Colby and Ashley Frey, co-founders of Frey Ranch Distillery. Courtesy photograph. Distilled spirits are — as we are often reminded — an agricultural product. But most distillers are several steps removed from the fields where their grains actually grow. Frey Ranch Distillery is different. Long before they launched their whiskey company, co-founders Colby and Ashley Frey had been carrying on the long-standing Frey family tradition of growing wheat, barley, corn, and rye in Fallon, Nevada, about 70 miles east of Reno. Even today, as their grain-to-glass whiskeys garner accolades across the count ..read more

Looking for a new flavor? Need a little help making your next choice at your local bar or bottle shop? Dining and drinks writer and judge Virginia Miller combs through new craft spirits releases to taste, review, and recommend. Here are her top 12 picks of the month, rated on a scale of one to five. My bottle review column (last month’s edition here) is about what is unique, standout, new and/or trending in spirits with my review ratings on a 1-5 rating scale. My 10 bottle reviews of the month: APERITIVO (APERTIF)/AMARO Photo courtesy of Amante 1530 Amante 1530 www.amante1530.com Amante 1530 i ..read more

Blanco Wolf from Patient Wolf Distilling Co. is an agave-based gin distilled from blue Weber agave nectar from Jalisco infused with classic gin botanicals. Courtesy photograph. The craft spirits industry continues to grow in Australia and New Zealand. Despite Australia having the third highest spirits tax in the world, surpassing a tax rate of $100 per liter of pure alcohol in 2023, distillers are discovering new sources of inspiration and innovation. Gin While flavored and seasonal gins have previously dominated, more savory flavors have begun to emerge. Distilleries such as Never Never Disti ..read more

2023 resulted in legislation that strengthened gains from previous years. States such as California and Maryland renewed DTC privileges for in-state distillers, and cocktails-to-go were extended or made permanent by numerous states. A couple of states created self-distribution privileges for distillers and enhanced retail privileges. On the negative side, bottle deposit bills were introduced in many states. The California bill will be  problematic, as it will impact labeling requirements for anyone wanting to sell into California. 2023 represents the industry moving forward positively; ho ..read more

The brewhouse at Pearse Lyons Distillery in Dublin is inside the historic St. James’ Church. Photo by Donal Murphy Photography, courtesy of Pearse Lyons Distillery. The last few decades have been kind to Irish distilling — and this most recent decade has seen a literal renaissance, with over 40 new distillery builds since the sale of Cooley Distillery to Beam in 2011. Much of this rebirth was built on the success of establishment blends like Jameson and Tullamore Dew, who still dominate sales and continue to push the category into new global markets outside its old North American and European ..read more

Whitebox Cocktails’ Classic Cocktail SElection Box includes one each of six of their best-selling single-serve RTDs, satisfying consumer desires for convenience and variety. Photo courtesy of Whitebox Cocktails. In 2023, British distillers were hit with an unholy array of challenges: high inflation, a 10% increase in alcohol duty, an increase in the main rate of corporation tax from 19 to 25%, high energy prices, and significant increases in the cost of goods. In addition to higher prices, the availability and lead-times of goods have also worsened. “Despite the UK leaving the EU three years a ..read more

The interior of a Systembolaget, the government-owned Swedish liquor monopoly. Courtesy photograph. The European craft spirits market is in full swing. Currently valued at $3.3 billion, the industry is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 12.66% over the next four years, reaching $6.17 billion by 2028. Despite such a dynamic and vibrant landscape, however, distillers have been grappling with significant challenges over the past 12 months. These involve inflation and rising energy costs, as well as heightened expectations from regulators and society to elevate their commitment to sustainability. Accor ..read more

A happy tasting room at Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery. Courtesy photograph. As we enter 2024, Canadian distillers are holding their breath. Will the recession that began in 2023 continue — or will it turn around? How will that impact Canada’s craft distilling industry? The harsh consensus so far seems to be rising supply costs, reduced margins, distribution hurdles, and industry burnout are all taking their toll on distillers. But is it all doom and gloom? Distillers Grapple with a Recession and Regulatory Restrictions In 2022, the Bank of Canada began a series of steep interest rate incre ..read more

2023 was the first full year of business as usual after the pandemic. Whew. We can almost hear the collective sigh of relief. But with the unique challenges of the pandemic behind us, we’ve been reminded that the industry’s day-to-day concerns never really went away. Craft distilling is a tough business. The days when new distillers could count on built-in local support and products that “sell themselves” are long gone (if they ever really existed). Instead, craft distillers today are grappling with increased competition, fewer opportunities for distribution, ascendant neo-Prohibitionism, and ..read more

Clay Berkes of Power House Clay Berkes epitomizes Oklahoma’s laid-back, welcoming brand of hospitality. Berkes was born and raised in southern Oklahoma between Love County and Lawton/Fort Sill. At age 16, he got his first taste of the hospitality industry. But it was while attending Oklahoma University working at Pearl’s Oyster Bar in Oklahoma City that he got hit with the bartending bug. There, he connected with Jonny Raglin, one of his oldest and dearest friends, a pioneering barman in San Francisco for over 20 years, and an Oklahoma native who oversees The Absinthe Group bars and opened acc ..read more