American Single Malt Whiskey Earns Official Recognition from TTB

In a landmark decision, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has officially ratified the American Single Malt Whiskey (ASM) category. This announcement, effective January 19, 2025, follows years of advocacy by distillers, industry organizations, and the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission (ASMWC). For decades, American Single Malt Whiskey existed without formal recognition, unlike its globally recognized counterparts, such as Scotch Single Malt. Defining the Category Under the new regulations, American Single Malt Whiskey must adhere to the following standards of identity: Production : Mashing, distilling, and aging must occur entirely in the United States. Ingredients : It must be distilled from a fermented mash of 100% malted barley. Process : The whiskey must be distilled at a single U.S. distillery to a proof of no more than 160. Aging and Storage : It must be stored in oak barrels (new, used, charred, or uncharred) with a maximum capacity of 700 liters. Proof : T

by Robert Book and Bradley Paul Gee · source ↗