A whiskey produced in Colorado has been awarded the title of best American single malt whiskey for 2024 at the Top Shelf awards. Stranahan’s Original was recognized as Best in Class in this category by The Tasting Alliance, a prominent competition that concludes the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, which honors the finest spirits across multiple categories.

The American single malt whiskey category has become increasingly competitive in recent years, driven by a growing popularity over the past decade. As a movement inspired by American craft brewing and traditional Scotch whiskey, distillers have started crafting “Single Malt American whiskey.” In 2016, the American Single Malt Commission was formed to establish a formal definition for this whiskey type and advocate for its recognition by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). Although the TTB proposed a definition for American Single Malt in 2022, it has yet to be officially adopted. A letter-writing campaign earlier this year garnered over 1,000 letters to the TTB urging for the finalization of a standard for American single malt.

The proposed definition stipulates that American single malt must be made entirely from malted barley, produced at a single distillery, aged in oak barrels, and free from colorings or blending agents. Additionally, it must be distilled to a maximum of 80% ABV and bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV.

Stranahan’s distillery, a founding member of the American Single Malt Commission, has been instrumental in establishing these guidelines. Founded in 2004 by Jess Grabeer and George Stranahan, it is the first distillery to operate in Colorado since Prohibition. Despite being relatively young, Stranahan’s has emerged as a leader in the American single malt whiskey market.

Stranahan’s Original, the distillery’s flagship product, is made using locally sourced grains and aged for a minimum of four years in new American oak barrels. The whiskey is proofed with spring water from the Rocky Mountains and artfully combines liquids from barrels aged 4, 5, 6, and 7 years. It is non-chill filtered and bottled at an alcohol content of 47% ABV. Tasting notes describe it as possessing a clean flavor profile with oak and spice notes, echoing characteristics of both bourbon and Scotch, but distinctively unique.

For more details on the American Single Malt Commission and its ongoing initiatives, visit American Single Malt Commission.