Washington, DC (April 30, 2026) – The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) unveils the Certified Craft Seal, a TTB-approved certification mark designed to give consumers a clear, reliable way to identify spirits produced by independent U.S. craft distilleries.
The Certified Craft seal is the result of more than two years of development and numerous design iterations, with consumer recognition guiding every step of the process. The final mark depicts a decanter, a symbol chosen to reflect quality, craftsmanship and responsible enjoyment, and is intended to become an instantly recognizable visual cue on shelves. It is designed to be showcased across bottle labels or as bottle stickers, neckers, websites and e-commerce platforms, point-of-sale materials, social and digital advertising, print and promotional materials.
The seal launches following a successful pilot program with a handful of leading craft producers, including Kings County Distillery, Cotton & Reed, Lyon Rum, Catoctin Creek Distilling Co., and Sugarlands Distilling Co., among others.
Margie A.S. Lehrman, CEO, American Craft Spirits Association, said, “We started this process by asking a simple question: How can we make it easier for consumers to confidently choose craft spirits? The Certified Craft Seal is designed to help consumers navigate a crowded retail environment, giving them a clear, trustworthy signal that the spirit in their hand was produced thoughtfully by an independent U.S. distillery. When consumers feel confident in what they’re buying, our entire craft community benefits.”
The development of the seal was led by Colin Spoelman, longtime ACSA board member and co-founder and distiller at Kings County Distillery, who brought hands-on experience from helping create and steward the Empire Rye trademark and logo. Spoelman worked closely with ACSA leadership and member companies to refine both the design and the qualifications behind the mark to ensure the seal clearly communicates what consumers should expect from a certified craft spirit.
“We were relentless about getting this right for the consumer,” Spoelman added. “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together and excited to finally share the Craft Seal with my peers across the country. This gives independent distillers a way to speak with one clear visual voice — and gives consumers a simple way to support true craft products.”
CERTIFIED CRAFT SEAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Use of the ACSA Craft Seal is limited to current ACSA members who meet the association’s definition of a craft spirits producer, including: being an independent, licensed distiller with a valid DSP; producing fewer than 750,000 proof gallons removed from bond annually; having no more than 50% ownership by a producer whose combined annual production exceeds 750,000 proof gallons removed from bond; and adhering to ACSA’s Code of Ethics.
Craft distillers interested in using the seal can learn more and access guidelines at https://americancraftspirits.org/programs/acsa-seal/
The Certified Craft seal is a certification mark owned and administered by the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA). Through clear and rigorous guidance, ACSA will work with its member companies to showcase how it may be applied consistently and responsibly across packaging, marketing, and communications. To maintain the integrity of the seal, ACSA requires that participating craft distilleries adhere to the organization’s implementation and usage guidelines.
Tags: American Craft Spirits American Craft Spirits Association American Distilled Spirits Certified Craft Seal Craft Seal Craft Spirits
