Top 10 American Craft Distilleries
The American craft distillery movement traces to the 2005 founding of the American Distilling Institute. By 2025, the US has over 2,500 active craft distilleries (TTB-licensed producers operating under their own brand). The movement covers every spirits category — whiskey, gin, vodka, rum, brandy, aquavit, and traditional American styles — and is geographically distributed across every state. These ten exemplify the range.
1. Westland (Seattle, Washington)
Westland in Seattle is the most influential American single malt distillery. Founded 2010, Westland uses entirely Washington-grown barley, sometimes including the rare Garryana oak finish from the only Pacific Northwest native oak species. Master Distiller Matt Hofmann led the campaign for TTB recognition of "American Single Malt" as a category (granted 2022).
2. Balcones (Waco, Texas)
Balcones in Waco, Texas, produces unconventional American whiskey: Baby Blue (blue corn), True Blue (cask strength blue corn), Brimstone (smoked over Texas scrub oak), Texas Single Malt, and the rare Pot Still bourbon. The Texas climate produces dramatic angel's share losses and intense maturation.
3. High West (Park City, Utah)
High West, founded by David Perkins, has been an important blender-craftsman in the contemporary American whiskey scene. Sourced and self-distilled American Prairie Bourbon, Double Rye, Rendezvous Rye, and Bourye are core. Owned by Constellation Brands since 2016.
4. St George Spirits (Alameda, California)
St George Spirits in Alameda has been distilling since 1982 — predating the modern craft movement by decades. Master distiller Lance Winters and team produce a remarkable range: three gins (Terroir, Botanivore, Dry Rye), Single Malt Whiskey, Baller (American single malt), California Reserve Agricole Rum, and Spirit of Hops.
5. Stranahan's (Denver, Colorado)
Stranahan's in Denver was the first legal distillery in Colorado post-Prohibition and pioneered Colorado whiskey. The Original, Diamond Peak, Sherry Cask, and the annual Snowflake limited release define the range.
6. Garrison Brothers (Hye, Texas)
Garrison Brothers in Hye is Texas's first legal bourbon distillery (founded 2008). Texas bourbon under hot climate produces fast, intense maturation. The Small Batch, Single Barrel, and Cowboy Bourbon (cask strength) are core.
7. FEW Spirits (Evanston, Illinois)
FEW Spirits in Evanston (which voted dry in the 19th century — "FEW" honours Frances Elizabeth Willard, the prominent temperance activist) is one of the most interesting urban craft distillers. The Bourbon, Rye, Single Malt, and the unique Cold Cut Bourbon (proofed with cold-brew coffee) define the range.
8. Distillery No. 209 (San Francisco, California)
Distillery No. 209 on Pier 50 in San Francisco — the only distillery licensed on water — produces a benchmark San Francisco style gin. Triple-distilled in a custom Forsyths copper pot still; uses California botanicals.
9. Catoctin Creek (Purcellville, Virginia)
Catoctin Creek in Purcellville is the largest distillery in Virginia and Virginia's first legal distillery in Loudoun County since Prohibition. Organic Roundstone Rye, Mosby's Spirit (white rye), Watershed Gin, and the Pearousia brandy are core.
10. New Riff (Newport, Kentucky)
New Riff in Newport, Kentucky, is one of the most respected of the new Kentucky craft distilleries. Bottled-in-Bond rye and bourbon, no chill filtration, traditional Kentucky methodology. The Single Barrel Rye and Single Barrel Bourbon are highly collected.
Keep exploring
American craft distilleries are spread across every state, but the densest clusters are: Pacific Northwest (Seattle, Portland), California (San Francisco Bay Area, Sonoma, Los Angeles), Colorado (Denver, Boulder), Texas (Austin, Waco, Hill Country), and the East Coast (New York Hudson Valley, Brooklyn, Virginia, Vermont). The interactive map shows the distribution. The American Distilling Institute and the American Craft Spirits Association are the trade bodies; their conference each March is the industry's main gathering.