After years of tireless campaigning by the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission (ASMWC), the Distilled Spirits Council Of The United States (DISCUS), and producers across the U.S., the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has finally ratified the American Single Malt Whiskey Category. The finalization of standards will promote and protect this burgeoning category. The final rule was published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, Dec. 18, and the effective date is Jan. 19, 2025.
Of course, this is a huge landmark for all who campaigned for the standards to be set. To find out just how much it means to those who produce and bottle single malt whiskey, I have collated the thoughts of brand representatives across the country about what these welcome changes mean to them and their businesses.
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The American Single Malt Whiskey Standard
Firstly, let’s take a look at the new standards that have been set by the TTB.
American single malt whiskey must adhere to the following standards.
(1) fermented mash of 100% malted barley produced in the United States;
(2) distillation proof of 160 or less, distilled at the same distillery in the United States;
(3) stored in used, charred new, or uncharred new oak barrels, with a 700 liter maximum capacity and only stored in the United States;
(4) no neutral spirits permitted; and
(5) no allowable coloring, flavoring, or blending materials permitted, except for caramel coloring that is disclosed on the label.
(6) aged for a minimum of two years
What It Means
American Single Malt Whiskey Commission President, Steve Hawley
“It has been over 52 years since a new type of whiskey was added to our federal regulations. We applaud the TTB for formalizing the category, which will signal to the world that not only do we believe in and support our own distilleries, but we also recognize that American single malt whiskey is unique and deserves to be defined and protected as other American whiskey categories are.”
Alastair Brogan, Boulder Spirits Founder
“As the founder of Boulder Spirits, I take my hat off to the TTB. In the context of the presidential election, they have been getting on with business. They have listened to what we have asked them and taken constructive criticism. They have done a great service for the distilling industry, the craft distilling industry, and the consumer.
“This is the first step. It’s about education, it’s about embracing the category. Hopefully, in a few years, we will see some huge growth in this area. This is a win for distilleries, it’s a win for consumers, and it’s a win for America.”
DISCUS President & CEO, Chris Swonger
“We want to thank the TTB for listening to the needs of U.S. distillers and working with the industry to provide an official standard for the American Single Malt Whiskey category. This is great news for America’s distillers and spirits consumers. Having this formal definition is going to protect the integrity of American Single Malt Whiskey and drive experimentation, creativity and innovation in this popular category.”
Jason Moore, Managing Director, Westland Whiskey
“Westland was founded on the conviction that American Single Malt Whiskey could and should stand shoulder to shoulder with the finest whiskeys in the world,” says Jason Moore, Westland’s managing director. “For more than a decade we have been at the forefront of this new category diligently working to establish it on the global stage.”
Justin Aden, Head Blender at Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey
“Twenty years ago, Stranahan’s had the vision to focus solely on American Single Malt, perfecting one recipe and one recipe alone since 2004. Stranahan’s is made with 100% malted barley, Rocky Mountain spring water and time in an American White Oak barrel, distilled and aged entirely one mile high here in Denver, CO.
“Two decades after Stranahan’s sold its first bottle of American Single Malt whiskey, we continue to carry the torch for the category. It’s why we could not be more proud to see American Single Malt become an official category all its own. We celebrate with everyone who has bottled their passion and stayed the course, and with all of our Stranafans, without whom we wouldn’t be here today.”
Virginia Distillery Company CEO & ASMWC Treasurer, Gareth H. Moore
“Americans have been distilling whisky for centuries, and I’m so thrilled to see that the TTB has finally announced American Single Malt as an official and protected category of American Whisky. As one of the co-founding members of the ASMWC, this monumental moment is very important to me. The American Single Malt category will further broaden the view of the American whisky consumer and fuel innovation and premiumization across domestic products.”
Jared Himstedt, Vice President of the ASMWC and Head Distiller at Balcones
“The establishment of a legal definition for American Single Malt whiskey brings clarity not only to consumers, but also to producers like us. It safeguards the integrity of what we’ve worked so diligently to create, while inviting new opportunities for experimentation and innovation to propel the category forward.”
Thomas Mooney, CEO, Westward Whiskey
“All of us at Westward Whiskey are thrilled that TTB has officially recognized American Single Malt as a unique and distinctive whiskey category. Crafting world-class American Single Malt demands exceptional time, investment, and expertise. This new standard of identity will protect the integrity of the category, and empower consumers to explore the exciting future of American whiskey.”
Lander Otegui, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Proximo Spirits
“As the category leader in American Single Malt Whiskey, and one of its original pioneers, Stranahan’s applauds the TTB’s designation of American Single Malt whiskey as an official category. Stranahan’s has spent the past 20 years defining and innovating American Single Malt whiskey, and today stands proudly as the number one-selling, most awarded brand in its category.
“Having a category-leading brand in our portfolio speaks to Proximo Spirits’ vision for creating, disrupting, and growing categories. Today marks a milestone, both domestically and internationally. It puts American Single Malt and Stranahan’s on a global stage like never before. As an official whiskey category – legally defined and protected by the US government – American Single Malt has earned its place alongside bourbon, rye and other categories that today enjoy worldwide recognition. This is a generational event, the last such designation having been made over 50 years ago.”
Adam Polonski, Co-founder, Lost Lantern
“We at Lost Lantern, as passionate advocates and independent bottlers of American whiskey, are thrilled to witness the historic ratification of American Single Malt Whiskey as an official style of whiskey recognized by the U.S. federal government. We have long thought that American Single Malt is one of the most exciting and exceptional styles of whiskey in the entire world, and this long-sought recognition will dramatically boost the category’s visibility with whiskey lovers all around the world. We especially applaud the hard work of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission and our many American Single Malt distillery partners for their tireless efforts to reach this milestone.
This monumental recognition not only honors the rich heritage and uniquely innovative character of American distilleries, but also heralds a new era of innovation and excellence in whiskey-making. And for our part, we look forward to continuing to help whiskey lovers discover the finest examples of American Single Malt from all across the United States.
We encourage all whiskey lovers to pick up a bottle of American Single Malt and to raise a glass with us to welcome this style of whiskey to the American whiskey pantheon.”
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Jason Parker, Co-Owner and President, Copperworks Distilling Co.
“This recognition validates the craftsmanship and innovation behind American Single Malt Whiskey. We’ve always believed in the potential of this category, and now we can truly raise a glass to our commitment to quality and authenticity.”
Jeff Kanof, Copperworks Distilling Co. Co-Owner, and Vice President
“This is a pivotal day for all American distillers,” said Copperworks Distilling Co. Co-Owner and Vice President Jeff Kanof. “It’s a testament to the hard work and collaboration of countless people in our industry. We are excited to move forward with a category that celebrates our rich heritage while paving the way for the future of American spirits.”
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