The Rise of American Single Malt Whiskey

Exploring American Single Malt Whiskey

American single malt whiskey is experiencing a surge in popularity within the American whiskey landscape, with new expressions emerging regularly from both established and up-and-coming brands. The market is saturated with options, showcasing the growing interest in malted barley whiskey. However, with this abundance comes variability in quality. To help navigate this burgeoning category, UPROXX has meticulously tasted and evaluated the latest offerings, compiling a list of the top 10 American single malt whiskeys. Shop American Whiskey!

10. Lost Lantern Mountain Meadow St. George Spirits California Single Malt

Lost Lantern has curated a special batch showcasing the distinct flavors of four individual casks, all aged for four years at St. George Distilling in California. After careful selection and blending, water was added to create this exclusive bottling, ensuring a refined and balanced whiskey experience. Buy it now!

9. Westward American Single Malt Whiskey Small Batch Selection Vienna Malt

This unique whiskey came to be as a result of a fortuitous delivery mix-up when Vienna malt was mistakenly delivered to Westward instead of their usual 2-row malted barley. Embracing the unexpected, the team decided to experiment with the Vienna malt and crafted a distinctive whiskey from this unconventional ingredient. Buy it now!

8. Redwood Empire Whiskey Foggy Burl Single Malt Whiskey

Representing a new endeavor for California's Redwood Empire, this whiskey is the result of a blend of 27 barrels, each containing a unique barley mash bill. After these diverse whiskeys were combined into a single batch, they were adjusted with proofing water before being bottled for distribution. Buy it now!

7. Bulleit Single Malt Frontier Whiskey American Single Malt Whiskey

Crafted by the renowned bourbon and rye experts at Bulleit, this whiskey is made exclusively from 100% malted barley. After aging in new American oak barrels for a period of time, the malt is then batched, proofed, and bottled for distribution. Buy it now!

6. Stranahan’s Snowflake Colorado Single Malt Whiskey Pyramid Peak

The latest Snowflake release from Stranahan’s presents a small batch of exceptional American single malts crafted in Colorado. This unique blend features single malt whiskey aged in Islay quarter casks, rum, ruby port, sherry, and mezcal barrels. After the careful selection and batching of these barrels, the whiskey is proofed down with pure Rocky Mountain water before being bottled, retaining its distinct character and flavors. Learn more.

5. The Macklowe Kentucky Edition American Single Malt Whiskey

The Macklowe presents a limited release of Kentucky-sourced single malt whiskey, showcasing their expertise in bottling elite single malts. This batch comprises barrels aged in the Blue Grass State for nearly four years, carefully selected and batched before being proofed down and bottled, ensuring a refined and distinctive expression of Kentucky craftsmanship. Buy it now!

4. 291 E Colorado Whiskey Experimental Batch 13 American Single Malt Whiskey

For this special edition, 291 distillery presents a unique expression of its iconic "E" whiskey, featuring a four-year-old Colorado single malt aged solely in new American oak barrels. Limited to just 291 bottles, this special batch is bottled at cask strength, preserving the full intensity and character of the whiskey's aging process. Buy it now!

3. Cedar Ridge The QuintEssential American Single Malt Whiskey Special Release Portside

The special release of Cedar Ridge's Quintessential American Single Malt from last year ventures into new territory, elevating the whiskey to greater heights. Starting with the familiar 100% 2-Row Pale malted barley base aged for six years in ex-bourbon barrels, select casks underwent a secondary maturation in first-fill Ruby Port, Amontillado sherry, and new French oak casks. After vatting, the whiskey was bottled in its pure, untouched form, presenting a complex fusion of flavors from the various cask finishes. Buy it now!

2. Virginia Distillery Co. Courage & Conviction Double Cask Reserve American Single Malt Whisky

The latest autumn offering from Virginia Distillery Co. showcases a unique double aging process. This whiskey spent at least five years maturing in first-fill bourbon casks and European red wine Cuvée casks, imparting rich and complex flavors. Following this dual maturation, the whiskey was carefully batched with a subtle addition of water to achieve the desired balance before bottling. Buy it now!

1. New Riff Sour Mash Single Malt Kentucky Single Malt Whiskey

Years of dedication culminate in the release of this new whiskey from New Riff. The spirit within the bottle is a harmonious blend of single malt whiskeys crafted from 100% barley mash bills, including Golden Promise, Maris Otter, Chevallier heirloom barley, and Scottish peated barley malt. These whiskeys are meticulously aged for seven to eight years in a diverse array of casks, including new charred oak, de-charred toasted oak, red wine casks, Portuguese brandy casks, classic sherried oak casks, and more. The result is a complex and nuanced expression that reflects the culmination of years of expertise and innovation. Buy it now!