USA: American single malts gain official recognition

American single malt whiskies have been recognised as an official category by US governing body the Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB). Although American-made single malts have existed unofficially for the past few years, the new regulations, which come into effect from 19 January 2025, will officially codify and regulate the category. Going forward, for an American whiskey to be called a single malt, that whiskey must meet the following criteria: “This is a landmark ruling by TTB and validation for years’ worth of work by American distillers to define American single malt,” says Steve Hawley, president of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission, a trade group formed in 2016. “It has been over 52 years since a new type of whiskey was added our federal regulations,” continues Hawley. “We applaud TTB for formalising the category, which will signal to the world that not only do we believe in and support our own distilleries, but we also recognise that American single malt ...