BALTIMORE, Md. (Dec. 16, 2024) - The TTB has announced ratification of a formal definition for American Single Malt Whiskey will take place Wednesday, Dec. 18, after years of lobbying by distilleries and the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission. The new rule takes effect Jan. 19, 2025.

In response to the announcement, Old Line Spirits released the following statement:

“An official category designation gives the ASMW category an added element of legitimacy,” said co-founder Mark McLaughlin. “This definition allows us, as producers, to do two distinct things: protect the integrity of the category but also leave room for innovation and a broad range of flavor profiles. One sacrosanct element of the category is that American Single Malt needs to be made with 100% malted barley only — having this codified by the TTB allows us to set a clear boundary as to what is and what is not an American Single Malt. However, the definition allows ASM producers more latitude on certain elements of production compared to our peers in Scotland or American bourbon makers, which provides flexibility for the category to explore a wide range of flavor profiles. We are hopeful this will bring more attention to the ASM category and clear up misconceptions about what it means to be an American Single Malt and what type of flavor profile to expect. And we hope the on-premise sector will continue to embrace ASM and leverage bartenders’ palates and expertise to encourage more consumers to try the product. American Single Malt tends to be very versatile and performs beautifully in cocktails as well as neat or on the rocks.”

Media FAQ
The following responses may be attributed to Old Line Spirits co-founder Mark McLaughlin.

How has Old Line Spirits been involved in the ratification process?
“Old Line is a member of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission. As a member we’ve been active in discussions around category definition with our industry peers. We also promote the category, as proposed and soon to be ratified, in our marketing to help consumers understand what it means to be an ASM.”

Why is having a set definition for ASMW important?
“An official category designation gives the ASM category an added element of legitimacy. If we want to be taken seriously along with single malt producers from Scotland, Ireland, Japan, etc. we need to have a well-defined and official place in the American marketplace.

“Additionally, having the category defined in a way that we, as producers, feel is appropriate allows us to do two distinct things: protect the integrity of the category while also leaving room for innovation and a broad range of flavor profiles. One element of the proposed category definition is sacrosanct: American Single Malt needs to me made with 100% malted barley only. Having this codified by the TTB allows us to set a clear boundary as to what is and what is not an American Single Malt. However, the proposed American Single Malt definition allows ASM producers more latitude on certain elements of production than do our peers in Scotland and our peers making bourbon here in America. An ASM can be distilled on pot stills and/or column stills and can be matured in virgin oak barrels or used barrels for any amount of time that producers feel is appropriate. This flexibility is key to allowing our fledgling category to explore a wide range of flavor profiles.”

Will this change what you do at Old Line?
“The impending ASM category definition will not change anything about the way that Old Line produces our whiskeys. We are already producing in compliance with the proposed rules.”

ASMW is still not a well-known category — how do you think this will help?
“We are hopeful that this moment will bring a lot more attention to the ASM category. There are many fantastic ASMs on the market and with the added attention that we are now getting we are seeing more and more consumers exploring the category. There is still a misconception among many people about what it means to be an ASM and what flavor profiles to expect. We are confident that as more and more people try them, they will begin to really appreciate the depth and breadth of what these whiskeys can offer.”

Where do you see the most opportunity for growth in the sector?
“At this point, we need the on-premise sector to embrace the ASM category more. We find a lot of bartenders who LOVE what it is the bottle but comment that consumers aren’t asking for ASM very much. To me, we are in a moment in which bartenders can leverage their palate, experience and knowledge to share with their customers something new and exciting.”

What else should people know about ASMW?
“The biggest thing that we want people to know about ASM is that it is a category with an incredibly wide range of flavor profiles and they tend to be VERY versatile. For example, you don’t see many cocktails that incorporate Scotch – it is usually a standalone offering – but ASMs perform beautifully in cocktails as well as neat/on the rocks. We highly encourage people to try ASM in classic bourbon and rye cocktails to showcase how wonderfully different these tried-and-true drinks can be with an ASM as the base spirit.”

About Old Line Spirits:
Some stories are better told over whiskey — like the story behind Old Line Spirits. Mark McLaughlin and Arch Watkins met in the Navy flying EA-6B Prowlers, ended up stationed in the same reserve squadron in Baltimore, and embarked on civilian careers after retiring from the Navy. But when you’ve spent decades flying off aircraft carriers and being stationed all over the world, a desk job isn’t enough. The solution? Whiskey. American Single Malt, to be exact. In 2015, they connected with the owners of Golden Distillery, two Vietnam vets looking to pass the torch. Their tutelage and equipment was the start of Old Line Spirits. McLaughlin and Watkins opened Old Line Spirits in 2017 with plenty of distillery space, a courtyard bar and The Ready Room, Maryland’s first full beer, wine and spirits cocktail bar in a distillery. They produce American Single Malt whiskeys and aged Caribbean rums. Old Line Spirits products are currently available in Maryland; Washington, D.C.; Delaware; Massachusetts; New Jersey; New York and Colorado. Online ordering and delivery to states where permitted. For more information, visit oldlinespirits.com and check out Facebook and Instagram.