When it comes to drinking great whiskey, you’ll have a lot of options. However, you’ll want to learn about the different American Craft Whiskey types before making a final decision. The good news is that this article will guide you through the various types and help you determine which will best suit your tastes.

Single Malt Whisky

American single malt whisky is a relatively new category of whiskey that’s growing at a fast pace. It offers a variety of flavor profiles, from sweet and fruity to salty and smokey. Unlike Scotch, primarily made from Scottish malted barley, the malted barley used in American single malts comes from many locations.

The distilleries that produce American single malts are free to experiment with different mash bills, water sources, and barrels. They also have the freedom to express their local terroir and creativity. Some distilleries, for instance, are highlighting locally grown grains.

As the best American craft whiskey producers have established more, more distilleries focus on American single malts to stand out. One of these is Balcones Lineage in Waco, Texas. Another is Copperworks, a Seattle-based distillery.

The distilleries that produce American Single Malt Whisky have been working on getting the category recognized. They’re hoping an official categorization will increase consumer appreciation for the flavor profile.

Many distilleries are releasing American Single Malts with flavors beyond traditional bourbon. Increasingly, they’re using malted barley from the United States and local peat to create a unique taste.

In the past, defining American Single Malt was not a legal requirement. However, in October 2017, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Straight bourbon is a whiskey aged in oak barrels for a minimum of two years. It is bottled at no higher than 80% ABV.

Bourbon has been a signature liquor in the United States for centuries. Today, ninety-five percent of the world’s bourbon is made in Kentucky. Over a million visitors visit many distilleries in the region each year.

A creamy, caramel-like palate characterizes the best bourbon. Whiskies from Missouri are also produced, as are some whiskies from other parts of the country.

To qualify for “straight bourbon,” a whiskey must be distilled at no more than 80% ABV and aged in new charred oak barrels. The distiller must then label the whiskey with an age statement.

The mash bill must be at least 51% corn to produce bourbon. Wheat is commonly used as the secondary grain in a bourbon mash. Corn has a higher sugar content and yields more alcohol.

While a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley is required for straight rye, it can be augmented with other grains. Rye is a strong and assertive grain. However, it is more challenging to work with.

Blended whiskey was first produced in the early 19th century. The early blends were mainly unflavored, but later they were flavored with various ingredients. Most blends were marketed to stretch the supply of straight whiskey. During World War II, sales of blended whiskey had a significant boost.

Tennessee Whiskey

Tennessee whiskey is a type of American whisky. It is distilled in Tennessee and then aged for two years before being bottled.

While it is a relatively new brand, it has found a niche in the liquor market. The drink can be consumed as a straight shot or a cocktail. Most people enjoy a ‘Jack and Coke,’ a picture of Tennessee whiskey poured into a highball glass filled with Coca-Cola.

“Tennessee Whiskey” was written by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove, who met at a Nashville cafe called Bluebird. In 1981, they recorded the song, and it hit the country music charts.

The whiskey industry is currently cashing in on Chris Stapleton’s performance. He sang the song during the CMA Awards in November, and his rendition helped the state of Tennessee’s whiskey industry grow.

Many country stars, including George Jones, have covered the song. It peaked at number two on the Hot Country Songs chart.

The narrator in the song praises the smoothness of Tennessee whiskey. This relates to the narrator’s search for love. During the song, he realizes that love can give him everything he wants.

The song’s title is derived from the narrator’s statement that the lover he’s talking about is as smooth as a bottle of Tennessee whiskey.

Distilled From a Fermented Cereal Grain

The present invention relates to a unique process for producing ethyl alcohol from a fermented cereal grain. It addresses several disadvantages of traditional distilling operations.

To produce ethyl alcohol from cereal grain, first, the grain must be adequately prepared. This requires a significant amount of energy and time. Properly wetting the grain with water is a crucial step, reducing the presence of enzymatic activity.

After wetting the grain, the grain is heated to 50 degC and allowed to remain at this temperature for 30 minutes. Then the mash is mixed with a liquefying preparation termed Termamyl SC at 3.5 L of water for every 1 kg of raw material.

This enzyme hydrolyzes starch in the mash to fermentable sugars. Once the mash is cooled, the ethyl alcohol is extracted from the fermented solution by fractional distillation.

Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation are used to reduce the cost and energy consumption. Fermentation occurs with active yeast and may be complete in two or three days. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation minimize bacterial contamination and the loss of ethanol yields.

Several bowls of cereal were selected for making Baijiu. These grains ranged in starch content from 505.0 +- 13.6 g kg-1 wheat malt to (+542.7 +- 15.5) g kg-1 rye malt. Several samples of sorghum with different levels of tannin were also used.