The recent change in legislation by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, which states that American single malt whiskey does not need to be aged in virgin American white oak casks, has opened up many doors for producers.
As such, exciting innovations are being made across the US and delicious American single malts continue to hit the shelves. Alongside traditional white oak maturation, these innovative cask finishes are helping to broaden the American single malt category.
So, here are three brands to watch if you are a fan of American single malt whiskey, and a discussion of why this category innovation is something that you should pay attention to.
Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey
Stranahan’s is located in Denver, Colorado, and is the first legal whiskey distillery in the state since pre-Prohibition. It was founded following an unlikely meeting between Jess Graber (a volunteer firefighter) and George Stranahan (a brewery owner).
When George Stranahan’s barn in Woody Creek caught fire in 1998, Graber responded to the call. During this meeting, the two discovered a shared love of whiskey and decided to start their own distillery. Stranahan’s was opened in 2004.
The first Stranahan’s Rocky Mountain Single Malt was released in 2006 and created using ingredients sourced in Denver, the water source being snow melt from the Rocky Mountains. Since then, the distillery’s portfolio has expanded to feature experimental cask finishes – such as Blue Peak – and single barrel bottlings.
Stranahan’s range currently consists of six American single malt whiskeys:
- Stranahan’s Original
- Stranahan’s Blue Peak, finished in Solera
- Stranahan’s Sherry Cask, finished in Oloroso sherry casks
- Stranahan’s Diamond Peak, finished in Caribbean rum casks
- Stranahan’s Mountain Angel 10 Year
- Stranahan’s Single Barrel
“Stranahan’s is quite unique on the American craft whiskey distilling stage in that we are celebrating our 20th anniversary. Moreover, 20 years of making one American single malt recipe and one recipe alone all this time. Denver is an American hotbed/epicenter of brewing and malting know-how, Stranahan’s is a pioneer in the space, being inspired to translate that expertise into creating a 100% malted barley wort and distilling it into whiskey,” says Head Blender Justin Aden.
Various awards organizations have widely recognized Stranahan’s exceptional American single malts, and the brand is now the most awarded American single malt in the country. The Stranahan’s Sherry Cask was recently named “Best In Show 3rd Place” at the inaugural Global Whisky Challenge. Blue Peak was awarded a Double Gold medal at the 2024 DISC Awards.
Listing all of Stranahan’s accolades here would be impractical, as there are so many. You can see a full list here.
For those who are interested in American whiskey tourism, Stranahan’s recently opened a Whiskey Lodge in Aspen. So, if you fancy combining a skiing holiday with a whiskey trip, this is the place for you.
Going forward, Stranahan’s strives to make the American single malt accessible to the masses, whilst continuing to “push the envelope” in the category.
Aden added: “The team is constantly scouring the rackhouse for sleeping gems of barrels, aged for different lengths of time, rotated in a variety of ways, that will serve as an inspiration for what will come next – giving our fans something new to try and ideally, building awareness and excitement for the American Single Malt as a whole.”
Dampfwerk American Single Malt
Dampfwerk Distillery, in Minnesota, is switching up the distilling tradition of the US with influence from Germany. Originally known for distilling German-style fruit brandies and liqueurs, the distillery recently expanded its horizons and began distilling American single malt whiskey.
The distillery was founded by the Loeffelholz family: Ralf, Mary, Christian, and Bridgit. Being a native of Mühldorf am Inn, Germany, Ralf wanted to infuse the Minnesotan distilling landscape with German drinking culture, centered around sharing and socialization.
Following on from the success of the brandies, Ralf and his son Christian decided to try their hand at distilling American single malt whiskey in the hand-hammered still, imported from Baden. The whiskey is distilled from 100% pale ale and chocolate malt barley.
The resulting single malt is a light spirit that is matured in white oak before finishing in red wine casks. The red wine cask finishing (as recently allowed by the TTB) is something that excited Christian, who strives to provide American single malt drinkers with a gentle alternative to other spirits.
“I have a ton of respect for bourbon […and] I love American white oak barrels and the big, bold, vanilla and caramel that comes from the wood. But, not every whiskey is looking for those really bold flavors.
“This change within the American single malt whiskey class is very exciting. To be a part of creating a new identity for American whiskey was too good of an opportunity to pass up.” Christian said during our recent interview.
The distillery currently has just one American single malt whiskey in its portfolio. However, Christian seems eager to expand further into the category in the near future.
“We are very eager to play around. In a few years’ time, we will be onto something else in the American single malt whiskey category – we have been playing around with peated whiskeys recently. It is a very liberating thing to learn as you go,” he says.
You can read more about the Dampfwerk American Single Malt Whiskey, and the opportunities for innovation across the category, here.
Westward Whiskey
Westward Whiskey, much like Stranahan’s and Dampfwerk, pays close attention to honoring its home state: Oregon. Located in the center of Portland, Westward Whiskey draws inspiration from its surroundings, “from the blue of the Colombia River Gorge to the majesty of Mount Hood,” according to the brand website. The distillery was founded in 2004 and strives to represent the distilling culture of the Pacific Northwest.
The Westward American single malt whiskey is double-distilled from an artisanal craft beer before being matured in new, American charred white oak, and finished in one of a number of casks.
“Westward is born from the unique culture, climate, and abundant resources of the American Northwest,” says Master Blender, Miles Munroe. “At Westward, we’re beholden to whiskey, not the traditions that surround it. Westward is brewed like a Pale Ale, distilled like a Single Malt, and aged like a Bourbon. Leaning on our roots in brewing, we pursue perfection by building flavor in every step of the way. There are no shortcuts in our long, deliberate process, and therein lies the beauty.”
Rather than sticking to the traditional sherry and port cask finishes that have become prevalent in the industry, Westward has pushed the boundaries of finishing with Pinot Noir casks, rum casks, and stout casks.
Westward’s current range includes:
- Westward Whiskey Pinot Noir Cask
- Westward Whiskey Stout Cask
- Westward Whiskey Cask Strength
- Westward Whiskey Rum Cask
- Westward Whiskey Original
Alongside these releases are American single malt whiskeys available only to members of the Westward Whiskey Club, as well as state-exclusive whiskeys.
Whiskeys from the Oregon distillery have been honored at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition multiple times, including a Double Gold medal for Westward Whiskey Cask Strength in 2023.
The Future Of The American Single Malt Whiskey Category
The innovation within the American single malt whiskey category has definitely stirred the passions of American whiskey drinkers.
Bourbon is, by law, required to be matured in virgin American white oak barrels for at least two years prior to any kind of finishing. This means that there are often common notes that can be found in many bourbon profiles. The inclusion of at least 51% corn in the mash bill also means that, across the board, bourbon is sweeter than single malt whiskey.
American single malt whiskey, by contrast, is limited in terms of its mash bill (it must be 100% malted barley – but barley varietals can vary) but has much more freedom in terms of its finishing. And, the dialed-down sweetness of the grain allows a ‘blank canvas’, if you like, with which producers can play, experimenting with a variety of casks during maturation.
Bourbon remains the nation’s national spirit, and the American distilling identity is, without a doubt, entwined with bourbon production. So, this article is not to say that bourbon is on the out. Instead, it is to say that the wide range of cask finishes now available to single malt producers means that there are numerous alternatives for drinkers who, perhaps, would like to venture into a new world of flavor.
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So, if that sounds like a path you wish to follow, keep an eye on the American single malt whiskey brands above. I, for one, can’t wait to see what they do next.
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