Craft Spirits Weekly
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Welcome to the 49th 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.
Seattle's Westland Distillery Makes Whiskey with Local Peat
Matt Hofmann walks along a small brown pond, the earth of its bank springing underfoot like a muddy mattress. The ground is, in fact, floating. It’s a peat bog on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, and it’s from here that Hofmann, the co-founder of Seattle’s Westland Distillery, is taking an unusual step for America’s booming spirits industry: making a whiskey whose “terroir” literally involves local dirt. (The Columbian)
Army Veterans Open New Vermont Distillery
After opening a brewery, a new distillery was the next logical move for one group of veterans. Steve Gagner, Matt Kehaya, and Zac Fike—all of whom served in Afghanistan—opened Danger Close Craft Distilling in St. Albans, Vermont. The team is also behind 14 th Star Brewing Co. For Gagner, opening a distillery made sense since beer is part of the distilling process. (The Manual)
NY Governor Signs Law for Craft Beverage Tax Relief
Legislation designed to boost the state’s craft beverage industry—and whose beginnings came by way of a Geneva, N.Y. brewer—has been signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-131 of Canandaigua, the bill’s co-sponsor in the Assembly, applauded Cuomo’s signing of a new tax exemption for licensed breweries, farm breweries, cider producers, farm cideries, distilleries, and farm distilleries. (Finger Lakes Times)
Wyoming Whiskey Turns 5
Trays of Wyoming Whiskey passed around the Pink Garter Theatre and people gathered in the middle of the room. “Everyone grab a shot and get in the picture,” David DeFazio said. Not only was DeFazio, and the crowd, celebrating the annual Wyoming Whiskey Bartender Shootout competition, it was also the fifth anniversary of the first release of the spirit. (Jackson Hole News & Guide)
Rabbit Hole Offers Glimpse Inside Expansion Project
In just five short years, Rabbit Hole Distilling has gone from one man’s vision to a $15 million, 55,000-square-foot facility and distillery in Louisville’s NuLu neighborhood that is eager to produce award-winning bourbon, whiskey and much more. (Insider Louisville)
Ellicottville Distillery to Launch Spirit Made with Locally Sourced Honey
Ellicottville Distillery is about to launch New York Craft Honey Spirit—made with locally crafted honey, according to distiller Bryan Scharf. To craft the spirit, he ferments honey to mead, then distills it to a spirit, which is an ancient process that requires time, patience and dedication similar to distilling spirits made from grain. (The Salamanca Press)
First Distillery in Somerset County, Maryland Hopes to Boost Tourism
The first distillery on Somerset County is opening to the public in just a few weeks. Complete with tours and tastings, the distillery will go beyond simply the production of alcohol. Tom and Tina Cropper are the two behind the Spirit of Patriots creation. Tom, a Vietnam veteran, is channeling his love for the country into giving back to veterans and first responders. (WBOC-16)
Chattanooga Distillery Shows Off New Digs This Weekend
Chattanooga Whiskey will unveil its new riverfront distillery and event space to the general public this weekend. And, of course, they’re throwing a party. (Nooga.com)
American Craft Spirits Association | americancraftspirits.org