May 12, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

American single malt whiskey is a fast-growing category in the United States. According to a 2022 Forbes article, more than 100 distilleries were producing over 200 American single malt expressions. The numbers of distilleries in now over 130. This brief note explores some of the requirements for this spirit category.

American Single Malt Whiskey Commission (ASMWC)

The American Single Malt Whiskey Commission (ASMWC) was formed in 2016 to address the growing need for American-based producers to define the category—both domestically and internationally—in order to protect, educate, promote and ultimately grow it. The ASMWC has been instrumental in getting this spirit category an identity as well as proposed standards.

The ASMWC has a terrific Press Page if you have an interest in reading related articles.

American Single Malt Whiskey Requirements

July 29, 2022 – In response to requests and petitions, specifically from the ASMWC, the TTB proposed establishing a specific standard of identity for American single malt whisky. From the Federal Register, there was a notice of proposed rule making and the following summary:

“The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposes to amend the regulations that set forth the standards of identity for distilled spirits to include “American single malt whisky” as a type of whisky that is a distinctive product of the United States.”

Under the proposal, to be labeled American single malt whisky, the product must be:

1) Distilled entirely at one U.S. distillery
2) Must be mashed, distilled, aged in the United States
3) Must be sourced from a fermented mash of 100% malted barley
4) Have a distillation proof of 160° or less
5) Stored in oak barrels not exceeding 700 liters. 

In addition, allowable coloring, flavoring, and blending materials would be permitted.    

I hope that this brief note brought clarification regarding American Single Malt Whiskey.
Rebecca