Scotch and US distillers unite for single malt

A “Scottish style” single malt whisky has been created in the US using 18^th century methods as part of a collaboration between leading distillers from Scotland and America.

The latest whiskies created at George Washington’s Distillery will be sold at a charity auction

Said to be the first of its kind, the whisky has been produced at George Washington’s reconstructed distillery, which is based at the first president of the United States’ Mount Vernon plantation.

It is made from 100% Scottish barley, both peated and unpeated, which was shipped to the distillery’s reconstructed, water-powered gristmill.

Ten gallons of whisky was produced using a single distillation and barrelled as Distillers’ Reserve. A second batch of 10 gallons was distilled twice and barrelled as Limited Edition whisky.

All liquid has been aged at Mount Vernon for three years in used Bourbon casks re-coopered in Speyside. In the final months of maturation, the liquid was moved to barrels that previously held Madeira wine.

The project first began in 2012 when trade bodies the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (Discus) and the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) partnered leading Scotch and American whiskey distillers.

Dr. Bill Lumsden, director of distilling for The Glenmorangie Company; Andy Cant, distillery manager for Cardhu Single Malt Distillery; John Campbell, distillery manager for Laphroaig Distillery; and Mount Vernon distillers David Pickerell and Steve Bashore joined forces to create the whiskies.

“This single malt project draws a straight line in history from Scotland to America,” said Peter Cressy, outgoing president of Discus.

“Reconstructing George Washington’s Distillery was a seminal event in the history of the American distilling industry. It highlights our Founding Father’s entrepreneurial spirit along with the rich heritage of our spirits industry in the United States.”

The distillers recently retuned to Mount Vernon to preview George Washington Distillers’ Reserve and George Washington Limited Edition. The first bottles from the casks of each variety will be auctioned at Discus’s 14^th annual Spirits of Mount Vernon gala, while all remaining bottles will also be sold for charitable causes.

“Scotland and the USA have a proud, shared distilling heritage, which is so clearly demonstrated by the Scottish influence at George Washington’s Mount Vernon distillery,” said David Frost, chief executive of the SWA.

“We’re delighted to celebrate that connection, with three great Scotch whisky makers collaborating to create a unique single malt that will raise funds for a range of charitable and educational purposes.”