The best craft distillers in America, as voted by a spirited panel of liquor writers
Contributed by on Feb 14, 2014
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The spirit world can be a terrifying place. But amongst bottom of the barrel wells, powerful multi-national conglomerates you had no idea existed, and really scary ghosts, there stand a few crafty heroes whose passionate dedication to delicious liquor serves as an inspiration to all. These are the craft distillers.
Admittedly there's no firm definition for "craft". It's kind of like pornography -- you just know it when... you hear your buddies talk about it. So to spotlight the best distillers in America, we asked 15 of our distinguished cocktail writer buddies to pick their 10 favorites and explain why they belong on your shelf.
10. Corsair Distillery
Location: Nashville, TN and Bowling Green, KY
The spirits: Corsair Gin, Triple Smoke Malt Whiskey, Quinoa Whiskey, Red Absinthe, Spiced Rum
The distillery: Helmed by a distiller who's got degrees from Bruichladdich Distilling Academy in Scotland and Siebel Institute of Technology in Chicago (the oldest brewery school in the states!), Corsair specializes in "booze for badasses" and won awards for Craft Distiller of the Year and Whiskey Brand Innovator of the Year from Whisky Magazine.
From the judges: "Corsair is playing with whiskey like Jester King and Prairie play with farmhouse ale. Their small-batch offerings are fun, experimental, and not for everyone. They make quinoa whiskey, for goodness' sake. The triple smoke is a big hit, as is the artisan gin. The limited releases are also worth watching for." - Tom Thornton, Austinist
9. Leopold Bros.
Location: Denver, CO
The spirits: Silver Tree Vodka, Leopold's Gin, New York Apple Whiskey
The distillery: Unfiltered and without any preservatives, Denver's Leopold Bros. suggest consuming their liquors within a month of opening, which shouldn't be much of a problem.
From the judges: "A great range of small-batch whiskeys and, especially, liqueurs. The Rocky Mountain Peach Whiskey is after dinner heaven." - Bill Norris, Alamo Drafthouse
8. House Spirits Distillery
Location: Portland, OR
The spirits: Aviation American Gin, Volstead Vodka, Westward Oregon Straight Malt Whiskey, Krogstad Festlig Aquavit
The distillery: The shining star of Portland's distillery row, House Spirits prides itself on the ethical sourcing of ingredients, and probably on alternative modes of transit.
From the judges: "The hallmark brand of this Portland distillery is Aviation Gin, melding floral notes like lavender with spicy notes like cardamom that goes well in a martini. But there are so many other surprises in Christian Krogstad’s House Spirits portfolio, such as an aquavit that goes down easily, an unaged white whiskey devoid of harsh burn, and an addictive coffee liqueur I’ve drizzled over ice cream more times than I’d like to admit." - Alia Akkam, Edible Queens
7. Charbay Distillery and Winery
Location: St. Helena, CA
The spirits: Clear Vodka, Charbay Tequila, R5 Whiskey, Alambic Pot Still Rum
The distiller: Charbay has had roots in Napa for 30 years and makes everything from hopped-up whiskeys to blood orange vodka to pomegranate dessert wine.
From the judges: You want something different? I'll give you something different, and that something is Charbay. Eschewing the standard for 'what ifs', 13th generation master distiller Marko Karakasevic is known for distilling bottled beer into whiskey and finishing spirits in former Chardonnay casks. No matter what you think of this unorthodox approach, you can't deny it's been popular with retailers." - Francine Cohen, Inside F & B
6. Tuthilltown Spirits
Location: Gardiner, NY
The spirits: Hudson Whiskey, Indigenous Vodka, Half Moon Orchard Gin
The distillery: Tuthilltown operates out of a 220yr old mill that they converted into a micro-distillery to process local fruit and grains into some of the world's best liquors.
From the judges: "I am a huge fan of the whiskeys produced in this distillery. They are putting out an array of products that consistently knock it out of the park (a single grain Baby Bourbon, a Single Malt Whiskey, a Rye) despite being a small, young producer. I have a hard time getting past the size and cost of the bottles, but that’s not to say I won’t buy a bottle for myself or as a gift (or graciously accept it as one)." - Nick Bennett, Booker & Dax
