In this article, we are going to discuss the 20 best American single malt whiskeys in 2024. If you’re also a fan of fine wines, we’ve got you covered! Here is our list of the Best Wine Brands in the World.
Bourbon has long held the title of America’s national spirit, but the American single malt is now the fastest-growing whiskey category in the United States. Although distillers in the country have been producing single malt for only three decades, the category has already achieved a significant milestone – an imminent legal definition, furnished by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.
An American single malt must be made from 100% malted barley; distilled entirely at one U.S. distillery; mashed, distilled, and aged in the United States; distilled to 160 proof (80% ABV) or less; matured in oak barrels that hold no more than 700 liters; and finally bottled at 80 proof (40% ABV) or more.
Global Whiskey Market:
Whiskey is one of the Most Consumed Alcohols in the World, with the global whiskey market valued at $64 billion in 2022 and expected to reach $91.3 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period.
The consumption of alcohol is shifting away from beer and wine and millennials are more likely to experiment with other alcoholic beverages, resulting in the growth of a ‘cocktail culture’. As a result of this tendency, the use of whiskey as a premium ingredient has increased. Product innovations such as flavored whiskeys and organic and sustainable options are also some of the major factors propelling the market.
Record Year for American Spirits:
The U.S. spirits exports reached a record-high of $2.2 billion in 2023, up 8% compared to the previous year, according to an American Spirits Export Report released by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. American whiskey exports also increased by 9% over 2022 to reach a record $1.4 billion.
Exports are continuing to rebuild after plummeting from the devastating retaliatory tariffs on American spirits imposed by the E.U. and the U.K. These tariffs were suspended two years ago and as a result, American whiskey exports to the E.U. surged by more than 60%, climbing from $439 million in 2021 to $705 million in 2023. However, the European Union announced in December 2023 that it would continue the suspension of tariffs on American whiskeys in the steel and aluminum dispute for 15 months, until March 31st 2025. If no agreement is reached by then, the E.U. will reimpose its tariff on American whiskeys at 50%, up from the previously imposed 25%.
Recent Entry of an Industry Giant:
Given the rapidly spreading popularity of the American single malt, a key alcohol industry player from the country has also decided to step up to ensure it doesn’t miss out on the opportunity. In 2022, The Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B)-owned Jack Daniel’s also added the first American single malt to its ever-growing lineup of Tennessee whiskey, proof of just how far this still lesser-known category has come. And last October, Jack just announced another version of it.
The initial single malt was called Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Twice Barreled Special Release American Single Malt – as the name indicates, it was a single barrel expression released in limited quantities as part of the Jack Daniel’s Special Release Collection. This new Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt joins the permanent lineup, despite it only being available at airports.
According to Brown-Forman, a bottle of Jack Daniel’s Single Malt is priced at $100 for a 1-liter bottle, and while there are currently no plans to release it in domestic markets, that could change in the future.
Shares of Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) were held by 30 hedge funds at the end of Q1 2024, putting it on our list of the Best Alcohol Stocks to Buy Now. BF-B reported mixed Q4 (ending 30th of April 2024) results as its earnings per share rose 31% YoY to 56 cents and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 42 cents. However, the company’s revenue of $964 million was around 7.8% less than the same quarter last year and missed the consensus estimate of $1.03 billion. This didn’t sit well with investors and the Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) saw its share price fall by around 6% on June 5th. A major factor contributing to the decrease in revenue is a 10% drop in the sales of Jack Daniel’s in 2024, while the overall liquor portfolio was also down by 8%. The company is facing challenges mostly due to a subdued, inflation-driven consumer demand and hence also increasingly cautious retailers and distributors. But this is not something that is unique to BF-B.
However, there was positive news from emerging markets, as net sales there grew 5% on a reported basis and 8% on an organic basis, led by solid growth of New Mix in Mexico and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple in Brazil. Moreover, the travel retail channel also delivered an 8% growth in net sales on a reported basis and 6% on an organic basis. The company is also benefiting from the rising spirits RTD trend, as sales of New Mix improved 32% on a reported basis and 17% on an organic basis, driven by an increase in prices. Notably, Brown-Forman’s gross margin has improved by 150 points on an annualized basis compared to fiscal year 2023, highlighting the strength of its increasingly premiumized portfolio.
With that said, here are the Best American Single Malt Whiskeys to Buy Now.
Pixabay/Public Domain
Methodology:
To collect data for this article, we have referred to sources such as Forbes, Men’s Journal, Reddit etc., looking for the Top American Single Malt Whiskeys in the Market. To make sure we give you only the best, we picked whiskeys that appeared multiple times in the aforementioned sources, assigned them a score of 1 each time they were recommended on these websites, and then summed up the scores and ranked our list accordingly. When two or more whiskeys had the same score, we ranked them by the number of upvotes they received on Reddit.
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20. St. George Baller
Insider Monkey Score: 2
Japanese-inspired but fully American-made, this 3-year-old Californian single malt whiskey is matured in a combination of ex-Bourbon casks and French oak ex-wine casks before being finished in house-made ex-umeshu casks. With its layers of flavor, Baller is perfect for sipping neat.
19. Westward Whiskey Pinot Noir Cask
Insider Monkey Score: 2
A tribute to Oregon’s famous Willamette Valley wine region, this vibrant expression is another fine example of Westward’s distilling and finishing prowess. It begins with the Westward Whiskey Original, which is then matured for up to an additional two years in French Oak wine casks producing a spirit that is quite approachable thanks to a soft blend of grape, plum, and pear that’s nicely accented with oak, leather, and roasted malt.
18. Stranahan’s Snowflake Pyramid Peak
Insider Monkey Score: 2
The most highly anticipated release of the year from Stranahan’s, the Snowflake is a unique blend featuring a base of the Denver-based distillery’s single malt with a variety of age ranges and a nearly infinite potential combination of cask finishes. Released in December 2023, Batch #26, aka Pyramid Peak, is finished in a cask that previously held mezcal.
Founded in 2004, this pioneer of American single malt was acquired by Proximo Spirits in 2010. Unsurprisingly, Stranahan’s was also included in our list of the Highest Quality Whiskey Brands in the US.
17. Brother Justus Cold-Peated American Single Malt
Insider Monkey Score: 2
Ranked as the 4th-most innovative spirit in the world in 2023 by The Spirits Business, this incredible expression by Brother Justus is the first ever cold-peated whiskey in the world. Instead of burning peat like traditional whiskeys, the distillery has invented the Aitkin County Process® to capture the pure essence of Minnesota’s ancient peat.
The highly acclaimed spirit also bagged third place in the Best American Single Malt Whiskey category in the 2023 International Whisky Competition, among many other honors.
16. FEW Single Malt
Insider Monkey Score: 3
An excellent single malt whiskey from the Illinois-based FEW Spirits, this expression is produced from 100% malted barley smoked with cherry wood instead of peat. Only about 500-600 bottles of this whiskey are released every year, so be sure to get yours before they’re all gone.
15. Root Shoot American Single Malt
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Bottled-in-Bond at 100 proof, the Root Shoot American Single Malt is distilled from 100% Colorado-grown malted barley and then aged in first-use medium char American White Oak barrels for four years. This hyper-local expression boasts a sustainable supply-chain journey of only about 30 miles from field to bottle.
14. Stranahan’s Mountain Angel 10 Year
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Another annual release from Stranahan’s, this ultra-premium expression pushes the boundaries of American single malt whiskey by producing a flavor profile never before achieved in the category. Due to Denver’s high altitude and the usage of new American charred oak barrels, Mountain Angel had a unique angel’s share loss that enabled the distillery to achieve a 10-year-old single malt with a depth of flavors and aromas comparable to a Scotch whisky more than twice its age.
13. Bear Fight American Single Malt
Insider Monkey Score: 4
One of the Most Awarded American Single Malt Whiskeys in the market, this 100% malted barley expression has been aged in first-fill Bourbon barrels before finishing in used sherry and smoked peat casks, creating the perfect blend of Scotch tradition and American ingenuity.
12. Westward Whiskey Original
Insider Monkey Score: 4
The flagship single malt from Westward, this whiskey is created from two-row malted barley, fermented with craft ale yeast for outstanding flavor, double pot distilled for exceptional character, and matured to perfection in new, heavily toasted, and lightly charred American Oak barrels, before finally being bottled at 45% ABV.
11. Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt
Insider Monkey Score: 4
A new take on timeless single malt traditions, this unique expression is crafted from 100% malted barley and passed through Jack Daniel’s traditional charcoal mellowing process. It is then matured for at least four years in new charred American white oak barrels before being finished for an additional two years in the finest quality Spanish Oloroso Sherry casks.
10. Corsair Triple Smoke
Insider Monkey Score: 4
A good local alternative for peaty Scotch lovers, this deeply complex expression is pot-distilled from malted barley smoked with 3 different fuels – Scottish peat, American cherrywood, and German beechwood. The spirit is then barreled in new charred oak, giving it the sweetness of an American whiskey with the rich smoke of an Islay single malt scotch.
9. Yellowstone American Single Malt
Insider Monkey Score: 5
One of the Best American Single Malt Whiskeys According to Reddit, this rich and complex spirit is aged in new, charred oak barrels for four years and bottled at 108 proof. The expression boasts a nose of cereal malt and honey with a hint of peach blossom; a sweet, medium body with notes of honey, pear, stone fruit, and dates; and a finish that contains notes of oak, with hints of cinnamon and English Walnuts.
8. Westland Garryana 8th Edition
Insider Monkey Score: 5
The Garryana American Single Malt introduces an entirely new species of oak to the world of whiskey, the Pacific Northwest’s native oak, standing as a testament to terroir and perseverance. The 8th edition combines the sturdy and savory spice qualities of Garry Oak with the rich and dark fruit tones from Pedro Ximenez sherry casks and Washington State red wine casks.
7. McCarthy’s 3-Year Oregon Single Malt
Insider Monkey Score: 5
Made from peat-malted barley brought in from Scotland, this award-winning whiskey presents a robust and smoky nose, a taste complemented by hints of dried fruit and plum, and finally a warm finish of honey and delicate peat.
6. Westward Cask Strength
Insider Monkey Score: 6
A single malt that is fruity beyond its years and tastes even better than it smells, the Westward Cask Strength is made from locally malted barley from Oregon and aged in newly charred American Oak barrels. Although bottled at a robust 125-proof, this top-notch American whiskey is remarkably soft and sweet.
5. Cedar Ridge “The QuintEssential” Special Release Portside
Insider Monkey Score: 6
Included among the Top 5 American Single Malt Whiskeys in our list is the Quintessential Portside by the Iowa-based Cedar Ridge distillery. Handcrafted from 100% 2-row pale malted barley, this expression was first aged for 6 years in Cedar Ridge’s own Bourbon barrels and then finished in First Fill Ruby Port, First Fill Amontillado Sherry, and Virgin French Casks, before being married together.
4. Clermont Steep American Single Malt
Insider Monkey Score: 7
Introduced in 2023, Clermont Steep brings Jim Beam’s 228 years of whiskey-making expertise and excellence to the American single malt whiskey category. Mashed from 100% American malted barley, the whiskey reveals hidden notes of toffee, vanilla, caramel, whole grain, and so much more.
3. Balcones “1” Texas Single Malt
Insider Monkey Score: 10
A very special whiskey from the Lone Star State, the Balcones Single Malt is distilled in copper pot stills and then “yard-aged” in ex-Bourbon American oak before bottling. It was introduced in July 2011 and has been picking up awards ever since.
2. Virginia Distillery Co. “Courage & Conviction” Double Cask Reserve
Insider Monkey Score: 12
As the name indicates, this American single malt whisky was individually aged for a minimum of five years in first-fill Bourbon casks and STR European red wine Cuvée casks, before being vatted together for a gradual, gentle marriage.
1. Westland American Single Malt Whiskey
Insider Monkey Score: 13
The flagship offering of the Seattle-based Westland Distillery, the Westland American Single Malt uses a 5-malt recipe to bring depth and flavor inspiration from the brewing industry. The spirit is then aged in new American oak casks for a minimum of 40 months in the cool, damp cellars on the Pacific coast, thus producing (according to the internet) one of the Best Single Malt Whiskeys in the World in 2024.
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