After a decade-long campaign lead by several leading American Single Malt Whiskey producers, the Federal Government’s Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau has issued a new & unique definition within the American Whiskey category.
On Friday, December 13, 2024, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) issued its final rule establishing a new American Single Malt Whiskey category. The historic move will help protect and promote the growing category, according to the American Single Malt Commission (ASMWC) and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).
Key provisions of the American Single Malt Whiskey Standard include:
- fermented mash of 100% malted barley produced in the United States;
- distillation proof of 160 or less, distilled at the same distillery in the United States;
- stored in used, charred new, or uncharred new oak barrels, with a 700 liter maximum capacity and only stored in the United States;
- no neutral spirits permitted; and
- no allowable coloring, flavoring, or blending materials permitted, except for caramel coloring that is disclosed on the label.
The final rule also adopted a standard for the Straight American Single Malt Whiskey, requiring that it be aged for a minimum of 2 years. The final rule is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, with an effective date of January 19, 2025.
Quotes from Around the American Whiskey Industry:
This is a landmark ruling from the TTB that further cements our standing on the global stage in whiskey. We applaud TTB for hearing the call from distillers, purveyors and fans of American Single Malt, and formalizing a definition that supports and protects our producers both here and abroad. It’s a momentous day for American Single Malt Whiskey, and this is just the beginning of a bright future for the category.
– Steve Hawley, ASMWC President
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.
– Chris Swonger, DISCUS President & CEO
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.
– Gareth H. Moore, Virginia Distillery Company’s CEO and ASMWC Treasurer
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. For more than a decade we have been at the forefront of this new category diligently working to establish it on the global stage.
– Jason Moore, Westland’s managing director
We’re so happy to see the TTB finally recognizing this distinctive style of American whiskey. An official standard of identity will help American single malt whiskey makers promote their products more effectively and carve out space on shelves and menus around the world. This ruling ushers in an exciting new chapter for craft distillers.
– Erik Owens, American Distilling Institute (ADI) President
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