“If the tariff’s got you down, there are whiskeys that will be a little bit more traditionally styled out of American single malt,” he says. “But there are also a lot more innovative ones that will help you discover new things at the same time.”
Here are seven American-made whiskeys that should appeal to fans of single malt Scotch:
American Single Malt Whiskey Buying Guide
Cedar Ridge Single Malt Whiskey (Iowa)
Distilled near Cedar Rapids, it’s reminiscent of a lightly peated Speysider and has a 100% malted barley mash bill. Aged five years, it’s fragrant with apple blossom freshness and just a hint of vanilla, finishing with a wispy, smoky exhale. 40% ABV; $49
Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey (Washington)
Seattle’s Copperworks Distilling turns out plenty of excellent whiskeys and gins, and maybe it’s not a coincidence that the city shares a climate notably similar to that of Scotland. While the releases change year to year—incredibly detailed spec sheets are available for the current release (click on the “production specifications link”) and all past releases—it’s reliably made with 100% malted barley and tends to mix fruity and vanilla tones. Release 022 was aged for a minimum of 29 months in new American oak. 53% ABV; $60
Hillrock Single Malt Whiskey (New York)
This field-to-flask distillery in the Hudson Valley was pioneered by late whiskey maker Dave Pickerell. Using grain grown on the Hillrock Estate, the 100% malted barley whiskey is bold and flavorful, smoked on-site over Scottish peat for deep campfire, toffee, and smoky, leathery tones. It’s aged for approximately six years. 43% ABV; $125
Low Gap 3-Year Blended Whiskey (California)
While this Ukiah distiller in Mendocino County north of San Francisco is best known for its brandies, this mellow blend of malted corn and malted barley (here, “blended” refers to the grains; it’s still a single distillery, single malt whiskey) is aged in pedigreed former Van Winkle barrels as well as new Missouri oak. It’s richer and more butterscotch-y compared with traditional Scotch but retains hints of fresh apple, white flowers, and baking spice. 46% ABV; $75
St. George Baller Single Malt Whiskey (California)
Across the San Francisco Bay in Alameda, St. George also makes a more traditional single malt, and it’s also very good. But the limited-edition Baller version, finished in barrels that previously held umeshu (Japanese plum wine), is so over-the-top delicious that we recommend you get both—if you can—and try them side by side. Master distiller Lance Winters describes Baller as “a California take on the Japanese spin on Scotch whisky.” 47% ABV; $65
Swift Single Malt Texas Whiskey (Texas)
Made in Texas from 100% Scottish malted barley and finished in oloroso sherry barrels, this single malt offers plenty of orchard fruit and vanilla notes, plus a lightly charred fade. Swift also makes a version finished in ex-Sauternes barrels, which layers on mellow honeylike flavor. All the brand’s whiskey is aged two to three years. 43% ABV; $50
Westland Sherry Wood American Single Malt Whiskey (Washington)
For those who love sherry-finished single malt Scotch, this is the next best thing. Made from 100% malted barley, specifically it’s a “five-malt barley bill, which consists of Washington Select Pale Malt, Munich Malt, Extra Special Malt, Pale Chocolate Malt, and Brown Malt,” says the distiller. It’s then aged in ex-sherry casks for at least 36 months, imbuing tempting hints of dried apricot, custardy vanilla, and chamomile. Peated Scotch fans will also want to seek out Westland’s annual Peat Week bottling. 46% ABV; $80
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.