Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) launches Destination Distillery™ (www.destinationdistillery.com), a new website providing a tourism-driven experience and educational journey into the cultural heritage and history of spirits in America.
Visitors to the website will be able to explore many of America’s most famous distilleries as well as up-and-coming ones, state-by-state trails, economic impact of the spirits industry by state, and important sites connected to the history of distilling and spirits in our country.
“Destination Distillery is poised to become the go-to resource for spirits fans to dive in and discover the story behind their favorite beverages while finding new places and spirits along the way,” said Chris Swonger, DISCUS president/CEO. “By showcasing distillers large and small, Destination Distillery will serve as a unifier for our industry. Together, we’ll continue to drive tourism to local regions and further the economic contributions that all distillers make to their communities. Each distillery has a unique offering and local flavor, and we cannot wait for you to discover the story behind what’s in your glass.”
Visitors can locate distilleries based on the type of spirits they produce or by location. Categories of spirits are also listed, and each can be selected for an in-depth history of the category. Another unique part of the site is the “Stories” section which features information on historical milestones related to the spirits industry.
“With well over 30 spirits trails across the United States, the growth in spirits tourism is helping to transform communities surrounding distilleries and boost state and local economies,” said Philip McDaniel, CEO/co-founder, St. Augustine Distillery and chair of the DISCUS Craft Advisory Council. “This is the first tool of its kind to provide consumers with a comprehensive list to discover established distilleries and explore trails across the entire country – from the Pacific Northwest to the tip of Florida.”
Destination Distillery builds upon the foundation of the American Whiskey Trail, a tourism initiative created in 2004 by DISCUS in partnership with Mount Vernon and George Washington’s historic distillery. Over the nearly two decades since, there has been a proliferation of more than 2,000 small distilleries in cities and towns across the country.