Barrell American Vatted Malt Cask Strength Blended American Single Malt Whiskey 750mL

In 2019, we partnered with small and large producers across the United States to select malt whiskeys that express the full diversity of American terroir and style. The resulting blend was the first to showcase the growing category of American single malt in this way. American Vatted Malt is an homage to the old Scottish category of vatted malt, which was once the preferred nomenclature to describe a blended whisky made entirely from single malts.

We chose the name “American Vatted Malt” as an homage to the old Scottish category of vatted malt, which was once the preferred nomenclature to describe a blended whisky made entirely from single malts. Today, the Scots refer to that style as blended malt, but affection for the term “vatted” lives on.

This blend was a challenging one technically, as it brought together a variety of unique components. We strived to balance the distinctive tang of Southwestern mesquite smoke with the sweet and creamy maltiness of malted barley, and to contrast briny coastal peat with the warm vanilla character of toasted oak. The resulting blend is complex and multi-faceted, rewarding the drinker with unfolding layers of flavor. 

Many of the components in the first blend came from emerging distilleries that had not traded or sold bulk whiskey before. The core group of participants includes:

• Balcones Distillery, Waco, Texas
• Hamilton Distillers Del Bac, Tucson, Arizona
• MGP, Lawrenceburg, Indiana
• Harvest Distillery, Valatie, New York
• Santa Fe Distillery, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Kings County Distillery, Brooklyn, New York

"Enjoyable and layered in complexity, American Vatted Malt is an inspired release that’s full of flavor and unlike any Barrell Craft Spirits has previously released." - Nick Beiter, Breaking Bourbon

"Malt Whiskey that hails from the US isn’t going to be everybody’s cup of tea, but this Barrell release is certainly one to check out.  It has a ton going on for it and has been surprisingly delicious so far.  If you’re an adventurous drinker and ready to try something new, then Barrell’s latest dive off the deep end could be for you." Mike, The Bourbon Culture