Craft Spirits Weekly
Welcome to the 53rd 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.
New California Law Lets Distillers, Retailers Provide Free Rides
In hope of reducing the number of impaired drivers on the roads in 2018, a new California law that took effect Jan. 1 allows licensed alcohol sellers and manufacturers to offer free or discounted rides to drinkers. Assembly Bill 711 relaxes current rules, which prevent sellers from giving free goods or gifts in connection with alcohol consumption, and allows sellers to provide for free or discounted ride-sharing services, taxicabs or other ride options, KTLA reported. (Fox 5 San Diego) 
Bloody Butcher Becomes Heirloom Corn of Choice for Craft Bourbon
For the giant commercial distilleries that want a consistency of product in the rivers of whiskey they produce, buying endless fields (or warehouses) of commercial corn makes sense. The most common corn for those producers is called yellow dent, often the type designated #2. But for the craft distillers that are making whiskeys in smaller and often experimental batches, the big commercial corns don’t cut it. (The Whiskey Wash)
NOLA's Cane Land Releases Rhum Agricole
Cane Land Distilling Co. has set itself apart with its newest spirit, rhum agricole. The earthy flavor is unique to Louisiana delta soil, the company says. (225 Magazine)
Distillery May Open Inside Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel
William A. Lee hopes to get approval next week from the Chattanooga, Tennessee city council to open a distillery inside the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel, just past the dome lobby in what used to be the Gardens Restaurant dining room. Called Ridgecroft Refining for the time being, the distillery will make up to 5,000 gallons a month of high-end yet "reasonably priced" vodka, gin, rum and whiskey from locally sourced grains, when available, in stills of Lee's own designing. (Times Free Press)
Troy, Alabama Council Plans to Borrow $1.7 for Conecuh Ridge Project
The Troy, Alabama city council is seeking to borrow $1.7 million to continue moving forward with a project to bring Conecuh Ridge Distillery to Troy. The council unanimously ratified the project agreement at their last council meeting and are now ready to secure funding so that the land can be purchased as soon as Conecuh Ridge does its due diligence, said Mayor Jason Reeves. (Troy Messenger)  
MISCellaneous Distillery Eyes Former Bank Building for Expansion
A long-vacant bank in downtown Mount Airy, Maryland may be the future home of MISCellaneous Distillery. The building caught the attention of co-owners Dan McNeill and Meg MacWhirter when they started looking for spaces in Mount Airy. (The Frederick News-Post)
Napa Valley Distillery Returns to Crowdfunding Platform
Less than six months after completing its first equity round, Napa Valley Distillery has returned to Indiegogo/Microventure’s equity crowdfunding platform. The Reg D – 506 (C) campaign quickly surpassed its minimum funding target. (Crowdfund Insider)
South Mississippi's First Legal Whiskey Distillery to Open Soon
South Mississippi's only legal whiskey distillery is taking shape. It all started shortly after Matt Crittenden left college and entered the real world as an attorney. (WLOX)
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