Forge and Foundry Distillery in Minnesota, US, will permanently shut later this month after four-and-a-half years in operation.
Located in Stillwater, the distillery and tasting room was opened in August 2020 by husband and wife Andrew Mosiman and Christie Wanderer.
Launched on the former site of a winery on Main Street, Forge and Foundry produces vodka, gin, rum, liqueurs and cocktail kits.
The owners took to social media on 8 January to announce the closure of the distillery, with the last day in operation scheduled for Saturday 18 January.
In a statement on Facebook, the founders announced they had taken the “difficult decision” to shut the site but did not provide a reason.
“To our customers, thank you for being part of this journey,” the Facebook post said. “You’ve celebrated your milestones with us, brought your friends and families here, and supported us through thick and thin. You’ve made our little distillery a place filled with laughter, community, and unforgettable memories. We’ll always treasure that.
“Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for the amazing staff who have poured their hearts and souls into making this place what it is. Without their hard work, dedication, and passion, we wouldn’t have made it this far. They are truly the best, and this is an especially tough time for them. They’ve done absolutely nothing wrong, and yet they’re losing their jobs.
“If you visit us in the next two weeks, please show them kindness, patience, and understanding. They deserve it now more than ever.
“This isn’t the end we imagined, but we’re so proud of everything we’ve built together. Please stop by before the 18th to say goodbye, enjoy your favourite drink, and help us close out this chapter with love and gratitude.”
Craft distillers struggle
In September 2024, the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) noted that at least 49 craft distilleries have closed since January 2023, with the rate of closures accelerating in 2024. Among the closures was Colorado’s Golden Moon Distillery and Lost Spirits Distillery in Las Vegas.
While the ACSA reported a significant number of distillery closures, the number of active craft distillers in the US grew in 2023, up by 11.5% to 3,069 year on year, according to its Craft Spirits Data Project report. However, the rate of growth was slower than in previous years.
As of August 2024, there were 43 active craft distilleries in Minnesota, the ACSA report showed.
Furthermore, US craft spirits sales dropped for the first time since 2016, down by 3.6% to 13.5 million cases in 2023 versus 14m in 2022.
In other news, Diageo recently closed Herefordshire-based Chase Distillery and moved production to Scotland due to “substantial change” in the vodka and gin categories.
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Author: Nicola Carruthers
