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Monday, April 15, 2013
The State of Craft Whiskey
Given the recently reported division among craft spirits trade groups, I thought it would be a good time to review the state of craft whiskey based on the information I've culled in my Complete List of American Whiskey Distilleries.
As of 2013, I count a remarkable 190 craft distilleries that are making whiskey (though not all are on the market yet). A year ago, the count was 117.
Washington leads the pack with 25 craft whiskey distillers, but four other states have more than 10: California (16), New York (14), Colorado (13) and Oregon (11).
Clearly, the craft movement continues to grow at an impressive rate. It will be interesting to see where it goes.
As mentioned in the comments of Chuck's blog, ADI and ACDA serve different purposes. ACDA even hosted an event at the ADI Conference two weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteAll that being said, it is a great time for the craft whiskey industry, and the products are getting better. The best part is that locales tend to embrace spirits native to their regions, which speaks volumes for the support behind these small brands.
Expansion of the segment's market share will come slowly I'm sure. Craft beer has been running strong for the past 15-20 years and still doesn't even account for a major percentage of the beer market, despite it's overwhelming popularity and measured quality.
Craft spirits may always well be a very small segment, but I don't think that's bad for the producers or the imbibers. The goal of many craft distillers is not to make something everyone likes, but to product quality products that some people love.
Not sure how many are operating in Texas, but the one I know of is producing a world class product, Balcones Texas Single Malt. Brimstone isn't bad either.
ReplyDeleteThere are 8 in Texas, and Winston, who commented above, works for Balcones.
ReplyDeleteThanks for putting the list together! Minor update for Oregon -
ReplyDeleteHighball Distilling closed and is no longer producing spirits.
Stonebarn Brandyworks is also making an unoaked Oat whiskey, as well as a rotating release of barrel aged whiskey.
Thanks Andy. I will update the list.
ReplyDeleteAlso Breckenridge Distillery in Breckenridge, CO.
ReplyDeleteRookie, I've got Breckenridge listed under the bottlers category because AFAIK they haven't distilled any of their own whiskey yet.
ReplyDeleteWe get something down here called Aristocrat Supreme Blended Whiskey. There is another labeled just Aristocrat Blended Whiskey. Both seem to come from Heaven Hill though they are not listed on their brands web page. Does show up on Wikipedia. Have seen it pop up from time-to-time as a bottom shelf dweller.
ReplyDeleteThey are indeed Heaven Hill products.
ReplyDelete2Bar SPirits in Seattle has an unaged corn whiskey, and is aging a bourbon.
ReplyDeleteSku, some time ago i exchanged emails with Breckenridge. Apparently they use some of their own distillate in their whisky bottlings.
ReplyDeleteIt appears the McMenamins have a second distillery running now (Cornelius Pass Roadhouse Distillery) that is making a whaet based white whiskey called White Owl Whiskey (not so sure about that name!). Don't know if that would qualify as an addition to your list along with the Edgefield Distillery you have listed.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mcmenamins.com/1782-cpr-distillery-spirits
Hey Florin, that's interesting; I'll try to verify but it looks like they took COLAs out for their own bourbon, so I'll move them to the distillery category.
ReplyDeletetanstaafl2, thanks for the tip.