In North American distilling, “craft” does not identify one stable production method: trade definitions differ on output, ownership, and practice, while handmade and traditional claims remain interpretive marketing signals.
The claim concerns category instability, not the quality or authenticity of any producer. Trade-association definitions and thresholds can change and must be refreshed before publication.
The chapter compares conflicting trade definitions and shows that size, ownership, and process language do not converge on one durable boundary.
Created from the full-book review of SRC-21. Dated association thresholds remain attributed and are not generalized as current. September 29 full-copy Offringa audit: Offringa's PDF 278–280 compares association criteria and sourcing/scale issues, supporting the bounded category distinction. Its pot-only definition, thresholds, state-law generalizations and policy forecasts are not accepted as current or universally accurate. Existing confidence, maturity, other-source evidence and public uses are unchanged.
Durable claim derived from the complete review of Whisky and Other Spirits (SRC-21).
Scope
In North American distilling, “craft” does not identify one stable production method: trade definitions differ on output, ownership, and practice, while handmade and traditional claims remain interpretive marketing signals.
Boundary
The claim concerns category instability, not the quality or authenticity of any producer. Trade-association definitions and thresholds can change and must be refreshed before publication.
Evidence logic
The chapter compares conflicting trade definitions and shows that size, ownership, and process language do not converge on one durable boundary.