It took me a long time (perhaps too long) to realize that — craft is (largely) about MADE IN USA. With an emphasis on made. And less emphasis on USA.
This dawned on me when looking at gleaming copper, at Vendome in Louisville, with welders crawling around on the concrete floor — making stuff. It has become rare to have any real connection to people making stuff nearby, and quite apparently, we have a craving to get back to our roots, much as we flock to the beach every summer. If you have any doubt, take a look at the copper porn, arrayed here.
In trying to get to the essence of what is craft — and distill it down — so far I have the above concepts. I added MADE IN USA to this list just today. Please comment away to let me know what the concept really means or should mean.
You’re close, but need to be closer… I’d say it really means MADE LOCALLY…
Like to learn more. and start doing it myself
There are a LOT of craft spirits made all over the world.But because of the fact that it takes a lot of resources,time,money and capacity, they do not make it to these shore nearly as much as they should.
Made in USA is a nice plus but not a requirement for craft in my mind. You can be just as passionate,competent, and everything else without being made here.Indeed a number of family run distilleries have been making craft beverages for far longer than the USA has been in existence.
Craft has to do with small production and handmade and less to do with WHERE it is made although we gravitate towards American spirits. Basically when most people think of craft spirits they think of small production lots made by hand. Made in USA is misleading because it doesn’t indicate level of production like “craft” does (ie large or small).