America’s New Distilleries
Posted on July 23, 2011
Filed Under Marleigh Riggins | Leave a Comment
There are, as panelist Matthew Rowley pointed out, more American craft distilleries operating right now than at any time since Prohibition. Some estimates claim there is a new distillery every three days, concentrated largely on the coasts, with a particular concentration inland in Colorado.
Those lucky people who attended Friday’s seminar about craft distillers were treated to tastings by nine of the small producers at Tales this year: Dancing Pines, Corsair, Death’s Door, Peach Street, Piedmont, Artesian, Tuthilltown, House Spirits and American Fruits. (All delicious, but the Chai Tea Liqueur from Dancing Pines stole this reporter’s heart.)
Matt Rowley, author of “Moonshine” and whiskeyforge.com, and Max Watman, author of “Chasing the White Dog,” led a discussion on the state of craft, AKA micro or artisan, producers, accompanied by nine of examples of the creative and interesting products on the market (or nearly on the market) today, including a carbonated (!) vodka and, for cocktail nerds, a true American peach brandy.
