Sales totaled $3.7 billion, and market share for U.S. craft spirits reached 3.2% in volume, 4.6% in value, according to data released by the American Craft Spirits Association.
The number of active craft distilleries in the U.S. grew by 15.5% over the last year to 1,835 distilleries. Active craft distillers are defined as licensed U.S. distilled spirits producers that removed 750,000 proof gallons (or 394,317 9L cases) or less from bond, market themselves as craft, are not openly controlled by a large supplier, and have no proven violation of the ACSA Code of Ethics.
Craft Spirits industry investment has doubled over the past two years. In 2017, investment by the U.S. craft spirits industry increased by over $190 million to $590 million in total, doubling from $299 million in 2015. These investments primarily covered the build out of tasting rooms and other visitor experiences, equipment to increase production capacity, and associated labor costs.
Exports are up 5.7% since 2016 with more than half a million cases exported. Exports of U.S. craft spirits reached 598,000 cases in 2017, adding more than 7.7% of additional volume to U.S. craft distillers’ total sales.
Distillery and tasting room sales make up 40% of all sales for small craft distilleries, while out of state sales make up 62% for larger craft distilleries. Direct sales at the distillery are important for all craft distillers but especially important for small craft producers (between 0 and 10,000 proof gallons removed from bond annually). Out of state business is particularly important for large producers (between 100,001 and 750,000 proof gallons removed from bond annually).
Some states are “craftier” than others, with California, New York, Washington, Texas, and Colorado leading the pack. Geographically, the market remains concentrated. The top five states by number of craft distilleries – CA (156), NY (134), WA (122), TX (108) & CO (99) — make up 33.7% of the U.S. craft distiller universe, and the next five states — OR, PA, NC, OH, FL — comprise an additional 18.4% of the market. The remaining states represent 47.9% of the market.
Federal Excise Tax (FET) reform is helping to stimulate craft spirits growth. Surveys of craft distillers indicate investments in equipment and staff in the U.S. craft spirits industry are accelerating in 2018 and are expected to continue to accelerate in 2019 due to the impact of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act, which became effective January 1, 2018 and reduced the Federal Excise Tax on distilled spirits from $13.50 to $2.70 per proof gallon for the first 100,000 proof gallons removed from bond annually.