From all of the team at Barrel Global, we hope you had a great festive season. While January can be a time when 'spirits' drop a little, we hope that the thought of whiskey and bourbon brings a little sunshine into your days.

In our last post of the year (December 2024), we set out some of the topics we will be covering in 2025.

The first of those topics will touch on the announcement made by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) regarding American Single Malt Whiskey; this final ruling will protect and promote American Single Malt (ASM).

Most whiskey drinkers are familiar with the single malt category, which is traditionally associated with Scotch (whisky produced and matured in Scotland).

Scotch whisky has been protected by legislation since 1933, updated in 2009 ( The legal framework for Scotch Whisky in the UK ), with Ireland following suit in 2014 ( Regulations governing Irish whiskey - Drinks Ireland ), Wales gained GI status in 2023 (Single Malt Welsh Whisky protected | GOV.WALES ), and the English Whisky category has applied for GI status (English Whisky Guild | Building Awareness of English Whisky Distilleries).

So, it's a welcome move for American Single Malt to tread that same path to protect and promote its product.

Does each country have the same rules?

No. While the Scotch rules have been a guide for many other whisky producing countries, some may want more flexibility within their production parameters, advertising, and labeling. We advise checking each country's legislation to understand more about whiskey production per country.

What are the rules for American Single Malt (ASM)whiskey?

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)

In addition to these main provisions, no coloring, flavoring, or blending materials will be permitted, with an exemption for caramel coloring, which must be disclosed on the bottle label.

Lastly, and importantly, a rule for Standard Straight American Single Malt Whiskey requires that the spirit is aged for a minimum of 2 years.

These rules will be effective from 19^thJanuary 2025.

You may have already noted a difference between Scotch whisky rules and Straight ASM whiskey; Scotch requires a minimum of three years of aging, while straight ASM will require 2 yrs. This detail opens up quite an interesting discussion around whisky/whiskey age; at what point does a spirit become single malt whiskey/whisky?

Why does this matter to me, a consumer?

Steve Hawley, President of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission, sums this up perfectly:

“…Most importantly, this new definition ensures that consumers worldwide can have every confidence that what they think is in a bottle of American Single Malt Whiskey actually is.” (from American Single Malt Whiskey Commission ).

While various distilleries have already been producing ASM whiskey for some time, with distilleries ‘self-identifying’ their spirit, this ruling adds the weight of legislation, elevating consumer confidence in a product and protecting producers.

It also means that whiskey educators around the world have new confidence when speaking on ASM whiskey. Having these rules makes it clearer and easier for consumers to understand what they are drinking.

How has the global whiskey/whisky community reacted to this ruling?

This ruling is one of the most significant announcements in the American whiskey industry in decades. In fact, it has been 52 years since a new whiskey category was formalized in the United States. However, the majority of immediate social media and the reaction of the whiskey/whisky press is just to share the news.

As with most changes, many reactions will come later. What will be the impact on the cost of the spirit? Will it increase? Will it be viewed as a more premium product?

We are excited to see how the category develops over the coming years and will certainly come back to discussing this fascinating topic.

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(Main photo credit: Our whisky Foundation)

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