No business plan for spirits in 06

Micro-distillers adding spirit to high-end hooch - East Bay Business Times

"Bill Owens of American Distiller, a professional group devoted to the advancement of craft distilling, says there are 77 micro-distilleries producing 0.5 percent of all U.S. spirits. Three years ago, when Owens started American Distiller, there were 52.

'For most people, this is a second business,' said Owens. 'Very few people are doing this full time to pay their rent. The banker types drop out real quick. Because they think it's like Silicon Valley and they want to get rich quick. We're talking about lifestyle, about pride in craftsmanship.'

Owens says he answers phone calls every day from people interested in starting a micro-distillery.

'Nothing is easy in this business,' he said. 'I've never seen a business plan for this industry, but that will happen in time. It's part of the industry maturing.'

Many in the micro-spirit industry see larger profits on the horizon as the evolving sophisticated tastes of consumers grow with the maturing industry. Owens predicts the market could sustain up to 400 micro-distilleries."