One of the things I like to keep in mind about the topic of laws and product categories and identities is: Imagine the cheapest, corners cut until it's a circle product that can be made while still technically meeting the legal criteria of that category. That product WILL exist and be ubiquitous in your market and will probably be the thing the majority of people will first experience and associate with your product.
As a former Texas resident and current CO resident, shouts out to Balcones Lineage and "1", as well as Stranahan's and Talnua. Everything those two touch has been gold in my experience, but the Stranahan's Sherry Cask, in particular, is a favorite.
Balcones single barrel single malt is an absolutely amazing whiskey. Price is high enough to feel special without breaking the bank and the flavor packs a monster punch.
Virginia Distillery Company makes the best American Single Malt that you can buy today. The VDC line of cask finished ASM in port and cider and the amazing one finished in COFFEE are each different from each other and fantastic. Then you have the premium Courage & Conviction line which is matured in various casks for an oily and creamy texture along with those great finishes. I am so happy that you brought Amanda Beckwith in for this discussion. Now I have someone to thank for one of my absolute favorite brands of whiskey.
I disagree that Virginia Distillery Co makes the BEST american single malts, but I consider them very good. I own a fino and px sherry single barrel cask strength pick from them that are good, but not world beating, especially at the 120+ price tag they were asking.
St George is so good. I missed my chance to visit in 2019 before I was really into whiskey. I went to the brewery next door instead. I went back post-pandemic, well into my whiskey enthusiasm and unfortunately they were not reopened in the tasting room. I hope I can still get there someday
I had the pleasure of visiting Virginia Distillery in September and will definitely go back. It was an amazing, intimate tour and tasting. That team has it dialed in.
I am really looking forward to this! I love that they won't be strangled with some of the dumb rules (IMHO) that bourbon has. Also as a craft beer lover, I am really looking forward to whiskeys made with roasted malts. One of my favorite whiskeys was ASW's Ameireaganach no. 1 Huddled mashes.
I’ve enjoyed many American Single Malts. Different than Whiskies from Scotland, but damn good in a different way. As some who makes EV cars said, “We need the government off our backs and out of our wallets.” Let the Whisky makers experiment and let US reap the rewards.
I've had multiple American Single Malts. I hate some, and love others. I even have different opinions based on different releases (under the same name) from the same distilleries. My experience is based on small distilleries in NY, and available products in my liquor store. I sample 3 different takes in the category from 3 different craft distilleries. One seems to be taking the process seriously, and creating a consistent product. The others seem to to be focused on putting out a passable product. I visited and toured one of the latter this summer, and he actually told me that I was his 1st customer that understood how to taste spirits. I am a semi-newb, but I understand that some people will drink actual rat piss if it's called "craft" rat piss.
Would love to see you guys check out Copper Fox Distillery in Williamsburg, one of the only distilleries left using an active grain floor to dry the grain, very cool stuff
As a Canadian mb, I'm gonna go ahead and give you permission to crib from Canada's notes when prescribing American single malt: Flexibility is better. Mashbill that's 100% a singular malted grain, wooden barrels (not oak specifically) and staves/spirals are allowed, any reasonable minimum age (say, 3-6 months, not Canada's 3 years), 40% floor, either no artificial colouring or the label must disclose if artificial colouring is used, finishing barrels are allowed (and disclosed). Pick max still proof and barrel entry proof and the other small details using bourbon/American whiskey as a baseline, and you're most of the way there. Distillers that want to be more strict and 'pure' to the Scottish definitions can do so, everyone else can do their thing.
When the California guy visits Austin, how about a guest distiller makes a run of something? Episode and bottle sale potential. If you can alliance bottle, you can alliance distill.
I'd like to see an ASM that's more distillate forward akin to scotch. Most of what I've seen is in new charred barrels, but I think that tends to overpower the distillate.
I got a fix for all this. Everything you do should be on a label or website. I love rum, but you never ever know wtf you drinking. Added sugar, fake age statements. So yea, make it a law to be 100% transparent, and i wouldn't care what it's called.
I think what the American Single Malt Commission is doing is cool, but also stupid. They are attempting to confine a category to a grain rather than a process. I have a 100% malted rye whiskey, calling it a Single Malt would be 100% accurate right now as there is no definition. There are also 100% malted corn bourbons, calling them single malt would be accurate. If we are wanting to drive "innovation" we should not confine ourselves to just an American version of Scotch. If you confine the category to Barley malt only, then no, it is not reasonable to expect anything different at all except yielding flavors based on terroire and not "innovation" because there isn't true innovation being done.
One of the things I like to keep in mind about the topic of laws and product categories and identities is: Imagine the cheapest, corners cut until it's a circle product that can be made while still technically meeting the legal criteria of that category. That product WILL exist and be ubiquitous in your market and will probably be the thing the majority of people will first experience and associate with your product.
As a former Texas resident and current CO resident, shouts out to Balcones Lineage and "1", as well as Stranahan's and Talnua. Everything those two touch has been gold in my experience, but the Stranahan's Sherry Cask, in particular, is a favorite.
Stranahans distillery is awesome!
I'll look into the other 2, but the move out of Houston has been easier as it has been a move to Waco with Balcones right nearby.
Balcones single barrel single malt is an absolutely amazing whiskey. Price is high enough to feel special without breaking the bank and the flavor packs a monster punch.
Virginia Distillery Company makes the best American Single Malt that you can buy today. The VDC line of cask finished ASM in port and cider and the amazing one finished in COFFEE are each different from each other and fantastic. Then you have the premium Courage & Conviction line which is matured in various casks for an oily and creamy texture along with those great finishes. I am so happy that you brought Amanda Beckwith in for this discussion. Now I have someone to thank for one of my absolute favorite brands of whiskey.
You should try their gingerbread stout finished
I disagree that Virginia Distillery Co makes the BEST american single malts, but I consider them very good. I own a fino and px sherry single barrel cask strength pick from them that are good, but not world beating, especially at the 120+ price tag they were asking.
St George is so good. I missed my chance to visit in 2019 before I was really into whiskey. I went to the brewery next door instead. I went back post-pandemic, well into my whiskey enthusiasm and unfortunately they were not reopened in the tasting room. I hope I can still get there someday
I had the pleasure of visiting Virginia Distillery in September and will definitely go back. It was an amazing, intimate tour and tasting. That team has it dialed in.
It was nice of you guys to have Brianna’s mom on finally 😂
4:52 “The accountants work for us…” is the greatest hot take of the year!!
I am really looking forward to this! I love that they won't be strangled with some of the dumb rules (IMHO) that bourbon has. Also as a craft beer lover, I am really looking forward to whiskeys made with roasted malts. One of my favorite whiskeys was ASW's Ameireaganach no. 1 Huddled mashes.
I’ve enjoyed many American Single Malts. Different than Whiskies from Scotland, but damn good in a different way. As some who makes EV cars said, “We need the government off our backs and out of our wallets.” Let the Whisky makers experiment and let US reap the rewards.
I'm soooo excited, ASMR whisk(e)y
I've had multiple American Single Malts. I hate some, and love others. I even have different opinions based on different releases (under the same name) from the same distilleries. My experience is based on small distilleries in NY, and available products in my liquor store. I sample 3 different takes in the category from 3 different craft distilleries. One seems to be taking the process seriously, and creating a consistent product. The others seem to to be focused on putting out a passable product. I visited and toured one of the latter this summer, and he actually told me that I was his 1st customer that understood how to taste spirits. I am a semi-newb, but I understand that some people will drink actual rat piss if it's called "craft" rat piss.
Sons of Liberty Battle Cry not only got me into whiskey, but to ASM as well. They're doing incredible things in Rhode Island.
Would love to see you guys check out Copper Fox Distillery in Williamsburg, one of the only distilleries left using an active grain floor to dry the grain, very cool stuff
ORTHRUS bottle ordered! Thank you for this amazing video!
As a Canadian mb, I'm gonna go ahead and give you permission to crib from Canada's notes when prescribing American single malt: Flexibility is better. Mashbill that's 100% a singular malted grain, wooden barrels (not oak specifically) and staves/spirals are allowed, any reasonable minimum age (say, 3-6 months, not Canada's 3 years), 40% floor, either no artificial colouring or the label must disclose if artificial colouring is used, finishing barrels are allowed (and disclosed). Pick max still proof and barrel entry proof and the other small details using bourbon/American whiskey as a baseline, and you're most of the way there. Distillers that want to be more strict and 'pure' to the Scottish definitions can do so, everyone else can do their thing.
You missed your chance to call yourself a Magnificent Canadian Bastard..... 😂
Nice shirt! Haha
I will probably try to order both of these whiskeys
When the California guy visits Austin, how about a guest distiller makes a run of something? Episode and bottle sale potential. If you can alliance bottle, you can alliance distill.
Distilling Foie Gras? I wanna taste...
After he mentioned Bourdain, his voice started sounding just like his
theres a joke about alaska splitting and becoming 2 states to make texas the 3rd largest state, idk why i thought of that watching this video
I have access to American BLENDED malt. How bout them apples?
I'd like to see an ASM that's more distillate forward akin to scotch. Most of what I've seen is in new charred barrels, but I think that tends to overpower the distillate.
Try the St George single malt. Very distillate forward, especially on those brewer’s malts
Make some Single pot like they do in Ireland
oh no the dip is here
So what is Andalusian Stryker?
Got a fever. The only cure is more Banana.😂🎉
Will there be an American Single Malt Rye?
And will I be able to enjoy ASMR after my wife goes to bed?
New Riff has a malted rye
Make American whiskey great again😂
Wow I thought the bottle said a different R word…
I got a fix for all this. Everything you do should be on a label or website.
I love rum, but you never ever know wtf you drinking. Added sugar, fake age statements.
So yea, make it a law to be 100% transparent, and i wouldn't care what it's called.
Why did you say would do episodes with daniel and I have yet to see one 🧐
Purely to spite specifically you.
🎉🎉🎉
19👍
you know there are strains called cat piss and dog shit
I think what the American Single Malt Commission is doing is cool, but also stupid. They are attempting to confine a category to a grain rather than a process. I have a 100% malted rye whiskey, calling it a Single Malt would be 100% accurate right now as there is no definition. There are also 100% malted corn bourbons, calling them single malt would be accurate. If we are wanting to drive "innovation" we should not confine ourselves to just an American version of Scotch. If you confine the category to Barley malt only, then no, it is not reasonable to expect anything different at all except yielding flavors based on terroire and not "innovation" because there isn't true innovation being done.
Were Merica. We do what we want. GFY. 😂🎉
Listen again. The distiller is a U.S. NAVY NUCLEAR engineer. That's why we do what we want. So no, you GFY, respectfully.
These channels are all the same