Whiskey is an integral part of the American Spirit Experience. American Whiskey is usually a “mash” made of corn, rye, wheat, and barley aged in oak barrels. Legacy brands like Jim Beam, Brown-Forman, Jack Daniel, Woodford Reserve, George Dickel, have paved the way for American Whiskey to make a mark around the world. While big players continue to dominate the Whiskey industry in the United States, independent blenders and distilleries push the status quo and refine the legacy of Whiskey. Adventure, history, stories, experimentation, and reinvention run rife in the story of Whiskey in America. Here are nine players that are currently moving and shaking the world of American Whiskey:

Uncle Nearest

Uncle Nearest 1820 Premium Single Barrel Whiskey won the prestigious 'Spirit Of The Year' at the 2021 Bartender Spirits Awards. Image Source: The Three Drinkers

When one thinks of Tennessee Whiskey, one thinks of Jack Daniels. History obliterates the name of Nathan "Nearest" Green, an enslaved man who taught Daniel the craft and science of distilling. He was the head distiller for Daniel’s Distillery post the Civil War but was recognized as the first black master distiller on record only in 2016. Uncle Nearest is therefore all the more important to the legacy of Whiskey in the United States. It is the first black-owned Whiskey brand to be named after and features a Black man on its bottle. Uncle Nearest is one of the fastest-growing Whiskey brands in America and is built ground up by Uncle Nearest’s descendants. Three whiskies feature under the Most-Awarded American Whiskey Or Bourbon Of 2019 And 2020 Uncle Nearest label currently: 1820 Single Barrel Edition, 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey, and 1884 Small Batch.

Balcones

Core Range of The Balcones Whiskies. Image Source: Forbes

Balcones is an award-winning distillery in Waco, Texas. Selling the first legally made Texas whiskey post Prohibition, Balcones is enthused about flavors and experimentation as excited as it is about keeping the complete process local. Since 2008, they have been busy reinventing American single malt whiskey by tinkering with its maturity and finishing using new and refill casks. Balcones uses the Texas weather to their advantage to create rich, fruity, woody, flavorful and colorful whiskeys. Balcones has won awards at New York World Wine & Spirits, Whiskies of the World Awards, The Wizards of Whiskey, Icons of Whiskey award, and many more competitions and trade shows. Texas Single Malt, Lineage Texas Single Malt, and the Baby Blue Blue Corn Whiskey are some of the iconic and celebrated spirits made at Balcones. 

10th Street Distillery

10th Street Distilleries Whiskies - set on the table of their tasting room. Image Source: 10th Street Distillery

Based in San Jose, 10th Street Distillery is helmed by two engineers who are head over heels in love with their whiskies. They brew a Silicon Valley spirit that is winning awards and hearts due to its fidelity to single malt as well as its flavorful departures. In 2017, 10th Street Distillery finally came into being after experimenting with a spirit for five years to perfect it, fusing peated malt barley from Scotland with alkaline heavy San Jose water. 10th Street Distillery’s Peated Single Malt has won a Double Gold at NY World Spirits 2019 and a Best in Class Gold at Whiskies of the World 2018. Their STR Single Malt has won two Double Golds at SF World Spirits 2020 and NY Intl World Spirits 2020 respectively. Distiller’s Cut, California Coast, and Wine Cask single malt are their other noted spirits.

Westward Whiskey

Westward American Single Malt: Northwest Collection. Image Source: Westward Whiskey

Portland’s Westward Whiskey is produced by House Spirits Distillery. In 2019, they released their first Tempranillo cask-finished whiskey which took the trade by storm. Neatly combining the legacy of wine and whiskey, Westward is an ode to the spirit of spirits. Collaborations lie at the crux of Westward’s reimagination of American Single Malt and follow through the brewing, distillation, maturation, and mingling of the celebrated drinks. Their long slow whiskey-making process leads to their award-winning flagship offerings. Westward American Single Malt Whiskey and Westward American Single Malt Pinot Noir Cask have both won Gold at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition. Westward American Single Malt Stout Cask and Westward American Single Malt Cask Strength have won a Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition.

Ironroot Republic

The lineup of Ironroot Republic Distillery Whiskies. Image Source: 10 Best Website

The Ironroot Republic is a family-owned distillery operated by the Mother of Texas Whiskey Marcia Likarish and sons Robert and Jonathan. In 2011, the Likarish family took a leap of faith into distilling. By 2014, Ironroot had become a celebrated name in Texas. Their distillery works closely with local farmers and farmlands to give back to the community. Traditional French Brandy techniques meet heirloom and local corn produce to create their iconic corn whiskey. Ironroot Republic’s Hubris Corn Whiskey was awarded World's Best Corn Whiskey in 2017 and 2019. The flagship Harbinger Bourbon won the World's Best Bourbon at the 2020 World Whiskies Awards. The Ironroot Republic also won the coveted Icons of Whiskey Craft Producer of the year award in 2021.

Sazerac Company (Fireball)

Fireball Cinnamon Whisky. Image Source: Intoxicology.com

Founded in 1850, the Sazerac Company is headquartered in Louisiana. Over the last 400 years, the Sazerac Company has transitioned from its identity as a Cognac-region cocktail brand to a legacy organization that is home to some of the world’s iconic spirits. One such spirit is one of the highest-selling whiskeys in the United States - Fireball! A formula originally developed by Seagrams in the mid-1980s, Sazerac Company bought all rights and formula in 1989. Rechristened as Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey in 2007, the sales graph of this whiskey has only gone upward. According to Neilsen Top Ten 2014, ​​it became one of the top ten most popular liquors of the year with sales crossing $61 million. Fireball Whiskey is believed to taste like heaven and burn like hell and has won accolades at the 2010 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Gold), International Wine & Spirits Competition (Bronze) amongst many.

Buffalo Trace Distillery

 Kentucky's finest - Buffalo Trace Distillery's Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Image Source: Frootbat

Buffalo Trace is a celebrated distillery honoring tradition and embracing change. For the last 200 years, their focus has been on creating iconic and fine bourbon whiskey. Based in Kentucky, Buffalo Trace Distillery has been owned by the Sazerac Company since 1992. They also claim to be the oldest continuously-operating distillery in the United States producing more than 2,650,000 US gallons of whiskey per year. The most celebrated whiskey from the Buffalo Trace Distillery is its signature namesake Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Distilled, aged, and bottled in Kentucky, it blends corn, rye, and barley malt to age to perfection in new oak barrels. Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon has brought awards to the distillery as much to its own name. They took home 20 awards at the 2021 North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition, 25 medals at the 2021 San Francisco Spirits Competition, the Best distillery at 2020 San Francisco Spirits Competition, Gold at 2020 American Whiskey Masters, amongst many.

Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery

Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery's Whiskies line-up. Image Source: Forbes

Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery has had only one goal - Make Fine Whiskey. Believing in the power of word of mouth, they went on to win commendations Chicago Beverage Testing Institute in the early 90s which resulted in many awards and finally a merger with the Sazerac Buffalo Trace merger. Their flagship whiskey Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve continues to win awards to date. One of the finest bourbons in the world, it has been increasingly difficult to acquire due to its limited production but high demand. Distilled and bottled by the Sazerac Company, this bourbon is a cult favorite of critics and chefs around the world. It won a Double Gold Medal at the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, "Spirit of the Year" for 2010 by Wine & Spirits magazine, Trophy for Worldwide Whisky" and a Best-In-Class Gold Medallion in the 2008 International Wine and Spirit Competition. It was rated 99 by the Beverage Testing Institute in 1996 as well as 2008.

Legent by Beam Suntory

Legent - Bourbon that redefines Bourbon. Image Source: Bartenders Business

Beam Suntory brings together over 225 years of bourbon-making heritage and nearly 100 years of Japanese whisky artistry to make a home for several iconic spirits. Legent is one such icon. It is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon and an iconic collaboration between two distinct whisky-making cultures. This legendary whiskey is blended by Fred Noe, Jim Beam's seventh-generation Master Distiller, and Shinji Fukuyo, Suntory's fifth-ever Chief Blender. Partially finished in wine and sherry casks, it takes Noe’s family recipe to be matured for at least four years in virgin white oak barrels and then blended by Fukuyo to create layers of experiences. What astonishes Bourbon lovers around the world is how quickly this collaboration has won the hearts of critics and enthusiasts alike. It entered the markets only in 2019 and Legent Kentucky Straight Bourbon went on to win a Silver at the 2020 and 2021 Bartender Spirits Award, a Gold at the 2021 London Spirits Competition, and a Master medal in the Bourbon at the 2020 American Whiskey Masters. 

Article by - Prithvi Nagpal: Editor & Sommelier, Beverage Trade Network