First wine, then beer. Now even spirits get micro

Small-scale distilleries making high-quality whiskey, gin, vodka and other spirits are taking off across the United States.

Boutique booze _ formally called artisanal spirits _ is a big trend in the bar business. Just as the market for craft beers and fine wines boomed during the past two decades, the audience has similarly grown for small-scale liquor that is high quality and often higher priced.

"Why is this better? Because it's not produced for 10 million people; it's produced for 5,000 people," says Bill Owens of the American Distilling Institute.

He estimates the number of small distilleries at just over 200, and growing by about …