American Single Malt Whiskey is Now Officially Recognized

For the first time in 52 years, the U.S. Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB) adds a new category of whiskey

After nine years of proposals, debates, clarifications and compromises, the U.S. Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB) officially recognized American Single Malt (ASM) as a type of whiskey and outlined its standards of identity. While the formal categorization begins January 19, 2025, most champions for the change have been celebrating ever since the announcement came in December.

If you’re wondering why this ruling is so significant, take into account that the government hasn’t created a new category of whiskey since 1968 — and that was for “light whiskey.”

For the 200+ distilleries currently making ASM, this ruling is a validation of their hard-fought efforts and unrelenting passion for the category. And while ASM has become one of the fastest-growing whiskeys in the market, many in the industry agree that we’ll now start to see the category expand and possibly even carve out its own space from single-malt OGs like scotch and Irish whiskey.

Here in the U.S., some believe ASM could be a hedge against looming scotch whisky tariffs that could come into play this year.

American Single Malt Standards of Identity

As outlined by the TTB, for the whiskey to be classified as American single malt, distillers must adhere to the following Standards of Identity:

Distilled from 100% malted barley
Mashed, distilled, and aged in the United States
Distilled at a single distillery
Distilled to no more than 160 proof (80% ABV)
Bottled at 80 proof or higher
Aged in oak barrels not exceeding 700 liters

The most significant factor in the ruling is the open-endedness of “aged in oak barrels.” In other words, the whiskey can mature in either new, charred-oak barrels like bourbon or used barrels like scotch.

‘This wasn’t on the bingo card for my career’

The American Single Malt Whiskey Commission (ASMWC) was formed in 2016, the same year the ASM measure was first proposed to the TTB. Created by distillers carrying the torch for single-malt whiskey, the commission’s mission was clear: “Establish, promote and protect the category of American single malt whiskey.”

Notable single-malt producers like Balcones, Virginia Distillery, Westland, Stranahan’s, and Westward led the charge, and now the coalition boasts more than 100 members across the U.S.

There’s a lot about the whiskey business nobody saw coming in the last 15-20 years, but creating a new category was basically unheard of.

The ASMWC worked closely with the TTB as well as the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS), the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), and others to help set the parameters of the category. After nine years of back-and-forths — much like waiting for a barrel to age to perfection — they now get to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

“It means everything,” says Steve Hawley, president of ASMWC and America director of Artisanal Spirits Co. “On a personal level, it’s a completion of something we’ve all been working on for a long time. But for the category and the producers who make American single malt, it means so many different things: It means protection. It’s validation for a category we have been claiming has arrived.”

“We set out to do this because the category where a lot of us play in needed some help and some attention and protection and advocacy,” says Jared Himstedt, vice president of ASMWC and head distiller at Balcones. “This wasn’t on the bingo card for my career, so it feels really cool just to have participated and have helped get this done. It feels pretty satisfying.”

‘The real work is just getting started’

Steve Hawley of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission

Going back to the ASMWC’s mantra to “establish, promote and protect,” with the first directive now checked off, it’s time to advance the remaining two.

“The real work is just getting started,” Hawley says. “The task at hand is to educate the trade, educate consumers, advocate for the category, and seek protections outside of the United States now for the category.”

Himstedt agrees. “A lot of people here in the U.S. assume single malt is scotch,” he says. “Bourbon is probably always going to be America’s go-to, but as the rest of the world has been dabbling in single malt for a while now, I think there’s a lot of education do.”

Some of that education will be focused on retail (getting ASM sections in stores), some on bars and restaurants (getting ASM sections on menus and featured in cocktails), and some aimed at the ever-vital whiskey consumer. In fact, the main motivation for creating the category was for the benefit of consumers, says Hawley.

“You’re shelling out hard-earned money for whiskey you expect to be made in a certain way because it’s called ‘single malt,’ and you can now have confidence it is made that way,” he explains. “The exposure from the ruling will beg more questions from consumers, and the collective knowledge about single malt in this country, whether that’s from consumers or trade or us producers, will help them learn. It’s a huge boon for consumers seeking whiskey education.”

And these consumers have quite the appetite for whiskey knowledge.

“The whole reason I even do this is my love for single-malt whiskeys — that’s why I started distilling in the first place,” adds Himstedt. “If we do our job well, we can get things in front of people they haven’t had before.”

Margie A.S. Lehrman, CEO of the American Craft Spirits Association, agrees that whiskey fans will be the ones benefitting most from the ruling.

“For American single malt whiskey makers throughout the U.S., this final rule allows them to proudly educate the consumer about what is in the bottle,” she says. “Similarly, with a standard in place, consumers will be better educated on the anticipated quality and profile of the whiskey they are purchasing.”

‘Innovation knows no bounds’

With more than 200 distilleries currently producing American single malt — from large (like Bulleit and Beam Distilling Co.) to craft (Redwood Empire and Tenmile) — the category can only grow from here. And the standards left the definition somewhat open for interpretation, especially when it comes to aging and finishing, we can expect some great, inventive ASM to hit the market.

“If we've discovered anything about craft spirits, we know that innovation knows no bounds when distillers are allowed to practice their craft,” says Lehrman. “We welcome innovation and look forward to seeing how our community chooses to explore, expand, and innovate.”

Hawley seconds that notion: “I think we’ll see a lot more people get into it,” he says. “I think we’ll see a lot more American single malt making its way to shelves across the world. Tariff issues aside, we’ll see a lot more exports of American single malt as well.”

Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey has been a leading producer of American single malt since 2004. The Denver-based distillery has only ever made ASM, so this ruling is truly a milestone for the company.

“This designation means a lot to us, and in the same token, we’re going to keep doing what we’ve been doing either way,” says Stranahan’s head blender Justin Aden. “We did this when nobody knew, nobody paid attention, and we’re going to keep doing it.”

Even before Aden joined the company in 2023, he had extreme respect for what Stranahan’s stood for.

“It not only pioneered American single malt, but it really proved to an entire generation of craft distillers that this was possible and feasible,” he explains. “That kind of conviction that you can follow your passion and make a style of whiskey you believe in, that you know is important, is why I ultimately chose to come to Denver.”

Aden believes the category will continue to expand, and that’s a win for whiskey aficionados across the world.

“If you zoom out and look at the category, how can you not be incredibly excited about all the diversity and breadth of flavors that are going to be coming out in this space,” he adds. “And if you zoom in, you’ll quickly realize there’s a small community of people who are already out ahead and making some exceptional whiskey.”

Another one of these exceptional whiskey makers is Virginia Distillery Co., which has been putting its own stamp on ASM since 2011. Gareth H. Moore, CEO of the award-winning distillery, also believes we’ll see a lot of growth in the category now that the ruling is official.

“There’s still a lot of room for innovation, as well, for years to come,” he says, noting that although the ruling did take nine years to pass, his distillery is thankful and ready to continue doing what it does best. “In some way, I’m glad it was a thoughtful process. It does make sense for them to be thoughtful and intentional about creating a new category. The government isn’t the fastest mover, but the good news is whiskey has a lot of patience built into it.”

‘A global appetite for single malt whiskey’

The ruling certainly puts American single malt on the global stage, joining Japan, India, Australia, Taiwan, and so many others in competing for a piece of the dominating scotch market. While some ASM distillers hope to carve out space in that arena, others are content just to broaden horizons.

“There’s definitely a global appetite for single malt whiskey,” says Moore. “I certainly think the way American products are readily embraced in international markets that American single malts will really follow in their footsteps.”

Aden points out that America’s vast terrain could set us apart from other single-malt producers.

“We certainly don’t have hundreds of years of expertise, however, we have a very large and diverse country in terms of agriculture and climate,” he says. “The international single malt community will be very keen to explore the regionality and diverse profiles you can get in the United States.”

Hawley believes the ASM category is ripe with quality, creativity, and innovation, and most distilleries in the space are making whiskey with the intent of distinguishing themselves from others.

“What’s the point of trying to mimic something here that’s being done and has been done so well for 500 years in Scotland?” he says. “So let’s put our own spin on it. We have unique climate here — lots of different climates — that Scotland doesn’t have. American distillers have every incentive to look at the category with a new perspective.”

Meanwhile, as Lehrman points out, the biggest challenge for ASM distillers is an issue that has plagued all craft producers: market access.

“Until craft spirits are allowed to reach a consumer through DtC (Direct to Consumer), fairs, markets, sales from tasting rooms, and self-distribution, this category, like all others, will be challenged,” she says. “To become competitive domestically or abroad, craft spirits producers need the ability to enter the market fairly and without anti-competitive obstacles.”

With the threat of tariffs looming in the distance, it’s certainly bad business for both sides of the pond. But perhaps one silver lining question to ponder, if they were to come into play: Could American single malt be a hedge against scotch whisky tariffs?

“That’s possible,” says Himstedt. “There are so many questions with what’s going on this year in the whiskey world and spirits world in general. None of us would be mad if we got a little exposure because people will have to turn to something else.”

Moore adds that whatever it is that gets people to reach for ASM, they’re not going to be disappointed.

“My hope would be it would be good for awareness, showing consumers that there is a local alternative. It should show people there’s an amazing quality to it as well,” he says. “Don’t buy it just because it’s cheaper, buy it because it’s good.”