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‘Immediate action’ urged for American single malt ruling
By Rupert HohwielerMore than 1,000 letters have been sent to the Treasury department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) to finalise an official standard for American single malt.

The TTB first proposed a definition for American single malt in July 2022.
The provisional guidelines were that products must be made from 100% malted barley, come from one distillery, be matured in oak barrels not exceeding 700 litres, have no use of colouring and blending materials, be distilled to no more than 80% ABV and bottled at 40% ABV or higher.
The Distilled Spirits Council of the US (Discus) and the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission (ASMWC) submitted a comment in support of the category’s establishment in September 2022, however two years later, no decision has been made and the submission is still under review.
Urging ‘immediate action’, a joint letter was issued to the TTB a month ago, on 29 July, from a coalition of more than 100 whiskey producers, which called for the category’s official recognition to be finalised.
Since then, more than 1,000 letters have been sent to TTB’s administrator Mary Ryan.
ASMWC president Steve Hawley said: “It’s time for TTB to finish the job they started more than two years ago when they formally proposed a definition for American single malt whiskey.
“When we first petitioned for the standard back in 2016, TTB made it clear that we needed to demonstrate widespread industry support in order to act on the request. This latest campaign is yet another example of the passionate call for action that the industry has been voicing now for years.”
Adding to Hawley’s statement, Chris Swonger, president and CEO of Discus, said the message to prioritise the ruling has been “very loud and direct”.
“It’s clear that having an official standard for American single malt is an issue that is important to distillers, large and small.”
The coalition’s letter to TTB said: “In the two years since the bureau issued its notice, the need for a formal standard has grown ever-more urgent. From the largest multinational spirits companies to the smallest regional craft distilleries, a significant amount of investment has been poured into American single malt whiskey. This highlights the desirability of the category but also brings into stark focus the risks posed by the lack of a standard.”
Earlier this year, SB spoke to various American single malt producers about what is holding the process up and when recognition might happen.
In September, Discus is hosting activations in London and Manchester to showcase American whiskey in the UK.
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