Why Craft?

Helping To Define The New Standard In Spirits

When it comes to the art of distilling spirits, the word “craft” is fairly straightforward to define. Or at least characterize.

As decided by the American Craft Spirits Association, a spirit can be considered craft if less than 750,000 gallons of it are produced annually, the distillery is transparent regarding the ingredients they use and has owners-operators with more than a 75% equity stake in the company and its operational control.

We agree that craft is all about independence. Not being owned by or beholden to corporations or conglomerates.

But to us, craft also means innovation. Interpreting and updating traditional methods with modern flourishes that result in new styles.

The dictionary will tell you that craft implies, “a trade requiring skill with the hands or as an artist”. And we agree.

The distillers responsible for the bottles in our collection are true artists, craftsmen of the highest order that take a distinct and individualistic approach to every handmade batch they bottle on site.

Craft is local. It’s about using grains, fruit, herbs and botanicals harvested from farms near to where they live. It’s making a personal connection with the customers they service. And giving back to a supportive community.

At Spirit Hub, craft isn’t a buzzword. It’s not a fleeting craze or marketing fad. Craft is genuine. And you’ll know it when you taste it.

The Best Ingredients

For a segment of consumers that crave more than what’s common, the world of craft spirits becomes a last bastion in opposition of ordinary, where there’s still a place and time for skill, artistry and the pursuit of distilled perfection.

With no aspirations to exceed or ambition left to explore, mainstream spirits have grown stagnant and become as tedious as they are ubiquitous.

Huge scale and mass appeal.

That’s what your major players in the liquor industry cater to. The big-liquor business model demands a product that’s mass produced and possessing as simple and typical a flavor as it can. So that it’s just pleasing enough to placate the market majority.

Emphasis is placed on not offending, instead of being awe inspiring.

With craft spirits, quality, purity and integrity are always the principal concerns.

Supporting Independent Businesses

Even if you don’t share zip codes with one of our distillery partners, you’re still supporting local, independently-owned businesses when you shop craft spirits with Spirit Hub.

Supporting local, independent businesses also supports local economies. An independent distillery is accountable to their community. They care about its future and invest it.

Montanya Distillers, for instance, claims “eco-friendly” as a huge part of their identity. Karen Hoskin of Montanya Distillers makes a point of saying, “Our sustainability practices involve every aspect of the business, and they’re evolving all the time. Our distillery, barrel room, warehouse, and tasting room are 100% wind powered. We practice composting.”

In 2013, Catoctin Creek Distilling Co. installed a 41kWh solar array from Prospect Solar. And Fremont Mischief Distillery collects and recycles their bottles - not just because it's cost effective, but rather because it's the best use of energy resources. They use only organic or sustainably-grown raw materials, 100% traceable from farm to bottle. And that’s just a few of Spirit Hub’s business partners committed to their community; distilleries always looking for greener, cleaner ways to operate.