Good Morning! I hope your holidays are going well! If you celebrate Christmas or Hannukah or any holiday or just celebrating, I hope you had a glass or two of some good spirits. My holiday week has been pretty great, got to dress my son in a bow and take tons of photos of him, and just getting to spend some time getting used to being a dad. Which has been crazy to say the least.

Speaking of good spirits, this week I posted his video doing an indepth review of one of my favorite tequila brands, El Tesoro! And it even included a little look at the private event we did with them a few weeks back.

But speaking of private events, we are planning to do another one in January for the last week of January. Still finalizing the details but as soon as we do, you lovely folks who subscribe to In Good Spirits will be the first to know!

Anyway! On to this week's newsletter.

American Single Malt Whiskey: Officially Defined, But Is It Confined?

The whiskey world is abuzz! After years of anticipation, American single malt whiskey has finally earned its place in the sun with an official definition from the TTB. This means it now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with its esteemed brethren – bourbon and rye – with clear guidelines protecting its identity and ensuring quality.

But like any good whiskey tale, there's a twist. While many distillers are raising a glass to toast this milestone, others are sharpening their pitchforks. Let's break it down.

What Makes American Single Malt, Well, American Single Malt?

The TTB, after much deliberation and lobbying from the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission (ASMWC), has decreed that American single malt whiskey must meet these criteria:

• Made in the USA: From grain to bottle, the entire process must happen within the United States.

• Barley Only: The mash bill must be 100% malted barley.

• One and Done: All the whiskey must be produced at a single distillery.

• Barrel Aged: Aging must take place in oak barrels no larger than 700 liters.

• Proof Positive: Distilled to no more than 160 proof and bottled at no less than 80 proof.

• Straight Talk: If it's labeled "straight," it needs a minimum of two years in the barrel.

• Color Coding: Caramel coloring is allowed, but it must be declared on the label.

Cheers and Jeers: The Industry Reacts

For many distilleries, this is a dream come true. The ASMWC, along with producers like Virginia Distillery Company and Westland Distillery, see this as a crucial step in legitimizing the category and boosting its global recognition. They envision a future where American single malt stands tall alongside the world's finest whiskeys.

However, not everyone is joining the party. Brother Justus, a craft distillery in Minnesota, has voiced strong opposition to the 160-proof distillation limit. They argue that this restriction stifles innovation and prevents American single malt from reaching its full flavor potential. They're so adamant about it that they're even exploring legal options!

The Future of American Single Malt: A Whiskey Rebellion Brewing?

This new chapter in American whiskey history is full of exciting possibilities, but also potential pitfalls. Will these new rules help American single malt flourish on the world stage? Will the dissenting voices spark a "whiskey rebellion" and force a re-evaluation of the standards?

One thing's for sure: the coming years will be fascinating to watch. As consumers, we have a front-row seat to witness the evolution of this dynamic category. So grab a glass (of American single malt, of course!), and let's see what the future holds.

Want to delve deeper into this whiskey drama?

Check out the original articles that fueled this piece:

• [Link to InsideHook article]

• [Link to Robb Report article]

A look back on #DrinkTok in 2024.

2024 has been an interesting year for cocktail and spirits content and recently Punch posted this article giving a pretty decent recap of the events of 2024 (who am I? Complementing Punch in multiple newsletters this month? What's going on lol)

Some of the standouts from their article were how it seemed like not even cocktail content could escape the trends of “mainstream” TikTok with “Brat” and Wicked themed cocktails all across our feeds.

They talked about some other interesting trends as well but what truly caught my eye was of course them talking about the Drink of 2024, The Batanga! That to me was one of the best things to happen this year and I was so happy to play my part in it 😁.

Long story short some friends and I decided to make a cocktail go viral, and viral it went. So much so even Martha Stewart was posting a out it.

I was going to use this as an opportunity to look back on all of our favorite stories we've written about here on In Good Spirit's, but I think I'll save that for next week.

Best Videos We Saw Recently

driftersjoint

View more on Instagram

This espresso Horchata Cocktail my dude Josh (@DriftersJoint) posted recently was mouth watering. Horchata is already delightful and then he went and turned it up a notch.

This is a perfect end of year, holiday cocktail.