Craft Spirits: History, Tastings, And Enjoying The Drink

To take a break from the mainstream line of liquors such as tequila, whiskey, and wine is to try out a group of beverages distilled by smaller-scale, usually family-owned facilities. These are known as craft spirits. For the more adventurous drinker who is open to exploring new horizons, there is always something new to what craft spirits have to offer.

You may have heard about them once in your life, but what really are craft spirits? Read on to find out more about such an artisan masterpiece, its history, a walkthrough at the tastings, and how you can enjoy the drink.

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Defining Craft Spirits

Beers are brewed, as much as whiskeys are distilled, so basically, they are also crafted. But what sets craft spirits apart?

Generally speaking, one can call a drink a craft spirit if it has not been made by a large corporation, brewery, or distillery. This goes to say that brands like Jack Daniel’s and Heineken cannot be categorized as craft spirits, despite the fact that they also go through distilling processes. Yes, this is true.

Craft spirits are defined as hand-crafted beverages usually by family-owned distilleries, breweries, and producers, and are produced in small batches. Most of the time, the finished products are limited within a specific geographical location when distributing them.

According to the specifications laid out by the American Distilling Institute, craft spirits should be “run through a still by a certified craft producer” and “less than 25 percent of the craft distillery is owned or controlled by alcoholic beverage industry members who are not themselves craft distillers.”

There is a hands-on production facility present, which makes it possible for these distillers to produce the liquor based on traditional and old-fashioned processes, such as fermentation, distillation, and infusing techniques.

Coming up with an accurate definition of craft spirits is highly debatable. When someone in a drinking table brings up this topic, the conversation will go miles and miles away. You might need more than one bucket of liquors or more than one bottle just to settle things through.

According to Pernod Ricard USA’s senior vice-president Jeff Agdern, many consumers “do not have a clear definition of craft.” He said that “it is more of a trade term.”

“There is inconsistency in how to define craft. We don’t look at our brands as craft or non-craft,” he added. “[There are] brands that have an authentic heritage, provenance, passionate founders, strong distillation and a brand story to tell.” Pernod Ricard is one of the many brands that Social Scene partners with when bringing their flavors and products to the events.

Nevertheless, what’s fascinating about craft spirits is that, it can become a label that can transcend boundaries and be applicable in almost every aspect of liquor that you can find around. There are craft beers, craft whiskeys, craft wines, and craft tequilas. As a matter of fact, many facilities have easily distinguished themselves as craft production venues because of the raw materials and resources they use in the production. Many of these types of beverages make use of organic ingredients that are healthier and more natural than those used by mainstream labels.

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Craft Spirits: A History

Roots From Earlier Civilization

The history of craft spirits is one that is never universal, but rather a by-product of local tales and stories depending on the area that they are made, at least when speaking about the contemporary times. When viewing its history, you will find out that production of craft spirits has gone through a series of regulations under the law as opposed to the larger corporations that make the more popular brands. Everyday, experts believe that new craft spirits makers emerge, making it more difficult to actually map out its timeline and story.

The making of craft spirits can be traced back as far as the time of the ancient Greeks, when they experimented on mixing liquids that came from the idea of distilling wine. Since the result of these processes was seen as somewhat intoxicating, it was during this era when making spirits was associated with forbidden magic.

Craft spirits distillation was also rendered not just for the purpose of social drinking. During the dawn of the second century B.C. in Egypt, the earlier makers had the goal to obtain substances from nature and use these for healing practices, more than the other goal of creating a beverage for leisure. For instance, ancient Greek sailors also tried evaporating drinking water from seawater.

In ancient Persia, which was then the seat of medicine during that time, distilling became a formal practice in medical schools. The art of craft spirits making only grew unprecedented rates, and expanded to be commercialized in the 17th century, along with the massive production breakthroughs of the other types of liquors like whiskey.

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Contemporary History and Challenges

Today, the business of craft spirits is growing and with more facilities joining in the field, it is also able to contribute to the economy. As what has been discussed earlier, sharing the history of this beverage may depend on the area or the region it is produced. You will be surprised as to how distinct the stories are.

The most approximate to the actual definition of craft spirits is just new and contemporary. One of the first craft distilleries that produce such products only came about in the 20th century. Distilling at home remains very strict, also because of the accounts of “exploding stills and accidental poisonings,” according to an article on Entrepreneur.com.

The future of this sector is bright, yet interestingly enough, still under construction. Associations are clear about defining a drink so it can be categorized under this group. However, unlike before, regulations are now more lenient in favor of those who want to share their mix.

“Both production processes are legal and common among large distillers,” Entrepreneur.com writer Corie Brown said. “Yet within the craft movement, using industrially produced spirits is controversial. Some ‘blenders,’ as they are sometimes called, market their products as if they produced them grain-to-glass.”

Apart from the scope of the production, the ingredients from which they are made are also a big issue. In 2014, two class-action lawsuits were filed against small distillers, Templeton Rye and Tito’s Handmade Vodka, for allegedly defrauding consumers with their “false marketing” strategies built upon the production.

In spite of these challenges in place, the sector is growing. Predictions by craft spirits advocates stated that the volume of production can increase to up to more than 25 million cases by 2020, Fortune reported.

How To Enjoy Craft Spirits

Just like enjoying a glass of good wine or a shot glass of tequila, there are proven ways on how you can also make the experience with craft spirits even better. Take it from the experts, you will never regret it. From the right senses to use to the perfect food pairings, here are some of the ways on how you can enjoy craft spirits.

1. Stop, Look, Smell, And Sip

If you are served with the liquor, do you just drink it straight? When you are in a tasting event, it will be appropriate to take some time savoring the moment before the liquid goes down your body’s digestion. First, appreciate the beauty of what’s inside your glass. There will be specific colors based on the flavors of the spirit that you are getting. Second, smell the aroma of the spices or whatever ingredients are placed. It is a general rule not to inhale too much, but just leave the rim just at the right distance from your nose and enjoy the sensation. Finally, when it is time to taste, it is up to you whether you are swallowing it whole or if you are spitting part of it out so you can enjoy the other labels to be served along the way.

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2. Try Drinking Spirits Neat

Purity is always on the good side. In the world of craft spirits and in almost every other liquor around, “neat” means that there has been nothing done to alter the original form of the spirit. In other words, it has not been chilled or has not been blended with any other liquid. Generally, neat drinking means sipping it directly from the bottle poured into your glass at high proof and room temperature.

3. Explore The Drink According To The Glass

One similar craft spirit in two different glasses may give a different experience, well if you are not much of a killjoy and are willing to go further to explore. What’s so good about craft spirits is that every liquor you know may have versions of it. Having said this, artisanal beverages of these kinds may be poured in cordials, tumblers, and maybe even shot glasses.

4. To Serve Chilled Or Not?

That is the question. More often than not, you will witness people in a bar or in a tasting event asking for ice cubes to be included in the liquid within the glass. Sometimes for health purposes, but sometimes for the experience, serving craft spirits chilled is one of the refreshing ways to enjoy the entire experience. However, when you do this, the original taste and the texture changes because of the melted ice that will go with the drink. Practice the perfect discretion when eyeing this move.

5. Pair It With Good Food

It has been said that it is more challenging to pair food with craft spirits firstly because each variety is usually rare and because of the alcoholic content that goes with it. Do a bit of research about the food recipes that match well with the spirit that you are taking. Or, if you are a kitchen expert, you may want to take a look at the bottle label to see the ingredients used to make it, and use your knowledge on searching for the meals that go with it.

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Tastings Galore

Can’t get enough of craft spirits? Get ready to experience a journey with various spirit brands to be featured in 2019. Our tasting festivals are a two-hour tasting with food specials and many other surprises such as voting for your favorite brands. Register today by visiting our official website at BeSocialScene.com.