National Craft Distillery Day

National Craft Distillery Day is observed every year on May 22. In 2026, this date falls on a Friday. The day recognizes small-batch distilleries, the people who run them, and the spirits they make with close attention to ingredients, process, and flavor. It is mainly a U.S. observance connected with craft producers rather than a public holiday. For adults of legal drinking age, the day can be a reason to visit a local tasting room, learn how spirits are made, or choose a bottle from an independent producer. ¹

See also: National Homebrew Day, World Wine Tourism Day, National Wine Tasting Day, National Drink Wine Day

History of National Craft Distillery Day

National Craft Distillery Day was founded in 2019 by Nicholas Strauser, Connie Strauser, and Brandy Strauser-Sobanski of N Scott Distillery. The date, May 22, connects with the distillery’s own story and the first flow of handcrafted spirits from its artisan still on May 22, 2017. The observance was created to recognize the growing craft distillery movement and the people working in a field often associated with small batches, hands-on production, and local business ownership.

Craft distilling fits into a much older history of distillation, but the modern craft spirits movement has a more recent identity. Today, a craft distillery is often understood as a smaller producer that values transparency about ingredients, location, distilling methods, bottling, and aging. Independent ownership and limited annual production are also important parts of how many industry groups describe the category. National Craft Distillery Day brings attention to that mix of technical skill, entrepreneurship, and local flavor.

Why is National Craft Distillery Day important?

National Craft Distillery Day matters because small distilleries often add variety to a market dominated by large spirits brands. A craft producer may make whiskey, gin, vodka, rum, brandy, liqueurs, or other spirits in smaller runs, sometimes using local grain, fruit, botanicals, or regional influences. That approach gives customers a way to learn more about where a spirit comes from and how production choices affect taste. It also supports small businesses that may be closely tied to their local communities.

The day also encourages more thoughtful drinking culture. Visiting a distillery is not only about sampling a product; it can include learning about fermentation, distillation, barrel aging, proofing, labeling, and responsible service. For many visitors, a tour turns a bottle into a story about equipment, ingredients, laws, craft, and labor. That kind of awareness can help people appreciate spirits with more care and moderation.

• It supports small and independent producers.
• It highlights the skill behind distilling.
• Local ingredients can get more attention.
• Distillery visits can be educational.
• Responsible appreciation matters.

How to Celebrate National Craft Distillery Day

Visit a nearby craft distillery if it offers public tours or tastings, and check its hours before going. Ask questions about the base ingredients, still type, aging process, or the story behind a particular spirit. Buy a bottle directly from the producer when local laws allow it, or look for a local craft label at a licensed retailer. Adults who drink should plan transportation carefully and keep the focus on tasting, not overindulging.

The day can also be useful for learning at home. Read about the differences between whiskey, gin, rum, vodka, brandy, and liqueurs, or look up how distillation separates and concentrates alcohol. A simple cocktail made with one craft spirit can show how flavor changes when the base ingredient changes. For people who do not drink alcohol, the day can still be a chance to learn about local manufacturing, hospitality, agriculture, and small business culture.

• Book a distillery tour.
• Try a guided tasting flight.
• Buy from a local licensed retailer.
• Learn one classic cocktail recipe.
• Arrange a safe ride home.

National Craft Distillery Day Dates

1. https://americancraftspirits.org/about-acsa/craft/[↩]