Whiskey Makers Letter Urging TTB to Issue Final Rule Establishing a Formal American Single Malt Whiskey Category
WASHINGTON – A collation representing more than 100 large and small American Single Malt Whiskey Makers sent a letter today to the Treasury Department’s Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) urging the bureau to finalize the official standard for this category, which stands as one of the fastest growing categories of American whiskey over the past decade.
The letter, sent on behalf of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) and the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission (ASMWC), marked the two-year anniversary of the TTB’s notice of proposed rulemaking to establish a standard of identity for American Single Malt Whiskey.
In the two years since the Bureau issued its notice, the need for a formal standard has grown ever-more urgent. From the largest multinational spirits companies to smallest regional craft distilleries, a significant amount of investment has been poured into American Single Malt Whiskey. This highlights the desirability of the category but also brings into stark focus the risks posed by the lack of a standard.
Coalition Letter to TTB
TAKE ACTION and ask TTB to issue formal regulations and standard of identity for another great American spirit just like they have for Bourbon!
The Whiskey Makers noted that in addition to producers, consumers will benefit from a clear definition of what constitutes American Single Malt Whiskey.
This new standard will establish trust in the category, clarify label declarations, and equip consumers with the necessary information to make informed purchasing decisions. The formal establishment will also signal to the world that we recognize American Single Malt Whiskey as a unique category, like Bourbon, that deserves to be defined, recognized and protected.
Coalition Letter to TTB
DISCUS and ASMWC submitted an official joint comment to TTB in September 2022 in support of establishing a standard of identity for American Single Malt Whiskey as part of the Bureau’s 2022 notice of proposed rulemaking. process.
DISCUS and ASMWC are aligned that the American Single Malt Whiskey standard should:
- be distilled from 100% malted barley;
- allow for the ability for producers to create brands that are distilled from grains other than barley, provided that those grains are clearly denoted on the label (e.g., American Single Malt Rye Whiskey):
- incorporate a 700-liter oak barrel limit;
- allow the use of used, uncharred new, and charred new oak barrels; and
- prohibit the use of harmless flavoring, coloring, and blending materials.
DISCUS and ASMWC launched a campaign through Spirits United encouraging distillers and other interested parties to urge TTB to finalize the standards of identity for American Single Malt Whiskey. Interested parties can submit letters via the Spirits United website.
It’s time for TTB to finish the job and protect the American Single Malt Whiskey category!
TAKE ACTION and ask TTB to issue formal regulations and standard of identity for another great American spirit just like they have for Bourbon!
Image Credit: DISCUS
Listen to Bourbon Lens on your favorite podcast app or stream on Spotify. If you’d like to support Bourbon Lens, subscribe to our Patreon, sign up for our “Weekly Pour” Newsletter, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
If you like cocktails, subscribe to our second podcast, Cocktails with Friends. Cocktails with Friends is hosted by our good friend and partner, Bob Cutler.
Recent Bourbon Lens Coverage
- Pendleton 1910 Bourbon: New Whiskey, A Decade in the Making
- Southern Distilling Company Limited Edition Southern Star Bourbon Finished in Honey Barrels
- Laws Whiskey House Introduces Two New Limited Edition Finished Whiskeys
- Michter’s Announces Release of its Rare 20 Year Kentucky Bourbon After Hiatus
- No, Not Get Wasted – We Literally Mean “Get Basted” with Skrewball Whiskey This Thanksgiving
- Milam & Greene Whiskey New Cooper’s Hawk Single Barrel Bourbon
