Independent bottling was once the province of the Scots—a tradition of obsessive, detail-driven whisky hunters combing through warehouses for barrels that spoke in their own dialect. In 2011, Joshua Hatton and Jason Johnstone-Yellin brought that practice to the United States, founding Single Cask Nation. Fourteen years later, the country’s leading independent bottler is releasing three rare and unapologetically character-forward American whiskeys, available exclusively via its online shop this month.
Twice named Independent Bottler of the Year (Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky America, 2024 and 2025), Single Cask Nation has cultivated a reputation for “bottling unique whiskies with flavors that always differ from bottle to bottle,” as Hatton puts it. The through-line, he insists, is texture: “Each bottling must have a rich, viscous mouthfeel—almost indulgent.”
The New Single Cask Nation Releases
New York Distilling 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey
A decade in new charred oak, this rye opens with spice market aromas—turmeric, cumin, coriander—before yielding to cherry cordial, bergamot, and toasted walnut. On the palate, it’s a cascade of dark rye bread, cinnamon, black tea, peppercorns, and pecan pie, finishing with dark cherries and cocoa powder. “We wanted to dial up the DNA of the distillery’s rye to 13,” says Hatton. (67.8% ABV; $100; 123 bottles)
Balcones 4 Year Old Peated American Single Malt Whiskey
Brightly vegetal with a wreath of wood smoke, this first-fill bourbon barrel release delivers jalapeño skin, salted limes, grilled lemon, and lemon bars, anchored by earthy peat. “A rare chance to see peated Balcones unblended,” notes Johnstone-Yellin. (66.3% ABV; $80; 150 bottles)
Cedar Ridge 5 Year Old Peated American Single Malt Whiskey
Finished for two years in ex-Sauternes, it offers warm buttery apple crumble, yuzu jam, and apricot-studded muesli, offset by coal soot and auto-shop oil. Peat arrives like “an excited puppy,” settling into smoked quince jam and charred lemons, with a rich, oily mouthfeel amplified by water. (61.4% ABV; $80; 150 bottles)
A Tradition Reimagined
“Independent bottling is a longtime tradition in Scotland, so we take great pride in applying it to American producers,” says Johnstone-Yellin. The releases will be joined by other Single Cask Nation exclusives at select U.S. retailers. Joining “The Nation” is as simple as buying a bottle online—or tuning into the founders’ One Nation Under Whisky podcast.
Visit Single Cask Nation for full details.
