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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Bourbon and corn whiskey have a long history in Kentucky and Tennessee due to early westward expansion and the reality that corn was the grain at their disposal. Similarly, rye whiskey was king in the early northeastern United States because rye grew well in the region. Early styles of American whiskey were largely necessitated by…
Portland, Oregon’s Westward Whiskey has dropped its first two two club releases for 2024, single malt special editions that are, as always, available direct from the distillery to members of its Whiskey Club subscription program (though you might also check at the distillery should you drop in for a visit). We got bottles of both…
Patricia Green Cellars is one of Oregon’s leading wine producers and now it’s getting into … whiskey! Why not, right? You have never encountered whiskey like these, in large part because none of them are whiskey the way you probably think about them. All of them are made at least in part with brandy distilled…
Bourbon and rye whiskey have had defined standards of identity for decades. However, as of this moment, the Federal government has not yet officially established standards of identity for American single malt whiskey. After years of debate, the Federal Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB) formally introduced a proposal to make the American single malt…
Baltimore-based Old Line Spirits produces both rye and American single malt, but it’s really their malt that takes center stage. A new addition is Old Line Navy Strength, a 114 proof riff on their core expression that “salutes the traditional strength cherished by both American and British navies.” Never mind that they drank rum. It’s…
To celebrate the launch of the new Stranahan’s Whiskey Lodge in Aspen, the Denver-based distillery is rolling out a series of exclusive and limited blends. The first is a six-cask blend of their core single malt, each aged at least eight years with two and four of those years in ex-Calvados casks. It’s a premium-priced…
Hey, remember that eclipse we had just a few weeks ago? Iconic Texas distillery Balcones dropped a limited edition whisky to commemorate the moment — which offered full totality in its hometown of Waco. So they say: “Mirador Eclipse is a reflection on the sacred trance driven out of a solar eclipse – recognizing that…
The American single malt world continues to blossom and Colorado has been at the forefront. Spirit Hound Distillers is located in Lyons, Colorado, but they’re well known in London, as their Straight Malt Whisky was named Whisky of the Year and Best in Show at the 2024 London Spirits Competition. Spirit Hound Straight Malt Whisky…
Seattle’s Westland Distilling continues to iterate its special edition single malt whiskeys, annual releases of Garryana, Colere, and now Solum, which just hit its second release. We missed 2022’s Garryana bottling and the inaugural Solum release, so we’re picking things up here with our look at the latest Garry and our first spin with Solum.…
While plenty of smaller, craft brands have been flooding the market with American Single Malt (ASM) whiskey over the last few years, the big boys of American whiskey have been releasing their own expressions at a comparative trickle. Jim Beam and Jack Daniel’s hopped on the ASM train last year, and now Bulleit has joined…