
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) issued its final rule establishing a new American Single Malt Whiskey category, a move that will help protect and promote the growing category, according to the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission (ASMWC) and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. Key provisions of the American Single Malt Whiskey standard include (1) fermented mash of 100% malted barley produced in the United States; (2) distillation proof of 160 or less, distilled at the same distillery in the U.S.; (3) stored in used, charred new or uncharred new oak barrels, with a 700-liter maximum capacity and only stored in the U.S.; (4) no neutral spirits permitted; and (5) no allowable coloring, flavoring or blending materials permitted, except for caramel coloring that is disclosed on the label. The final rule also adopted a standard requiring that it be aged for a minimum of two years. “This is a landmark ruling from the TTB that further cements our standing on the global stage in whiskey,” said ASMWC President Steve Hawley.