Top 5 American Single Malt Whiskeys 2023

[@csblack72780]

We just tried Westland for the first time at Multnomah Whiskey Library this weekend and loved it! Specifically we had the Garryana from 2019 and it was outstanding!

[@chrisdunning5481]

My favorite is Westward American Single Malt Cask strength for PDX. I am in Nor Cal and have lots on family in Bend and Sisters. Love Deschutes Brewery. Love your channel as well.

[@nc4629a]

Another great list with lots of interesting bottles! American Single Malt is really exciting. And so is Bull Run. I love everything I've had from them. My favorite American Single Malt this year is an East Coaster, Courage and Conviction Cuvee Single Cask. Fantastic stuff.

[@TheBourbonVan]

Thanks for the recommendation, we’ll look into it!

[@arthurjenkins3668]

Haven't tried a lot of American single malts, but my favorite is Colkegan. Love the cask strength at 118 proof, the 94 proof aged in apple Brandy barrels, and the mesquite smoked. The smoke in these are great, but I do love islay scotch, so they fit my palate perfectly. Great review thanks, happy 2024

[@mikemelichar9362]

Big fan of Stranahans… Did a distillery tour last summer and bought a barrel pick cask strength and DAMN it was so good! Deep flavors and nice proof! Can’t wait till Westward shows up in Kansas

[@gadfly544]

Enjoy all your reviews. Nice to hear about different whiskeys. The ones in your recent videos are all way out of my price range though. Will keep watching for entertainment value. You two are great.

[@TheBourbonVan]

The Int'l and American Single Malts definitely tend to be priced a little higher. Our Rye and Bourbon lists later this week will have considerably lower average prices.

[@bakerdrinks]

I love the list. We definitely agree. Turns out i need to get that del bac and wanderback because I love the rest. Old Line is an east coast single malt that I'm sure you would love!

[@TheBourbonVan]

Old Line is one we've heard mentioned a few times. Definitely on our radar now.

[@karmaminusone3622]

Happy New Years! Agree with Stranahans anejo cask! I also like the mountain angel 10yr from them as well.

[@melissarivers8479]

I have got to add some American Single Malts to my collection in 2024! Thanks for the insight. Happy New Year!🥃

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Sadly only had Diamon Back and Westland, and neither of those specific releases. I need to hunt down a few more of these. Thank you for sharing these and that Wanderback sounds amazing!! Cheers and Happy New Years!

[@TheBourbonVan]

Happy New Year!

[@jimreichel1466]

Really nice list. I have not had any of the single malts on your list, I have had a few American Single Malts in 2023. My favorites are Westward core range single malt, Stranahan's Sherry Cask Single Malt and Andalusia Stryker Single Malt, a Texas single malt with the barley smoked vwith mesquite, so good. Keep up the good work.

[@TheDramDiaries]

Really interested in the Bull Run products. They sound really good. We just purchased some Westward Pinot Noir finish Cask Strength, and it is absolutely fantastic! Will definitely be in our list of top single malts this year.

[@danielturner8798]

Great list! I’ll suggest trying Copper Fox in Virginia when you get a chance.

[@TheWhiskeyLoft]

I 2nd, 3rd and 4th this! Very interesting and delicious single malt. There are a handful of states that they can't ship to and they're just starting to get into other states stores but it's definitely not "unobtainium." The Williamsburg distillery is a must to tour for those that find themselves in the area.

[@christinecamley]

I love Westland! Fabulous whiskey! Great list!

[@davevogelsang6791]

Happy New Year! Currently not into single malts, but love hearing about them. 🥃

[@debbybrady1246]

I’m excited about trying these.

[@spencemiller5836]

I hate single malt but love you guys...so will thumbs up and comment to help the algorithm...

[@WhiskeyFan]

Westward American Single Malt finished in Deschutes Stout barrels for Year. It was a Binny's store pick and it's fantastic!

[@JonBlankman]

I will always love my bourbons and ryes but I have really grown to appreciate American Single Malt whiskies in the last couple of years. I have found two Stranahan's Single Barrel Cask Strengths that are fantastic. They both have cost less than $46! Try finding many top notch bourbons for less than that. Thanks for the great review!

[@JonBlankman]

Also, I was glad to pick Phil's winner in the recent Advent Tournament but that was the ONLY thing I got right! We won't talk about how badly Julie made me look. 😅

[@TheBourbonVan]

She’s good at that!

[@davidg5308]

Aye, the Del Bac is delicious! Love Stranahans - picked up a red wine cask finish at the distillery that is so yummy! All good pours and agree that the American Single Malt is an amazing category of goodies! Speaking of mesquite - have you had the Colkegan from Santa Fe NM yet? Another great southwest mesquite ASM wonder and they have a new Bonded - gets the ABV up a bit. Cheers!

[@TheBourbonVan]

We haven't had the Colkegan yet, but we are eager to check it out when we're down there in a month or so. The Bonded seems like the right idea, for sure.

[@devinmatteson]

My favorite ASM is still Westward’s Cask Strength. But I did just pick up a store pick of New Holland’s Zeppelin Bend that was aged for 12 years @133 proof. So much cherry on it. Funny thing is, I felt like I got more malty notes from their honey finished bourbon, but so far I’m a big fan of everything that they’re putting out.

[@repetern]

American single malt whiskeys are difficult to find. Thanks for the video. I am in northern Indiana. Lots of whiskey is made in the southern part of the state. Yet, single malt is hard to find.

[@jameserdmann2468]

I’d recommend New Riff Sour Mash Singe Malt. It’s a lovely bottle. Definitely want to try more American Single Malts this year.

[@jackthepickledhound]

Bis fan of single malt. I'm glad to see some good reviews coming out. From the older bottles ive collected I can safely say the the future looks bright. I like higher proof, agrd in something other than new charred oak.

[@bethelittiss]

I really like the St. George Baller single malt. It is the most unique and delicious example of an American/Japanese take on a Scottish beverage. It is filtered through Maplewood using the Lincoln county process to get that hint of smoke, and it really does deliver.

[@TheBourbonVan]

Plenty of Baller talk I’m the comments. Looks like we have a bottle to target.

[@jonathanhackett9180]

A couple of decent east coast single malts: RUA out of Great Wagon Road Distilling Co. Res Natura LLC out of Newark NJ has a very good All Ponts West Malt and Grain Pot Still Whiskey. Post Modern Spirits out of Knoxville TN has a good Straight Malt at 90p and just released it's first single barrel, barrel proof that is quite good. Manatawny Still Works out of Pennsylvania has a four grain select that is 78malt, 9wheat, 2rye, 2 roasted barley and good plus some good limited releases one being their peated single malt sherry cask finish. Also Silk City Distillery out of Clifton NJ has a good single malt and better limited editions. Just some local-ish malt based whiskeys I've come across that have been solid.

[@TheBourbonVan]

Thanks for the recommendations!

[@umami0247]

Still haven’t gotten into the American single malt game yet. And most of these on your list don’t comes to Ohio. Was looking at stranahans or the Beam clermont steep. I do like some scotch not peated though. These bottles aren’t inexpensive not crazy but I don’t want to spend money on something I’m not sure about. Hope you have a wonderful New Year. Enjoy!!

[@spiritsofthedistilledkind3633]

Check out Virginia Distillery their Courage and Conviction American Single Malt, they have a good variety to pick from, I currently enjoy their double cask the most right now.

[@TheBourbonVan]

We just tried a whiskey from that distillery a couple weeks ago. They do good work! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5Ktk4aKbr1redk

[@DavidBurkett-x5d]

Sipping on westward single malt whiskey cask strength right now!

[@TheBourbonVan]

Nice start to the new year!

[@LeonScheppink]

Bonus points for the squatch print.

[@CrispyTaters]

Do you guys have a video on Westward? Curious to know if you like them.

[@TheBourbonVan]

We haven't gotten to try their whiskey yet. On our list, but haven't made it a priority.

[@MildTurkey77]

Nice video! Do you know the mashbill of the Driftless Glen?

[@TheBourbonVan]

75% Rye, 25% Malted Barley.

[@MildTurkey77]

Thank you!

[@bigdave2952]

So far my favorite single malt is Westward cask strength

[@aarongossage5064]

Wish I could find that Westland bottle. Their standard single malt is the only one I've seen around me.

[@RJR2222]

Phil are there any single malts you recommend that don’t have a coffee note? I would love to try some. Happy New Year’s

[@TheBourbonVan]

Stranahan's standard offering, Whiskey Del Bac Classic, and McCarthy's (peated).

[@andrettski8686]

@@TheBourbonVan I was hunting last week and saw a Stranahan's Original and I remember you two liked it. I got distracted grabbing some bottles and walked out completely forgetting the Stranahan's. 😬😢

[@tommyrq180]

Stranahans must have a unique head distiller because they make products that are different but I always like them. When you go “different” it’s always high risk, but they seem to have a very high hit-miss ratio. 😊

[@TheBourbonVan]

Well said.

[@paulkukiel3725]

The only American Single Malt I’ve tried is a 3-year-old McCarthy’s, bottled in 2018 (Batch W18-01). Wanted to like it, but I find it astringent and generally meh. Given that the pickings are slim here, I’ll stick to Scotland for my single malts, while keeping an eye out for bourbons/ryes from down south of the border. Happy New Year, to you both!! 🖖🏼🥳

[@jackthepickledhound]

Highly recommend trying some new ASM. I have a McCarthy's from 2015. Absolutely not a Scotch. I find that domestics need some big proof. I don't know what your bottle is but my McCarthy's is 42.5%. WTF!

[@Robert.Sheard]

I keep confusing Westland with Westward. Love them both but one of them needs to change names. 😂

[@TheBourbonVan]

It helps that we have to drive past Westward to get to Westland. Makes it easier to remember who's who.

[@Robert.Sheard]

@@TheBourbonVan The Westward CS I got recently is wonderful. Need to find some CS offerings from Westland. I think the American Oak is all I have so far. And the Stranahan's CS is right up there among my favorites.

[@007JRP1]

I am increasingly enjoying American single malts. You asked for east coast malts. I have been enjoying Old Line single malts…both the Navy strength and cask strength. These are very bourbon-like with a noticeable malt element. And did I mention that Old Line is owned by a couple of Navy veterans. Just sayin….

[@Longenecker1776]

My favorite is Balcones but Westland is also very good.

[@whiskeyjohnston]

Balcones FTW!!!

[@tommysimpsonandtheloadeddice]

What's your favorite Balcones product? I'm headed to the distillery soon.

[@TheBourbonVan]

Their American Single Malt Whisky is great. 106 proof and tons of flavor. So satisfying.