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American Single Malt Tier List (25 Bottles Ranked)

ByBarrel Hunters

American single malt whiskey is exploding right now — new distilleries, creative barrel programs, regional styles, and a lot of strong opinions. So we decided to put the category to the test.

In our latest Barrel Hunters video, we ranked 25 American single malts from S Tier to F Tier…and it turned into our most divisive tier list yet. Some bottles shocked us. Some sparked legit debate. And a few landed way higher (or lower) than either of us expected.

👉 Watch the full video here to see the complete rankings and hear the arguments.

Why American Single Malt Deserves More Attention

American single malt gives distillers far more creative freedom than traditional bourbon or rye. You’ll see experimentation with:

  • Different barley varieties and malt styles
  • Unique fermentation approaches
  • Creative barrel finishes and aging programs
  • Regional climate influence

That flexibility creates a category that ranges from smoky and Scotch-inspired to rich, dessert-driven, and downright experimental.

What We Ranked

We tasted and scored 25 American single malt whiskies from across the U.S. Each bottle was scored independently, averaged, and placed into our official Barrel Hunters tier system.

Some of the brands featured include:

  • Stranahan’s
  • Westland
  • Balcones
  • High West
  • McCarthy’s
  • Bear Fight
  • Corsair
  • Cedar Ridge
  • Virginia Distilling Co.
  • And more

And yes…we didn’t always agree.

The Big Takeaway

There’s no single “best” American single malt for everyone. Palate preference matters — smoke tolerance, sweetness, oak influence, price sensitivity, and texture all play a role in where a bottle lands.

That’s exactly what made this ranking so fun — and so controversial.

If you want to see where each bottle landed and which rankings sparked the biggest debates, make sure to watch the full video.

👉 Watch the full American Single Malt Tier List here.

Want More Whiskey Rankings?

If you enjoy whiskey tier lists, blind tastings, bottle recommendations, and travel guides:

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