Industry Insiders Explain: American Single Malt Whiskey

America, land of opportunity! Now even more so for excited proponents of American Single Malt Whiskey. After nearly ten years of campaigning, their catagory has been officially recognised by the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Trade Bureau as of 18th December 2024. This means that the catagory has clear definitions and protections, just like U.S. bourbon or Single Malt Scotch. We speak with Ana Hinz, Business Development Manager at Westland and Caitlin Bartlemay, Master Distiller at Hood River Distillers to find out more about this new catagory.

Firstly, Ana, what is American Single Malt Whiskey?

In Oregon in the 1990s, McCarthy’s distilled the first American Single Malt. Since then, it has grown to over 250 U.S. distilleries making American Single Malt. Each of us are putting our own unique stamp on single malt that is different than Scotch, Japanese, or other world whiskey. In short, American Single Malt Whiskey is:

 

1)    Made from 100% malted barley
2)    Distilled entirely at one distillery
3)    Mashed, distilled, and matured in the United States of America
4)    Matured in oak casks of a capacity not exceeding 700 liters
5)    Distilled to no more than 160 (U.S) proof (80% alcohol by volume)
6)    Bottled at 80 (U.S.) proof or more (40% alcohol by volume)

Caitlin, McCarthy’s has the fabulous title of being the very first American Single Malt. How did that happen?

Steve McCarthy founded Clear Creek Distillery in 1985 after being inspired by the rich tradition of European fruit brandy.  After years of exploring the bounty that Oregon agriculture had to offer, he'd settled on a dozen or so mainstay products like our Pear and Apple brandies.  

 

On a trip to Ireland with his wife, he had the opportunity to dig into Scottish Single malts.  With so many similarities between the regions, and Steve's love for the category, he began exploring what an Oregon Single Malt could looks like when he returned.  By January of 1994, he'd placed the first American Single Malt in a barrel to rest, marking the beginning of both the McCarthy's brand as well as the American Single Malt movement.

And Ana, Westland was a founding member of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission – how did that come about?

It began nine years ago during a blizzard in Chicago. Producers knew that a category was inevitable with the growing number of offerings, but they thought it would be better if the producers drafted category production standards they agreed on versus regulators imposing something upon them. The producers set aside four hours to hammer out the standards, but it only took 30 minutes to align on a definition that protected the category without stifling creativity.

 

Afterward, they began to spread the word, and the Commission grew to 150 members who continued to petition and advocate for the category to the TTB. They also continued to educate the trade, consumers, as well as promoting the diversity of flavor within the category.

 

It's been over 50 years since the US Government added a new category of whiskey to its regulations, so this is thrilling! It’s been a long journey, but we’re all very excited about the ratification.

What characterises the movement and distilleries involved? 

Caitlin: The American Single Malt movement is all about the passion for art, science, and history that we all share.  It's about making something beautiful just for the joy of it's existence and the ability to share it.  It's a great community of people to be a part of and the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission and the rules that have been adopted really showcase how inclusive we want the category to be.

Ana: Firstly, the movement has been extremely collaborative. There’s a mutual respect and support amongst everyone, and we drink each other’s whiskey! A rising tide lifts all boats, so working together to educate and promote the category is the best way to do that. Additionally, we all have a unique point of view and sense of place with our brands and whiskies, so it honestly feels like supporting each other is easy. While our whiskies are all 100% malted barley, they all taste vastly different. American Single Malt producers are exploring different barleys, yeast, production techniques, and barrel styles. Paired with the variety of climates across the nation, it creates a wide range of flavors that isn’t duplicated in any other country.

Caitlin, why is the Oregon such a great place for making whiskey? 

Oregon is an incredibly diverse state. We have nearly all the climates all within a few hours from each other.  In a 6 hour drive, you could be on a coast, in a rainforest, in a temperate forest, in the mountains, and in the high desert... And within all those areas you can grow just about anything.  We have access to such wonderful raw materials and water, and have the ability to age spirits in such disparate conditions.  It provides everything a creative and adventurous distiller needs to create a wealth of flavors, so it is unsurprising that we have so many distilleries making such great spirits.

What are you most excited for, now that the category is official?

Ana: Continuing to grow the awareness of American Single Malt worldwide with consumers. It’s not just a novelty and we’re here to stay. We will continue to work collaboratively with other brands to continue to educate and showcase our unique whiskies. Next we want to see “American Single Malt” sections in whisky shops so it’s easy for consumers to find their new favorites.

Caitlin: The recognition is an important step as we move forward as a category. It is an exciting place to be as a producer and a consumer. Look how much other categories have grown and evolved over their decades. We are just shy of 31 years since the first single malt went into a barrel post prohibition. It is going to be amazing to see what the next 30 years brings as ASM matures through the generations.

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For those that might not be so familiar with American Single Malt, give us some recommendations to look out for this Christmas…

Caitlin: I'd encourage new entrants to the category to explore their own backyard first, if possible. There are over 250 distilleries across the U.S. making single malt, each one exploring where their region and creativity can lead them.  While McCarthy's is the first and certainly my favorite, there is a whole wealth of spirits to get to know across the country.  If you're interested in learning more and looking for a place to start, I recommend looking through the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission website.  There's a list there of all the member producers that have dedicated time and energy to work together to see this designation come through.  It's the best place to start learning about brands and why they are so passionate about ASM, and finding a bottle or two along the way!

Ana: If you’re looking for something that’s delicious neat or in a cocktail, I’d recommend our Flagship offering. Our signature use of roasted malts give a flavorful background with fruity notes coming through from our fermentation and distillation. It really stands out in a Manhattan, or any spirit-forward whiskey cocktail. If you’re looking for something a little more special, any of our Garryana or Solum editions would be wonderful. Garryana focuses on our native oak species with a unique savory spice note, and each edition is different. Solum focuses on our native peat and the smoke is notably different from any Scotch. It’s lighter, more vegetal and very inviting. Join me in raising a glass this holiday season to celebrate ratification!

Will we see American Single Malt Whiskey collections blossom? Only time will tell, but with quality-focused, clear definitions in the catagory made official, the potential for growth is clear. Our auctions contain American Single Malts including Westland regularly, alongside the mainstays of U.S. bourbon and rye.