you can’t possible sample everything on offer. That doesn’t stop folks from trying, and since the festival runs for…
This year’s Parker’s Heritage Collection release, its 18th edition, is a bit of a mouthful. In fact, what you see in the headline isn’t even the full name. That monster of a name is: Parker’s Heritage Collection Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey Finished in Reconstructed Heavy Toast Cognac Barrels 14 Years Old. Parker’s has done malt…
Westward Whiskey quickly established itself as one of the premier American single malt distilleries. The Portland distillery releases numerous excellent expressions for wider distribution, but saves some of its more limited and unique whiskeys for paying members of the Westward Whiskey Club. The newest offering for Whiskey Club members is a bottled in bond expression…
The Bottled in Bond Act dates to 1897 and established strict standards of quality for American whiskey that were much needed at that point in history. But in modern America, a bottled in bond designation does not carry remotely the same weight that it did in 1897. However, bottled in bond has taken on a…
Copperworks Distilling in Seattle has been at the forefront of American single malt as a charter member of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission (ASMWC). While most American distilleries offer a flagship whiskey, Copperworks has historically taken the approach of each release being unique, limited editions. In July 2024, Copperworks changed all that with its…