Livin’ the American Dram

Whiskey's U.S. history is as old as the country itself. In fact, barrels and bottles were once currency during the Revolutionary War. The United States just might have been founded on booze… and maaaaybe a strong distaste for tyrannical rule and taxes

But since those early heady days, the spirit has taken on new life in America, even spawning its very own variety: bourbon. In fact, bourbon is so prized in the States, there are laws governing how and where it’s made. 

The whiskey train doesn’t just stop at bourbon. Rye whiskey is equally respected—just ask bartenders and mixologists. And the American Single Malt is gaining popularity, blazing a unique trail worldwide.

First up, we've got the Coppersea Excelsior Empire Straight Rye Whisky, a true-blue New Yorker from the Hudson River Valley. This is an Empire Rye, a badge of honor as authentic as a Yankee fan in the bleachers at a subway series. With a mash bill boasting 80% raw rye and 20% malted barley, barreled at a robust 52.5% ABV and bottled at 48%, this liquid gold captures the spirit of New York like a Broadway marquee—bold, brash, and beautifully complex.

Next, we mosey on over to FEW Single Malt. This ain't your Scottish grandma's single malt; no sir! This American beauty is smoked over cherry wood, giving it earthy notes that sing ‘America the Beautiful’ in every sip. At a hearty 46.5% ABV, it’s as rare as an honest politician, offered only a few times a year, making every dram a cherished sip of freedom.

Finally, we're hitching a ride to Kentucky with Yellowstone Select Bourbon. Blending four hand-picked Kentucky Bourbons aged between four and seven years, it's like a melting pot of whiskey, harmonizing tastes and balance in a bottle that's as award-winning as it is delicious. Bottled at 46.5% ABV, it’s a sip of America's heartland with every taste.

Each of these star-spangled samples is a testament to the American spirit — resilient, diverse, and unapologetically bold. 

Cheers!

Smartass Corner

1) The Whiskey Rebellion, or Whiskey Insurrection, was a tax protest in the United States beginning in 1791, during the presidency of George Washington. The resistance came to a climax in July 1794, when a U.S. marshal arrived in western Pennsylvania to serve writs to distillers who had not paid the excise.

2) Rye whiskey is made from mash that is at least 51% rye. The grain gives rye whiskey its spicy, sometimes peppery, and bitter flavor. Rye was a big seller before the Prohibition. After decades in obscurity, it’s fashionable again. George Washington distilled rye whiskey at Mount Vernon. 

3) "Excelsior" means "ever upwards" and is the motto of the State of New York.

4) American Single Malt is the wild child of whiskeys! It uses any malted grain it likes. It disregards the Scottish pot distillation rule and distills in its own way. Geography? Anywhere goes!

5) FEW Spirits has a nice ring to it, but it is also a poke in the eye of governmental killjoys. You see, F. E. W. are the initials of Francis Elizabeth Willard who was a leader of the Prohibition movement in Evanston back in the day.

6) Truth bomb: People tend to think that Single Malt Whiskies aren’t blends. But guess what? They are. Single Malt Whiskies are the result of many barrels blended to create a whisky. They just happen to come from a single distillery.

7) The Bourbon set of rules refer to the manufacturing method rather than location. It must be matured in new and charred casks of American white oak. No coloring or flavoring of any type is allowed. It must be matured for at least 2 years, if a bottle does not bear an age it is at least 4 years old. The mash bill must contain at least 51% corn. 

8) One of the most pervasive myths about bourbon is that it has to be made in Kentucky. While Kentucky produces 95% of the world’s bourbon, there are no regulations that prevent it from being made anywhere else in the United States.

9) The original Yellowstone Whiskey was distilled in a log-still. It was basically a hallowed-out log filled with copper pipe that was used for primary distillation.