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American Single Malt and Craft Whiskey
As of late 2026: American single malt is a federal type since January 2025, while the count of active U.S. craft distillers has fallen.
In one sip
As of late 2026, American whiskey has a new legal category and a harder market. American single malt became a federal type of whiskey in January 2025, giving small distillers a name with rules behind it. At the same time, the count of active craft distillers is down sharply and craft volume fell, so the new category arrives in a crowded, cost-conscious market.
Where it started
TTB added the American Single Malt standard to the federal regulations on 18 December 2024, effective 19 January 2025.1 The American Single Malt Whiskey Commission called it the first new type of whiskey added to the regulations in over 52 years.1 The full production rules are on the category page. american-single-malt →
Where and how it's made
The craft count
The American Craft Spirits Association counted 2,282 active U.S. craft distillers as of August 2025, a 25.6 percent decrease from the prior count; ACSA notes that an updated research method removed many listings, so not all of that drop is closures.2 DISCUS counts about 2,300 distilleries of all sizes in the U.S.3
Craft sales
U.S. craft spirits sold 12.7 million 9-liter cases in 2024, down 6.1 percent, worth $7.58 billion, down 3.3 percent.2 Craft's share of total U.S. spirits was 4.5 percent by volume and 7.5 percent by value.2 Total investment by craft producers declined for the first time, to $811 million in 2024.2
Where craft sells
Sales at the distillery itself made up 25.7 percent of craft spirits sales in 2024.2 The business is concentrated: under 2 percent of craft producers make over 54 percent of craft cases, while 90 percent are small and make under 11 percent.2 ACSA defines craft as no more than 750,000 proof gallons removed from bond a year.2
The grain behind it
U.S. distillers used 2.73 billion pounds of grain in 2024, up from 1.41 billion in 2014, though down 5 percent from 2023.3
How to taste it
Pour American single malt in a tulip glass, neat, then add a few drops of water. Expect malt and bread notes, with wood character that can run from light fruit to heavy char depending on the cask. Taste it next to a Scotch single malt to find the difference. Pairings: smoked salmon, aged gouda, apple tart.
Styles and what the label means
- American single malt — malted barley only, one U.S. distillery, the 2025 federal type. american-single-malt →
- Craft — ACSA's size test, not a federal label term.2
- Straight — a federal term with a minimum time in oak. bourbon →
- Bottled-in-Bond — one distillery, one season, aged in a bonded warehouse. bottled-in-bond →
- Rye whiskey — another American whiskey type with its own federal rules. rye-whiskey →
Words to know
Tap a term to get asked about it in The Tasting Room.
Start here — craft pours to try
Real bottles from craft makers on Tipxy.
Sources
- American Single Malt Whiskey Commission — home accessed 2026-10-12
- American Craft Spirits Association — Craft Spirits Data Project 2025 (Oct 2025) accessed 2026-10-12
- DISCUS — Annual Economic Briefing presentation (Feb 5, 2026) accessed 2026-10-12
Photo: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons