Craft Spirits Weekly
Welcome to the 59th issue of Craft Spirits Weekly , a service dedicated to bringing you the news most important to the craft spirits distiller. Check your inbox every Thursday to find a curated selection of articles and news pieces from the American Craft Spirits Association.
Colorado Distillers Guild Unveils Distillery Trail Map
You’ve probably heard of, even traveled, the iconic Kentucky Bourbon Trail and  Tennessee Whiskey Trail , but did you know Colorado—notorious for its hiking, snowsports, and ‘greenery’— has forged a new spirits trail of its own? (The Manual) 
Michigan's Valentine Distilling Undergoes $1M Expansion
Founded by Rifino Valentine, Valentine Distilling Co. has seen exponential growth since opening its doors more than 10 years ago. With a constant demand for the ever-growing list of award-winning spirits, an expansion of the production facility has become a necessity. The investment to make such an expansion happen: $1 million. (The Oakland County Times)
There's Still Time to Register for Pre-Convention Events in Pittsburgh
Tickets are still available for the three signature events that take place just prior to the official start of the ACSA's 5th Annual Distillers Convention and Vendor Trade Show. On Saturday March 3 and Sunday March 4, Scott and Colleen Moore, principals at Dalkita Architecture and Construction, will lead the workshop, "Making Sense of Plans and Blueprints: Building Your First Commercial Distillery." The presenters will unveil the knowledge necessary to construct a safe and work-friendly distillery and provide practical advice on the concepts a distillery business owner must know. Also on March 3 and 4, Rob McCaughey and Antony Moss, MW, of Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) will present a WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits Master Class . Gain immediate credibility and a deeper understanding of spirits and liqueurs through the two-day class, which will conclude with a certification exam.You can register for both classes, which require separate registration fees, here .

Those not participating in the classes are invited to join us on March 4 for a private, intimate Distillery Tour , where you’ll get to taste all over the city before hitting the trade show floor. Spend the day with fellow industry enthusiasts as you explore and observe how local producers operate. Attendees will leave for the tour from the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown at 7:30 AM and visit Liberty Poles Spirits, Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka, Wigle Whiskey Distillery, Quantum Spirits and Maggie's Rum Farm. The fee for the tour is $99 and you can register here .
British-Themed Distillery to Open in Minneapolis
Craft spirit fans, take note: A new project in Minneapolis aims to produce British-inspired liquors, starting as early as spring. The 15,000-square-foot distillery will include what the distillery says will be the largest cocktail room in the Twin Cities and a 2,500-foot event space. (Twin Cities Pioneer Press)
Palmetto Distillery Opens Airport Retail Shop
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport passengers will be able to take some Upstate spirit, or rather spirits, home with them when they fly. Anderson, S.C.-based Palmetto Distillery has opened a 500-square-foot retail shop on the second floor of the airport’s main terminal just beyond the Transportation Security Administration’s centralized security checkpoint. (Upstate Business Journal)
Kentucky Moonshine Distillery to Open Tasting Room in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
A Kentucky-based moonshine distillery will soon open a Myrtle Beach, S.C. location at Broadway at the Beach. According to Colin Fultz, owner of Kentucky Mist Moonshine in Whitesburg, Ky., renovations are currently underway at the spot that will house a tasting bar and gift shop. (WMBF News)
Potomac Distilling Enlists 3 Prominent Chefs for Food Menu
Aspiring rum maker Todd Thrasher has tapped a trio of accomplished restaurateurs to help bolster the dining options at Potomac Distilling Co., the multi-level production facility projected to debut at the newly renovated Wharf later this year. (Eater DC)  
Lyon Distilling Expands into Delaware and Connecticut
St. Michaels, Md.-based Lyon Distilling Co., producer of a signature line of rums and ultra-small-batch whiskeys, has expanded its distribution into Delaware and Connecticut, following four years of continued growth in the Maryland and Washington, D.C. markets. (The Drinkable Globe)  
Number of Distilleries in Madison, Wis. Area Grows Tenfold in Past Decade
At last count there were 10 craft distilleries either in business or just about to open within 50 miles of Madison, eight of them in Dane County. Ten years ago, there was only one craft distillery in Madison—Yahara Bay Distillers—and two in the entire state. (Madison Magazine)
American Craft Spirits Association | americancraftspirits.org