US craft distillers hammered by economy: ‘We’re not celebrating’ [Video]

Craft distillers around the country are being hit by higher distilling input costs caused by inflation and looming tariffs on American whiskey, according to Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS) CEO Chris Swonger.

“Consumers are still willing to spend a little more for that special bottle of spirits, but they are feeling the pinch in their wallets and are much more price conscious with their reduced discretionary dollars,” Swonger told FOX Business. 

For the first time in more than a decade of being in operation, Jeff Quint, founder of Cedar Ridge Distillery in Swisher, Iowa, said he won’t see double-digit sales growth. This year, he’s projecting sales to his distributors will be flat. 

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“That’s new to us,” Quint said. 

Meanwhile, Sonat Birnecker Hart, the founder of Koval Distillery, told FOX Business she has faced a “rocky road of challenges since 2018.” 

Birnecker Hart said her distillery, which still hasn’t reached the pre-pandemic levels of growth and velocity, has …