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National Craft Distillery Day

Drink · May 22

A day for small, independent distilleries and the spirits they make, from local whiskey and gin to rum, vodka and brandy.

National Craft Distillery Day falls on Saturday, May 22, 2027. That is 207 days away.

Craft distilleries are small, independent operations that make spirits in modest batches, often in a single building where you can see the stills from the tasting room. They turn grain, fruit, sugarcane or molasses into whiskey, gin, rum, vodka and brandy.

The basic process is old and fairly simple to describe. A fermented liquid is heated in a still, and because alcohol boils at a lower temperature than water, the vapor can be collected and cooled back into a stronger liquid. What happens next is where small makers get particular. Whiskey rests in wooden barrels, which give it color and flavor. Gin gets its character from botanicals, with juniper always in the lead.

Many craft distillers lean on what grows nearby. A spirit might start with corn from a neighboring farm, apples from a local orchard or honey from down the road, so two bottles of the same type can taste quite different depending on where they were made.

A visit is the usual way people mark the day. Lots of distilleries offer tours that walk you from the mash to the barrels, and the smell inside a barrel room (warm wood, grain and something like caramel) tends to stay with people longer than any tasting note. Those who prefer not to drink can still enjoy the tour, the gift shop or a bottle of house bitters for cooking.

If you do taste, go slowly, and add a few drops of water to a whiskey to see how the aroma opens up.

Ways to celebrate

• Tour a craft distillery near you and ask about the still.
• Try a local gin and compare its botanicals with a familiar brand.
• Add a few drops of water to whiskey and notice the change.
• Arrange a safe ride home before any tasting visit.
• Read the label on a local bottle to learn its main ingredient.

Dates

All national days on May 22

Also on May 22

• National Vanilla Pudding Day
• National Italian Beef Day
• National Buy a Musical Instrument Day
• National Maritime Day
• Sherlock Holmes Day
• National Solitaire Day

Categories: Drink days