There is a growing trend that is receiving a lot of press right now in the Whiskey world. That is the trend towards micro distilleries. There are currently 186 private micro distilleries across the country and there seem to be more popping up every day. The trend is turning into a movement that echoes the craft beer movement of the 1990s and will hopefully continue to gain momentum. There are 186 micro distilleries, but only a handful have had the wherewithal and vigor to take on the task of making Whiskey.
See Whiskey unlike Vodka or Gin must be aged in charred oak barrels, and depending on the spirit may take anywhere from one month to a decade to fully mature in the barrel. This makes the up front investment massive without a lot of return early in the process. Some distilleries have gotten around this by offering a multitude of sprits while others have offered White Dog as an option to keep cash coming in while the other spirits are aging as I alluded to in a previous post.
The good folks over at Malt Advocate have developed a listing of American Micro Distilleries that distill whiskey as a part of their inventory…
Click on image to enlarge.
This list is just those micro distilleries that distill and barrel whiskey. If you are travelling across the country take note of where these distilleries are located and plan a stop. Not only do they need the support, but they also need the visibility as this movement gets off the ground. And who knows you might just find another favorite drink.
-Don
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
Good to see that New Holland has some barrel’s going – I’d love to try their stuff.
Yes! It is encouraging to see how many breweries are actually getting into distilling. It can be symbiotic, like some of the brews Rogue is doing that are aged in their spirit barrels.
Don – to me the most compelling part of the micro distillery boom is the potential to see some really great American malt whiskey’s come to market. None of the big boys do it and to get a malt whiskey one has to look across the pond. It’s an exciting time for American whiskey.
That is an exciting notion Greg. I haven’t heard of anyone in the US doing single malt. I hope when they do, they don’t just peat it up so it is some sort of smoke monster. I hope they take a more Glenlivet or Chivas Regal approach. You are correct, it is an exciting time.