For decades, American whiskey has been synonymous with bourbon and rye. But there’s a new contender on the shelf—one that’s finally stepping into the spotlight with a legal definition of its own: American single malt whiskey. Defined by using 100% malted barley, distilled at one U.S. distillery, and aged in oak, this category has been quietly developing for nearly two decades. Now, brands across the country are showing the range and potential of single malt made on American soil.
Here are five of my personal favorite bottles that not only taste remarkable but also tell the story of how American single malt is carving out its place in the whiskey world.
Stranahan’s Original (Denver, Colorado)
The Backstory: Stranahan’s is widely regarded as the pioneer of the American single malt category. Founded in 2004, the distillery’s origin story is pure Colorado grit: volunteer firefighter Jess Graber met brewery owner George Stranahan after putting out a fire on Stranahan’s property. A friendship formed, and soon they were swapping ideas about distilling whiskey from craft beer mash. The result was Stranahan’s, one of the first distilleries in the U.S. to put “American single malt” on the map. Today, Stranahan’s continues to lead the charge, producing whiskey at altitude with Rocky Mountain water and Colorado barley.
Tasting Notes: Stranahan’s Original is approachable but distinctive, with layers of caramel, toffee, roasted grain, and a touch of campfire smoke. There’s a malty sweetness up front, followed by hints of dried fruit and oak spice.
Westland American Oak (Seattle, Washington)
The Backstory: Founded in 2010, Westland Distillery made an audacious claim: the Pacific Northwest could produce world-class single malt whiskey. To prove it, they built their production around Washington-grown barley, new American oak casks, and peat sourced from a bog on the Olympic Peninsula. Their focus on local ingredients and regional terroir has made them one of the leading voices in American single malt, and Westland has gained international recognition for treating whiskey more like wine—deeply tied to a sense of place.
Tasting Notes: Westland American Oak is a rich, chocolatey malt that leans into flavors of roasted coffee, red berries, and baking spices. The texture is full and velvety, with a cocoa-like backbone that makes it instantly comforting.
Cedar Ridge American Single Malt (Swisher, Iowa)
The Backstory: Cedar Ridge, founded in 2005 by Jeff Quint, has the distinction of being Iowa’s first licensed distillery since Prohibition. While they’re best known in the Midwest for their bourbon (and for supplying barrels to local breweries for whiskey-aged stouts), their American Single Malt has quietly become one of the most acclaimed in the country. Drawing on Iowa’s long barley- and grain-growing tradition, Cedar Ridge uses locally grown malted barley and ages the whiskey in both new and used oak barrels, letting the state’s variable climate accelerate maturation. Their location, just outside Cedar Rapids, is about as unassuming as whiskey country gets—but the spirit in the bottle tells a different story.
Tasting Notes: Cedar Ridge American Single Malt leans into toasted malt and orchard fruit, with notes of baked apple, vanilla cream, and a touch of cocoa. A subtle nuttiness comes through on the mid-palate, while the finish is long and gently spiced, with a whisper of smoke. It’s approachable yet layered—a whiskey that surprises you in the same way Iowa surprises first-time visitors (like me, recently) who expect endless cornfields and discover rolling hills, vineyards, and a serious craft spirits scene.
Balcones Texas “1” (Waco, Texas)
The Backstory: Stranahan’s was first American Single Malt distillery, but Balcones was the distillery that proved American single malt could win awards and command global attention. Founded in 2008 by Chip Tate in a former welding shop under a bridge in Waco, Balcones quickly developed a reputation for bold, boundary-pushing whiskey. Their Texas “1” Single Malt helped kick off the American single malt movement by showing how regional climates could transform maturation—Texas heat accelerates barrel interaction, creating a whiskey that feels much older than its years.
Tasting Notes: Expect a big, bold flavor profile. Texas “1” delivers roasted pecans, honey, ripe tropical fruit, and toasty oak, all wrapped in an oily, almost chewy texture. The heat of the Lone Star State is baked into every sip, making it an American single malt with more swagger than subtlety.
Santa Fe Spirits Colkegan (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
The Backstory: Santa Fe Spirits, founded in 2010 by Colin Keegan, embraced the landscape of the American Southwest by making a single malt with a smoky twist. Instead of drying malted barley with peat, as is tradition in Scotland, they use mesquite—a wood deeply tied to the region’s culture and cuisine. The result is Colkegan, a whiskey that couldn’t have come from anywhere else. It reflects not just innovation but also a distinctly American approach to single malt: reimagining Old World traditions through a New World lens.
Tasting Notes: Colkegan opens with soft mesquite smoke—sweet and aromatic rather than heavy or medicinal—layered over vanilla, caramel, and dried fruit. The smoke builds but never overwhelms, adding an earthy, savory note that feels equal parts barbecue pit and desert bonfire.
Virginia Distillery Co. Courage & Conviction (Lovingston, Virginia)
The Backstory: Virginia Distillery Company was founded by Dr. George Moore, an Irish native who believed the U.S. could produce world-class single malt. After his passing in 2013, his family carried on his vision, launching Courage & Conviction in 2020 as their flagship release. The whiskey’s name nods to Moore’s belief in pursuing big ideas boldly, and the distillery has built a reputation for cask experimentation, blending bourbon, sherry, and cuvée casks to craft a distinctly Virginian style of single malt.
Tasting Notes: Courage & Conviction is elegant and balanced, with orange peel, milk chocolate, roasted almonds, and gentle baking spice. It’s creamier and more polished than many other American single malts, offering a refined sipping experience that still feels accessible.
American single malt is no longer a curiosity. It’s a category with a legal definition, a growing consumer base, and distilleries in nearly every corner of the country pushing boundaries. From Colorado’s mountain malts to New Mexico’s mesquite smoke, these five bottles show the category’s diversity—and why bourbon may finally have a rival for America’s whiskey identity.