CARBONDALE, Ill. — Before Prohibition, one of Illinois’ largest consumers of corn were whiskey distilleries. Hundreds of the alcohol manufacturers, including 73 distilleries in Peoria alone, were pouring thousands of gallons and tax dollars statewide.

Post-Prohibition, the state’s distilling industry was all but shuttered with the exception from the Hiram Walker & Sons plant, which operated until 1988 in Peoria and is now used for ethanol production for Archer Daniels Midland. With the advent of the 21st century, distilling in Illinois is coming back. There are now 25 craft distilleries statewide, and with this growth comes professionalization of the industry with the Illinois Craft Distillers Assoc. (ICDA).

“As craft distillers, we are a young and growing industry,” ICDA President Matt Blaum said. “Here in Illinois, we are experiencing the same booming growth rate as we are on a national level. Our association was started to help our new industry grow and develop into sustainable, contributing businesses.”

The association was founded in 2012 by a group of craft distillers representing all parts of the state as a trade organization and business league. It offers distillery professionals an opportunity to share marketing events, help with regulations, educate the public and provide a platform for craft distilling to grow as an emerging state industry.

Nationally, craft distilling is a rapidly growing business. Exponential growth has occurred from 67 operations in 1993 to more than 350 today, national craft distilling experts note. Some observers believe the national craft distilling industry will peak at 2,000 distilleries.

The first Illinois craft distillery – North Shore Distillery in Lake Bluff in the metropolitan Chicago region – opened in 2004. The industry’s growth since has emanated from the Chicago area and now ranges from the north with Blaum Brothers in Galena to the south with Grand River Spirits in Carbondale. The association’s newest member is Whiskey Acres in DeKalb.

So what is craft distilling compared to industrial distilling? It depends on who is answering. Illinois licensing law says it is an alcohol producer of up to 35,000 gallons a year. Culture developing around the craft cites myriad definitions, with elements ranging from small batch and locally-sourced ingredients to handmade and on-premises mashing and distilling.

“We already have such variety and diversity in the alcoholic products made by our membership, and we look forward to more as our membership grows,” Blaum said.

Many craft distillers are making whiskey, bourbon, vodka, gin and rum, but they are also making aquavit, absinthe, barrel-aged gin and moonshine. More information about the ICDA can be found online at www.illinoisdistillers.org

(Editor’s note: Binder currently serves as secretary of the ICDA and is owner of Grand River Spirits.)