FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Andrew Staub
Communications Specialist
York County Convention & Visitors Bureau
717-852-9675, ext. 103 or astaub@yorkpa.org

Louise Heine
Destination Marketing Director
York County Convention & Visitors Bureau
717-852-9675, ext. 109 or louise@yorkpa.org 

YORK, PA - Tapping further into the craft beverage craze, the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau is launching the Keystone Craft Spirits TrailTM.

"The craft beverage scene has exploded and visitors are increasingly seeking out craft beer and local wines. It's only natural that craft spirits would follow," said Louise Heine, Destination Marketing Director for the York County CVB.

Old Republic Distillery, in conjunction with the York County CVB, organized a planning meeting earlier this year. That set the stage for the new Keystone Craft Spirits TrailTM, which will join two other trails centered on craft beverages.

"The Pennsylvania distilling community has grown tremendously over the last few years and our brother and sister distillers across the region have come together in an effort to restore Pennsylvania's distilling tradition," said Bill Mathias, co-owner of Old Republic Distillery. "As a group, we decided to form the Keystone Craft Spirits TrailTM to help promote our craft and looked to the YCCVB to help us coordinate these efforts knowing that it had already put together two successful trails. We are thrilled to partner with the YCCVB in launching this very exciting and much-anticipated venture."

Craft spirits are poised for a breakout. According to the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), there were 1,315 active craft distillers in the United States as of August 2016 and their market share has been growing in both volume and value from 2010 through 2015. 

According to the ASCA, Pennsylvania is among the top 10 states by number of craft distilleries, making it a prime location to plug into this emerging trend with the Keystone Craft Spirits TrailTM.

The York County CVB already organizes and manages the Mason-Dixon Wine Trail, a collection of family-owned wineries stretching across Central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland; and the Susquehanna Ale Trail, which features eight craft breweries in York County and beyond.

Now with the addition of the Keystone Craft Spirits TrailTM, visitors can map out the perfect journey to sip their way through the region.

"To make all three trails easy for visitors to navigate, the York County CVB has plans to launch the Good Libations TrailsTM, where information about each of the trails can be found. A map for the Good Libations TrailsTM will be developed and pinpoint all businesses participating on any of the three trails," Heine said.

Anyone interested in joining the Keystone Craft Spirits TrailTM, or the Mason-Dixon Wine Trail and Susquehanna Ale Trail, should email marketing@yorkpa.org by June 30.

The York County Convention & Visitors Bureau's Mission is to maximize tourism expenditures and their economic impact in York County, PA, through comprehensive tourism sales and marketing programs. The York County CVB's Vision is for a York County where tourism is recognized for the value of its economic impact and its role in raising the profile of York County as a sought-after destination. For more information on the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau, call 1-888-858-9675 or visit www.yorkpa.org.

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