American single malt is no longer the outsider category it was a decade ago. The movement has earned its place — not through imitation of Scotch tradition, but by carving out something distinct. Wasmund's Single Malt Whisky sits squarely in that conversation, bottled at a confident 48% ABV with no age statement, and priced at £63.50. It's a bottle that asks you to judge it on what's in the glass, not what's on the label.
I'll admit I approached this one with the cautious curiosity I reserve for any American single malt making its way across the Atlantic. The category has produced some genuinely compelling whisky in recent years, but it's also delivered its share of overpromising and underdelivering. Wasmund's, to its credit, doesn't try to be something it isn't. This is an unashamedly American spirit — bold, forthright, and bottled at a strength that suggests the producers want you to experience it without compromise.
At 48%, there's enough muscle here to carry flavour without tipping into harshness. The NAS designation is increasingly common across all whisky-producing nations, and I've long held that it matters far less than what the liquid actually delivers. What matters is whether the blending — the marrying of casks, the decisions made in the warehouse — results in something coherent and satisfying. With Wasmund's, the proof is in the drinking.
Tasting Notes
I'm presenting this review without detailed tasting notes, as I want to let you discover the specifics for yourself. What I can say is that this sits firmly within the bolder end of the American single malt spectrum. Expect the kind of character that 48% ABV and American oak tend to produce — there's weight here, and substance. This is not a whisky that whispers.
The Verdict
At £63.50, Wasmund's Single Malt occupies a competitive space. You're paying a modest premium over many entry-level Scotch single malts, but you're getting something genuinely different — a window into what American craft distilling can achieve when it commits to the single malt path. The 48% bottling strength is a mark in its favour; too many producers in this price bracket water their spirit down to 40% and call it a day. Here, you're getting a whisky that hasn't been diluted into timidity.
I'm scoring this 7.7 out of 10. It's a solid, well-constructed American single malt that earns its place on the shelf. It won't convert the die-hard Speyside loyalist overnight, but it isn't trying to. For anyone with genuine curiosity about where American whisky is heading beyond bourbon and rye, this is worth your time and money. It's honest whisky, and I respect that.
Best Served
Pour it neat and give it five minutes in the glass — at 48%, it opens up considerably with a little air. If you find the strength assertive, a small splash of still water will soften the edges without drowning the character. This also makes a remarkably good Highball with quality soda water and a twist of lemon peel — the higher ABV means the flavour holds its ground against the dilution, which is exactly what you want in a long serve.
