Add These American Single Malts to Your Home Bar ASAP

If you missed the news, American single malt whiskey is now an officially recognized whiskey category by The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau as of January 19, 2025. This is the first time in fifty-two years that a new whiskey category has been added by the federal organization. But this new recognition doesn’t mean distilleries haven’t been making award-winning American single malts for years.

In order to be referred to as an American single malt, a whiskey it must be made from 100% malted barley (this is the same rule that applies to single malt Scotch whisky). It must be produced in a single distillery and be mashed, distilled, and aged in the US. There are a few more rules, but those are the most important.

Now that you have a little background on American single malt whiskey, it’s time to find some to add to your home bar. Below, you’ll find some of the best American single malt Scotch whiskeys available today.

Honestly, you can’t go wrong with anything from this renowned American single malt distiller. But, if you only had to pick one, the Cask Strength is a solid choice. This 125-proof whiskey is made with malted barley from Westward’s home in the Pacific Northwest, and matured in charred American oak barrels. The nose is a mix of vanilla beans, caramelized sugar, candied nuts, and sweet malts. The palate is a symphony of flavors including honey, candied orange peels, cracked black pepper, graham crackers, and dark chocolate. The finish is long and warm, ending with notes of toffee and pipe tobacco.

Buy at Westward Whiskey

When it comes to Texas-made whiskey, there aren’t many bigger names than Balcones. This Waco distillery has been crafting award-winning spirits since it opened in 2008, and its best  single malt is Balcones Lineage. This award-winning whiskey is made with Texas-grown and malted barley and matured in new and used oak barrels for three years. Aromas of orchard fruits, honey, toffee, vanilla, and oak are prevalent on the nose. Sipping it reveals flavors like toasted vanilla beans, pineapple, coconut, orange peels, and brown sugar. It all ends in a crescendo of caramel, dried cherries, and spice.

Buy at Total Wine

If you’re a single malt drinker, you likely already know all about the Virginia Distillery Co. If you’re new to the style, you need to start with the brand’s Courage & Conviction Cuvée Single Cask. This 100% malted barley-based single malt is  matured for a minimum of four years in first-fill European red wine Cuvée casks. The barrels are shaved, toasted, and re-charred to add even more flavor. This creates a memorable, cask strength expression that begins with notes of raspberries, dark chocolate, and gentle spices on the nose. The palate is loaded with notes of candied orange peels, dark chocolate, caramel, dried cherries, and oak. It all ends with a mix of spice and candied nuts.

Buy at Virginia Distillery Co.

Iowa’s Cedar Ridge has made a name for itself in the whiskey world in the last few years, with a slew of noteworthy releases. But if you’re looking for an American single malt whiskey, look no further than The Quintessential. Made with a mash bill of 100% 2-Row Pale malted barley, it’s matured between three and five years in ex-bourbon barrels before being finished in various casks (including sherry, brandy, rum, and port, depending on the batch) for an additional two years. This creates a nuanced, mellow whiskey that starts with a nose of toffee, vanilla beans, and a gentle herbal aroma. Drinking it yields flavors like dried fruits, caramelized sugar, cracked black pepper, vanilla, and a gently dry, warming finish.

Buy at Cedar Ridge

If you’re looking for a unique American single malt, you’re going to want to try Whiskey Del Bac Dorado. This non-chill filtered whiskey was made in Tucson, and offers up a true taste of the American Southwest. It’s made with 100% barley that’s malted and smoked over mesquite fire before being mashed, fermented, distilled, aged, and bottled. Scents of dark chocolate, pipe tobacco, vanilla, and campfire smoke are prevalent on the nose. The palate is centered around sticky toffee, candied orange peels, wine-like dryness, and gentle mesquite smoke.

Buy at Whiskey Del Bac

Kentucky’s New Riff might be most known for its rye and bourbon whiskeys, but you shouldn’t sleep on its Sour Mash Single Malt. This popular whiskey is made with a blend of five mash bills that are matured in seven different cask types. Matured for at least seven years, it’s bottled at 114.5-proof. Before your first sip, you’ll be greeted with aromas of dried fruit, oak, vanilla beans, candied orange peels, and light smoke. Drinking it brings forth notes of citrus zest, dark chocolate, vanilla candy, toffee, light spices, and robust peat smoke.

Buy at New Riff Distilling

Utah’s High West is known for its bourbons, rye, and blended whiskeys. Its American single malt might not have the name recognition of its other expressions, but it’s no less noteworthy. Made with a mash bill of 85% base malt, 14% caramel 60 malt, and 1% chocolate malt, it’s an 89.6-proof sipping whiskey that starts with a nose of honey, raisins, candied nuts, candied orange peels, and gentle spices. The palate is a mix of toffee candy, tropical fruits, brown sugar, dark chocolate, fresh leather, and oak. A warming, lingering finish ends with a mix of maple candy and pecans.

Buy at High West Distillery

Westland is one of those distilleries that releases nothing but noteworthy whiskeys. One of its best and most highly sought-after expressions is Westland Garryana. The most recent batch is the seventh iteration of this popular single malt. Matured in Garryana oak, Washington wine barrels, and ex-bourbon barrels, it’s finished in casks that once held Washington State Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon wines for 43 months. This memorable whiskey begins with a nose of wintry spices, orchard fruits, vanilla, ripe berries, and oaky wood. The palate is a swirl of flavors, including candied apples, treacle, dried fruits, and charred oak.

Buy at Westland Distillery