AN OVERVIEW of AMERICAN SINGLE MALT WHISKY
By Steve Kirwan
Created by the Irish, perfected by the Scots, emulated by the Japanese, Indians, Australians, Germans, and so many more, it was only a matter of time until the Americans came along and redefined the style! First released in 1996 by pioneer Steve McCarthy’s Clear Creek Distillery (now Hood River Distillery), and slowly expanding through the 2000s and 2010s, American single-malts are just now finding their stride.
With over 100 currently on the market, distillers seek to codify “single-malt” requirements similar to those of Scotch and Irish whiskey. To combat potential abuse and mismarketing, and to encourage adherence to the requirements noted below, American single-malt distillers formed the American Single Malt Commission. Their mission is to create naming and production standards and to advocate for regulatory specifications from the TTB. For now, the rules remain voluntary.
Members have proposed that all American single-malts must be:
- Made from 100% malted barley
- From a single distillery
- Mashed, distilled and matured 100% in the USA
- Matured in oak casks no larger than 700L
- Distilled to no more than 80% ABV
- Bottled at no less than 40% ABV
Absent from the list is “age” statement, a defining attribute of Scotch and Irish whiskeys. Maturation is not a current focus, primarily due to wide variations of climate, overall industry youth, and economic concerns. Although some distillers are offering aged expressions, most producers have yet to make aging an issue.
Despite the tectonic shifts occurring in the single-malt marketplace, American single-malts are on track to give Scotch, Irish, Japanese, and Indian single-malts something to fear. For a more detailed look at the history and background of American single-malts, check out the rest of the website!