America: Land of the free, home of the brave and creator of some outstanding whiskies. Discover its wide variety of star-spangled drams below.
Single Malt
If you mainly associate America with bourbon, you might be surprised to learn that the US also produces some outstanding single malts. Distillers across the United States are creating beautiful spirits that reflect their own unique part of the country, and these single malts can hold their own with any from across the globe.
Bourbon
Bourbon is America's flagship whiskey style: farmers had started to make it with their excess corn prior to independence, and the style evolved along with the fledgling country. Bourbon is made with at least 51% corn and aged in new charred oak casks for at least two years.
Rye
This style of whiskey must be made with at least 51% rye in the mashbill, and aged for at least two years. The rye grains bring a distinctive spicy, peppery quality that connoisseurs find irresistible, and which adds a hefty dose of flavour to cocktails like the Sazerac.
Sour Mash
You’ll see this term on a lot of whiskey bottles - Jack Daniel’s included - but it doesn’t mean that the spirit inside is sour. A mash is the mix of ground-up grains and water that is fermented as part of the whiskey-making process, and a Sour Mash is one where some of the previous mash is added to regulate the acidity of the new batch, thereby ensuring a more consistent fermentation.
Old & Rare
From premium releases such as the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection to whiskey bottled in decades long past, these drams are often regarded as the stars in any serious American whiskey collection. They’re few and far between, so it’s worth checking back regularly if you’re after something special.
Independent Bottlers
Independent bottlers love American whiskey just as much as we do. You’ll often find that these bottlings offer great value, not to mention a window into a distillery or whiskey style that is harder to find in the UK. Many are single cask bottlings offered at cask strength.
Jack Daniel's
One of the world’s most famous brands and creator of Old No.7, America’s biggest-selling whiskey, Jack Daniel’s has risen to great heights since it was founded 150 years ago. The company makes Tennessee Whiskey - like bourbon, but with stricter and more complex production rules - and has a wide variety of special editions for collectors to explore.
