With the growing popularity of craft distilleries, it’s no surprise that there’s at least one in every state. Whether it’s producing spirits or drinking them, everyone has options everywhere, but which state has the most distilleries in the US?

California

To no surprise (due to population, and not poor drinking habits), the Golden State holds the most distilleries in the United States by nearly double. According to a study done in 2020, California houses 243 craft operations alone! Aside from producing alcohol, they’re keen on drinking it too; they consume about 86,000 gallons annually.

With all the distilleries in Cali comes many exclusive experiences for the alcohol connoisseurs and tourists alike.

Napa Valley Distillery:

This distillery was the first to open in the area after prohibition closed doors on alcohol operations in the 1920s and 30s. Located in Napa, they specialize in vodka and small batch release spirits made with nine rare botanicals as ingredients. You could give the distillery a visit where they offer samples at the Grand Tasting Salon on site, or at the Vintage Bar Shop in the Oxbow Public Market in Downtown Napa. While you’re at it, be sure to taste test their Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc which they’re known for!

Charbay Distillery:

Just down the road from the aforementioned operation, Charbay Distillery offers something for everyone. One of America’s oldest brandy producers, they’re renowned for their “Alabamic Pot Still Brandy” alongside with small-scale tequila, rum, vodka, and whiskey. You could expect a tasting tour of the facility paired with the option of enjoying a hand-rolled cigar.

Starks Spirits Distillery:

I thought I’d give a micro distillery some love and attention. Located in SoCal, this nano facility offers a much more personal experience for their tastors and tourers. They pride themselves on award winning whiskeys, gin, rums, and their signature “Sunshine Brandy.”

New York:

Also to no wonder, New York comes in 2nd place, hosting 145 distilleries (see also ‘5 Best New York Distilleries We Highly Recommend‘). There’s always been an east vs. west battle in pop culture with almost everything. From music to fashion, the two coasts will always butt heads. In terms of spirits, I think the real winner is the people. Liquors on the shelves could be similar for both of these coastal regions, however the cocktails are very local; while west coasters would generally enjoy a more home-grown, organic, progressive approach to drink mixing, the easterners love their classic cocktails. Here’s some interesting distilleries for anybody in or visiting the Empire State:

Saint Lawrence Spirits

Located in Clayton NY, Saint Lawrence Spirits produce a wide variety of options including whiskey, bourbon, absinthe, gin, and vodka. They’ve won NY State Distillery of the Year in 2019, 2020, and 2021 award winning alcohols. 90% of their ingredients are sourced right within the county, and they even use the St. Lawrence river to proof down their spirits.

Old Home Distillers

You can find them in Lebanon, NY. This family owned operation is run out of a 100-year old barn! Whiskey of all makes is their specialty from corn, maple, and malt. They’re a small batch operation with the complete local experience; all of their ingredients are sourced right in New York state.

Black Button Distilling

This is a bourbon distillery that can be found in Rochester, NY (if you want to go further south, check out 15 Unmissable Distilleries In Georgia). The name was pegged from the originator’s family button making background. Jason Barret is the Founder and Master Distiller of this decade old operation. He likens color-blindness to stray from the family button business to pursue distilling spirits (he didn’t want to just make black buttons), but one thing he carried over was the superior quality product his family is known to produce. They pride themselves on being the first “grain to glass” distillery since the prohibition era, which means they grow their own ingredients that they use for their alcohol.

Who drinks the most alcohol?

We’ve talked about who makes the most alcohol, but who’s drinking it? Americans drink about 570 MILLION gallons of spirits annually, and unsurprisingly, both coasts drink the most per capita at about 2.5 gallons.

One of the smallest states in the US is also home to the biggest boozers, New Hampshire! The Granite State drinks 4.67 gallons per capita! This is likely due to their negligible booze tax. On the flipside, Utah drinks the least at about 1.35 per capita, and this is probably because of their strict liquor laws (see also ‘10 Highly Rated Distilleries In Utah Worth A Visit‘).

In closing

You could find great distilleries from coast to coast. Although most of them lay on both sides of the US, there’s loads of options in between! In fact, there’s at least one distillery in each state, and most of them offer a rich, local taste, and experience completely exclusive to the area. Whether it’s touring a distillery and taste testing their products on site, or supporting them by clearing the local liquor store shelves of their craft spirits, you should show some love to a distillery near you.