2016: The State of the Craft Spirits Union Is Strong
I’m not going to bury the lead here. Craft distilling in the U.S. isn’t just booming anymore. It’s exploding.
According to the market update released this week (PDF) by Coppersea Distilling CEO Michael Kinstlick, the number of U.S. craft distilleries is set to pass 1,000 this year–two years ahead of Kinstlick’s previous projection.
When he’s not cooking up some of the most intriguing craft spirits on the market (together with Coppersea chief distiller Christopher Williams), Kinstlick has been tracking the growth of craft distilling more closely than anyone I know. He shared his initial assessment in a 2012 “state of the market” white paper, and has released regular updates since.
In 2012, Kinstlick put the number of U.S. craft distilleries at 250, noting that the total was doubling every three years. By 2015, the total had more than doubled, reaching 600. Now the rate’s jumped again, with the total set to pass 1,000 this year:
Kinstlick’s full update is a fascinating read. He breaks down the growth by distiller type…
…by spirits category:
…by state:
…and digs into market exits, comparisons with craft breweries, and more.
In a nutshell, ladies and gentlemen, the state of craft spirits union is strong.
Make sure to check out the full report, and sign up at Coppersea for future updates. – BO
