How Small-Batch Brandy Made Way for the Bourbon Boom
By Kara Newman, Wine Enthusiast
In the 1920s, Prohibition brought legal distillation to a screeching halt. Make no mistake—it still survived, illicitly, in some areas. But by the time the “Noble Experiment” ended in 1933, most family-run distilleries were long shuttered, and generations of spirits-making knowledge had been lost. Large conglomerates, most headquartered outside of the U.S., dominated the booze biz.
Despite these headwinds, a handful of intrepid pioneers sought to make quality small-batch spirits. In the 1980s—a time when white wine spritzers were the aperitif of choice—U.S. legislators began to adjust a patchwork of laws that would empower small distilleries. This created the first trickles of what would eventually become the American craft spirits movement. This is their story, as told (mostly) by those who experienced it firsthand. Read more on Wine Enthusiast.
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Saverglass' premium glass bottle design for Castle & Key's Restoration Rye was recognized at the 2023 Clear Choice Awards. Learn more.
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Black Button Tequila Barrel-Finished Bourbon
Rochester, NY's Black Button Distilling has released a bourbon that's aged in American white oak for 2 years, then matured in a freshly harvested Tequila barrel for another year and a half. Learn more.
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Barr Hill Gin & Tonic
Vermont-based Caledonia Spirits has teamed up with local brewery Lawson’s Finest Liquids to officially distribute its first RTD cocktail, a canned Barr Hill Gin and Tonic. Learn more.
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ADI 2023 LAS VEGAS
Join us at the Mirage in Las Vegas for our 20th conference anniversary, August 23-24, with special classes and workshops August 22 and 25, a Gin Summit on August 22 and a Whiskey Summit on August 25.
The full schedule is now available and attendee registration is open! Learn more.
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Iowa Distillery Aims To Take On The Midwest
When Murphy Quint was in middle school in 2001, his parents started a winery in the middle of Iowa cornfields. But since Iowa is known more for growing corn than grapes, they added on a distillery in 2005, and today, they sell more bourbon and whiskey than any other brand in their home state, and they’ve got their eyes on becoming one of the Midwest’s biggest craft distillers. “They wanted to start a vineyard as a lifestyle thing,” says Quint, of his parents, Jeff and Laurie. “It started out as a garage in downtown Cedar Rapids, but the locals in Iowa really embraced it.” And Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillery, which moved to where their vineyards were in Swisher, Iowa in 2009, has been growing every since. “When we started making Iowa bourbon, that was a game changer,” says Quint, who today is the master distiller. “Iowa is the corn capital of the world, and bourbon by law has to be made of corn. Iowans really embraced it.” Read more on Forbes.
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Made-in-Florida Mango Liqueur Is the Star of Miami’s Tropical Distillers
Miami is home to no shortage of breweries, but if truly local spirits are what you seek, set your sights on Tropical Distillers, a ultra-local craft distillery from former NFL centers (and twins) Mike and Maurkice Pouncey and luxury real estate expert Kim Rodstein. Decked out in vibrant pink and aqua, the multi-use space in Allapattah takes advantage of a fully automated process to distill its selection of small-batch craft liqueurs highlighting the best of Miami’s local terroir. The flagship is its J.F. Haden’s brand mango liqueur, inspired by the eponymous mangoes cultivated here since the early 20th century, when retired U.S. army officer Captain John J. Haden planted the four dozen Mulgoba mango seedlings he’d brought from Palm Beach to his Coconut Grove abode. The resulting liqueur is a made-in-Florida exclusive, crafted from 100% locally-grown mangoes for a 40-proof tipple with a vibrant orange color and sweet, fruity flavor. Read more on InsideHook.
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The Soaring Success of Small Batch Booze
Small-batch booze is the new giant in the spirits industry, with craft distilleries taking a swing at long-standing industry giants with their intriguing flavour infusions and artisanal appeal. Beyond their quest for the perfect teeny weenie beanie, Millennials and older Gen-Zedders are thirsty for something more unique and boutique in their glasses, leading to an uptick in small-batch sales. Here are the key players putting Canadian small-batch spirits on the map. Read more on Sharp.
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Bill's Corner
Miscellany from ADI President Emeritus/Founder Bill Owens
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In April, ADI staff made a trip to Washington to see Heritage Distilling's new facility, which shares a building with South Puget Sound Community College as part of the school’s Craft Brewing & Distilling program. We also visited J.P. Trodden, BroVo Spirits, Wildwood, and Copperworks. (Pictured, left to right: Copperworks owner Jason Parker, new ADI salesperson Henrik Zimmerman, jack-of-all-trades Todd Buckley, and ADI President Erik Owens. Not pictured but an integral part of the visit is Distiller Magazine editor Margarett Waterbury.) |
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