To coincide with the much-awaited ratification of the American Single Malt Whiskey category by the U.S. Alcohol and Tax Trade Bureau (TTB), Arnold, California-based Hinterhaus Distilling is releasing its fourth batch of American Single Malt—Discovery Series—on Jan. 18.
“We’re proud to be a part of the American Single Malt landscape and put a decidedly northern California twist on this traditional whiskey style,” says Bonnie Boglioli-Randall, co-founder and co-owner of Hinterhaus Distilling.
The TTB regulations officially go into effect on Jan. 19. The ratification is the result of many years of successful work by single malt producers in America in conjunction with the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission.
“Though its roots may be in Scotland, single malt has the unique ability to reflect the region from which the grain is grown and the whiskey is distilled and aged,” says Boglioli-Randall. “We shine a spotlight on our Sierra Nevada landscape with each batch we produce.”
Since its inception in 2020, Hinterhaus has been distilling single malt whiskey with larger volumes maturing at the time of this press release. “American Single Malt is a cornerstone to our ethos as distillers,” says Nate Randall, co-founder and head distiller at Hinterhaus. “Our commitment to sourcing sustainably-grown California barley and partnering with nearby floor maltster, Admiral Maltings (in Alameda), for a majority of our malted barley reflects this principle,” says Randall.
Hinterhaus selects differing malt bills for each batch of the Discovery Series ASM to offer a range of single malt styles as the distillery sets its eyes on a future flagship malt bill.
Batch 4 features a malt bill comprised of 88% Gallagher’s Best and 12% Pacific Victor from Admiral. Hinterhaus open-air fermented the wash before distilling it and maturing it in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-wheat whiskey barrels from Speyside Cooperage (Ohio) and Kelvin Cooperage (Kentucky), respectively.
With the TTB’s ratification of the American Single Malt category, consumers will now be assured that the single malt spirit in their bottle meets a variety of standards including: made from 100% malted barley; distilled entirely at one distillery; mashed, distilled and matured in the U.S.; matured in oak casks not exceeding 700 litres; distilled to no more than 160 proof; and bottled at no less than 80 proof.