Members of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission (ASMWC), an organisation designed to define, establish, promote and protect the category of American Single Malts, are celebrating a new ruling based on the notice of rulemaking process by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) that will formally define American Single Malt whisky.
The rule ensures that any spirit labeled American Single Malt must be made from 100% malted barley, mashed, distilled and matured in one distillery, produced entirely in the U.S., distilled to a proof not exceeding 160, matured in oak casks not exceeding 700 liters and bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV.
On July 29th 2022, the TTB issued the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register and will enter a 60-day comment period for the public and industry to suggest changes to the proposed rules.
“Announcing American Single Malts as a formal category by the TTB is a historic moment for the industry, as it has been decades since a new whisky category of this magnitude has been added to the Beverage Alcohol Manual,” Gareth H. Moore, Virginia Distillery Company CEO and ASMWC Treasurer Gareth H. Moore.
“The American whisky category was synonymous with bourbon just 15 years ago, but the resurgence of rye diversified that view. The American Single Malt category will further broaden the view of the American whisky consumer and fuel innovation and premiumization across domestic products.”
Virginia Distillery Company, the largest independently owned American Single Malt distillery in the U.S. and one of the co-founding members of the ASMWC has been highly active in advocacy efforts leading up to the recent announcement. The distillery has worked in close alignment for several years with advocates at Westland, Balcones and Copperworks distilleries to push for the designation. ASMWC founding members below and a full list can be found on their website.
“Formally defining American Single Malt will enable retailers and ultimately consumers to recognize the growing category that might otherwise be lost in the broad array of spirits on the market.” Gareth H. Moore
Producers anticipate that the designation will accelerate U.S. Trade association efforts for American Single Malts to be recognised as a category by other countries and expect growth in both export as well as competitors small and large.
The Virginia Distillery Company distillery has previously launched a complete guide to American Single Malt whisky.
For more information about the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission, visit https://www.americansinglemaltwhiskey.org/.
0 Comments