For the first time, more craft distilleries in the US are closing than opening
A figure from the current Craft Spirits Data Project really made me think. At the end of August 2026 there were 2,131 active craft distilleries in the US, 6.6 percent fewer than a year earlier (2,282). For the first time, more operations closed than opened.
The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) and Park Street presented the data at their annual economic briefing in Washington, D.C. They refer to calendar year 2025 and were collected directly from producers between June and August 2026.
Volume fell 8.0 percent to 11.7 million nine-liter cases, and value dropped 3.7 percent to 7.3 billion dollars. Craft spirits account for 4.2 percent of volume and 7.3 percent of value. Exports plunged 13.4 percent to 123,000 cases, and full-time jobs fell 25.6 percent to 21,285.
The associations cite leaner assortments at wholesalers that are reducing their inventories, shrinking export markets under tariffs, and the ban on direct-to-consumer shipping in most states. What I find interesting is that the share of tasting rooms in craft revenue rose from 14 percent in 2015 to 26 percent in 2025.
For whisky fans this is not just industry news. Many of the small distilleries we like to taste are apparently under pressure.
Source: WhiskyExperts
The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) and Park Street presented the data at their annual economic briefing in Washington, D.C. They refer to calendar year 2025 and were collected directly from producers between June and August 2026.
Volume fell 8.0 percent to 11.7 million nine-liter cases, and value dropped 3.7 percent to 7.3 billion dollars. Craft spirits account for 4.2 percent of volume and 7.3 percent of value. Exports plunged 13.4 percent to 123,000 cases, and full-time jobs fell 25.6 percent to 21,285.
The associations cite leaner assortments at wholesalers that are reducing their inventories, shrinking export markets under tariffs, and the ban on direct-to-consumer shipping in most states. What I find interesting is that the share of tasting rooms in craft revenue rose from 14 percent in 2015 to 26 percent in 2025.
For whisky fans this is not just industry news. Many of the small distilleries we like to taste are apparently under pressure.
Source: WhiskyExperts
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