Top American Single Malt Whiskeys

Based in Tennessee, Corsair is constantly experimenting with alternative techniques and flavor profiles, but with well thought out approaches. In this case, they use three individually smoked malts as follows: cherrywood from Wisconsin, Beechwood from Germany, and peat from Scotland. Aged in 15 and 30 gallon new American oak barrels for an unspecified amount of time.

Clermont Steep is an American Single Malt Whiskey developed by 8th generation Master Distiller Freddie Noe. He used American barley in its creation along with the Beam family jug yeast in for the fermentation process — the same yeast used in all Beam products. It was column distilled and aged for 5 years in toasted then charred barrels (char level 1) in Clermont, Kentucky. Clermont Steep is a permanent addition to the Beam portfolio and is available in select US states and via ReserveBar beginning June 2023. (SRP $59.99)

Virginia Distillery Co. Courage & Conviction Cuvée Cask is made from 100% malted barley and aged a minimum of three years. The barrels used in the maturation process are specialty European red wine STR casks-- casks that have been shaved, toasted, and recharred. The first batch for this release is expected to arrive in spring 2021 and is dedicated to one of the distillery's key mentors Nancy Fraley. It is bottled at 46% ABV with natural color and without chill-filtration.

Town Branch Malt Whiskey is a Kentucky straight whiskey made with 100% malted barley by Lexington Brewing & Distilling. It was aged for a minimum of 7 years in first-fill used bourbon barrels and was bottled without chill filtration at 87 proof.

Whiskey Del Bac Dorado is the flagship whiskey of family-run Hamilton Distillers in Tucson, Arizona. It is made from malted barley which is smoked using native mesquite wood, rather than peat. It's distilled twice in a 500-gallon copper pot-still and aged in American white oak barrels.

This bottling from Jack Daniel's is the first permanent American single malt expression from the brand. It was crafted with a 100% malted barley mash bill recipe. After distillation, the spirit goes through charcoal mellowing (the same method that is used for its Tennessee whiskey) before aging for 5+ years in new, charred American oak. It is then finished in oloroso sherry casks from Spain for ~ 3 years. Bottled at 90 proof, this release is a global travel retail exclusive. Availability begins September 2023. (SRP $99.99 - 1 Liter)

Hillrock Estate is one of the pioneering field to bottle distilleries to produce whiskey in Hudson Valley, NY since Prohibition. This whisky was made under the meticulous care of Master Distiller Dave Pickerell, formerly of Maker's Mark. It is made from barley grown in the fields at the estate, and malted in house, ensuring every aspect of this whisky is monitored on premise. They even custom-built a 250-gallon copper pot still for the job!

Westward Pinot Noir Cask Finish combines two things the northwest of the country is known for: single malt whiskey and pinot noir wine. The American single malt is fully matured before undergoing a 19-month finishing process using French oak casks. The casks held pinot noir from Suzor Wines, a noted producer in the Willamette Valley. The whiskey is bottled at 45% ABV.

This is the new flagship expression for Westland which launched in spring 2021. It is made with six types of malted barley: Washington Select Pale Malt, Munich Malt, Extra Special Malt, Pale Chocolate Malt, Brown Malt, and Bairds Heavily Peated Malt. The whiskey was matured for a minimum of 40 months. The casks used in its maturation were Cooper's Reserve new and used American oak, first-fill bourbon, and first & second-fill oloroso sherry hogsheads and butts.

The QuintEssential Signature Blend is an American single malt whiskey from Iowa's Cedar Ridge Distillery. The whiskey is named for founder and master distiller Jeff Quint, who showcases a blend of 100% peated malt aged for four to five years in bourbon barrels, as well as unpeated malt initially aged for between two and three years in bourbon barrels. Then the whiskey is finished for an extra one to two years in an assortment of barrels including rum, brandy, port, sherry, and wine. The marrying process is then conducted via a solera system. Batch No. 001 was released in June 2020.

Balcones Texas 1 Single Malt is made with 100% Golden Promise malted barley. After a long fermentation, it's pot distilled and aged in Texas in new oak barrels with a variety of custom toast and char profiles. Aged a minimum of four years, it's non chill-filtered and bottled at 53% ABV.

Released November 2017, this is Sherry Cask bottling is the fourth whiskey released from Stranahan's following their standard American Single Malt, Diamond Peak, and Snowflake expressions. It consists of 100% malted barley aged for four years in new, charred American oak. The American single malt whiskey finishes its maturation in 500 liter oloroso sherry barrels. Bottled at 47% ABV. Note: Updated packaging as of November 2021.