ADI Hands-on Distilling Workshops
Hands-on Whiskey Distilling and Basic Distillery Operation
November 12-16, 2017
Location: McMenamin's Edgefield Distillery - Troutsdale, OR
Instructor: James Whelan, Head Distiller at McMenamin's Edgefield Distillery
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Instructor James Whelan, Head Distiller at McMenamin's Edgefield Distillery
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Blending and Maturation
December 8-9, 2017
Location: Ironroot Republic Distillery, Dennison, TX
Instructor: Nancy Fraley
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Registration open for 2018 ADI Judging of Craft Spirits
Enter your spirits in the
12th Annual Judging of Craft Spirits. One of the most prestigious international spirits competitions. Winners to be announced at the 2018 ADI Conference in Portland, OR.
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for
London Craft Distilling
Expo & Conference
Full Schedule Announced
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Readers' Choice winners: Best craft distilleries of 2017
USA Today readers helped a panel of spirits experts crown the best producers of craft gins, vodkas, whiskeys, rums and specialty spirits in the country.
Read more
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New Releases
Events & Milestones
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Falls Church Distillers ribbon cutting Thursday, Sept. 21
Falls Church Distillers is having their official ribbon cutting on Thursday, September 21 at 4pm. Falls Church City Council Members, State Delegates and other Virginia civic officials are expected to be in attendance.
More info.
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Tenth Ward Distilling Co.,
announces their Honeyjack'd Happy Hour
A celebration of a local collaborative effort involving three Frederick County craft beverage manufacturers. Friday, September 29th.
More info.
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Dripping Springs Vodka 2017 Wildlife series bottles back
San Luis Spirits, home of Dripping Springs Vodka and Gin, announced that their popular wildlife labels are now available at select stores across Texas.
More info.
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Virginia Distillery Company Whisky Tiki events
Whisky Tiki at Archipelago (1201 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009) on Sunday, September 24, 7-10 pm
Freaky Tiki at Wink & Nod (3 Appleton St, Boston, MA 02116) on Tuesday, October 31.
More info.
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Dead Guy meets his spirit
The dead have collided with Dead 'N' Dead, a combination of award-winning Dead Guy Ale and Dead Guy Whiskey barrels. Part of Rogue's DIY Revolution, Dead 'N' Dead is another example of how Rogue utilizes everything under its roof to craft distinctly unique products.
More.
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Bar 57 returns to Philly Thursday for limited time
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The power of one: Sand Creek Distillery is set to release its first product
Sand Creek Distillery will be releasing its first offering--Standard Single Malt--to invited guests on September 24th. Sales room will open to the public in late October.
Read More.
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New Release - Burnt Rock Bourbon
Entirely different from the distillery's flagship four-grain, wheated bourbon (corn, wheat, oats, and barley), Burnt Rock Bourbon is a 12- to 18-month old corn, rye, and maple wood-smoked barley named after a popular hiking trail up Burnt Rock Mountain in the Mad River Valley of Vermont. Read more
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Harvest Fest & Good Land Cranberry Liqueur Release
Join us [Great Lakes Distillery] for a brand new fall event - Harvest Fest! We're still celebrating our Seasonal Pumpkin Spirit, but this year we're releasing a new product - Good Land Cranberry Liqueur! Be the first to try this unique spirit!
September 30, 2017. Read more
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Craft distilling: truly a "mom & pop" business for many
Bill and Johanna Welter of Journeyman Distillery with their daughter.
More husband & wife craft distillers
(continued from last week):
Blue Sky Distillery
: Mark & Kim Rangos
Catoctin Creek
: Becky and Scott Harris
Chicago Distilling Co.
: Jay & Noelle DiPrizio
Copper Fiddle Distillery
: Fred & Janet Robinson
Dueling Ground Distillery
: Marc and Anne Dottore
Durango Craft Spirits
: Michael and Amy McCardell
Fire Oak Distillery
: Guy and Tanya Endsley
Ghost Coast Distillery
: Chris and Julie Sywassink
Good Time Beverages
: Robert and Stacy Whyte
Händen Distillery
: Kristin and John Padberg
Journeyman Distillery
: Bill and Johanna Welter
KOVAL Distillery
: Robert & Sonat Birnecker
Lolo Creek Distillery: Matt & Kasie Grunow
Millwright Spirits Distilling Co
: Aaron & Robin Coffeen
Mingo Creek Craft Distillers
: Jim and Ellen Hough
Missouri Ridge Distillery
: Greg and Jolie Pope
Red Fork Distillery: Michael and Dana Hoey
Silverback Distillery
: Christine Riggleman & Denver Riggleman
Sinister Distilling Company
: Eric "Howie" and Jamie Howard
Stark Spirits
: Greg Stark and Karen Robinson-Stark
StilL 630
: David & Sidni Weglarz
Sweetgrass Farm Winery & Distillery
: Keith and Constance Bodine
Tailwinds Distillery
: Toby & Jillian Beall
Thinking Tree Spirits
: Emily and Bryan Jensen
Up North Distillery
: Randy & Hilary Mann
Virginia Distillery
: Gareth and Maggie Moore
Vivacity Spirits
: Caitlin Prueitt and Chris Neumann
Waterpocket Distillery
: Julia and Alan Scott
Whiskey Acres Distillery
: Nick & Amanda Nagele
Whiskey Hollow
: Les & Kris Beasley
Whidbey Island Distillery: Bev and Steve Heising
Next time:
craft distilling families!
This list could be over 1,200, with all of the craft distillers who rely on the support and partnership of their families! But we'll show a sampling.
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Three-day advanced distilling workshop in Utah
New World Distillery, in Eden, UT, will be hosting a second hands-on, interactive course with Craft Distillers Chris and Ashley Cross, and Odin of iStill.
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Distilleries raising funds for hurricane relief
We are so pleased, but not surprised, to hear of so many events to help others!
Watershed Distillery
collected enough donations in less than 24 hours to fill two box trucks filled with supplies to send to Texas.
"We knew we had a box truck. We knew we could fill it," said co-owner of Watershed Distillery David Rigo.
Out of concern for those affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, Bully Boy Distillers is giving 10% of their Saturday 9/16 event sales to the Red Cross.
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If your business has been impacted by a natural disaster, you may be eligible for a waiver of late filing, payment, or deposit penalties. You may also qualify for a refund of alcohol or tobacco excise tax on damaged product.
More info.
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Listing from the TTB of the latest permits issued for Distilled Spirits Plants since last [TTB] publication.
More info.
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ADI's Certification Program now has
2,792 spirits listed!
Apply today
and join the 576 micro-distilleries who are truly
craft.
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Miscellany from
ADI President Bill Owens
Attending ADI Conference pays off for Ironclad Distilling
In a letter from Ironclad owner:
I had mentioned to Bill about our Crowdfunding campaign that was started because of the Indiegogo speaker from the Baltimore ADI conference. Our campaign ended on August 28 and we reached 100% of our goal. Indiegogo and Business Microventures were wonderful to work with, did an awesome job of promoting us, and were exceedingly helpful in getting our campaign up and running. I would recommend them to anyone.
Please let [others] know how successful those speakers at conferences can be.
-Stephen King, Ironclad Distillery.
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The craziest name for a beer is "Free Kittens"
I had to have a glass.
Question: Did
Bill's Pumpkin Ale, 32 years ago, start all this fun?
BillOwens.com
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Bar Wars: Alaska alcohol board bans
distilleries from selling cocktails
Mixed drinks in question at Alaska distilleries
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Craft distilleries in Alaska are reeling after a decision that could change the part of their businesses most accessible to the public: tasting rooms. Distilleries have been operating tasting rooms since 2014 legislation allowing that practice. But now, state officials are saying distilleries aren't allowed to serve mixed drinks.
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The tasting room at the Port Chilkoot Distillery in Haines opened almost three years ago, serving cocktails like 'High Bush Cranberry Gimlets,' 'Spruced Up Gin,' and 'Moscow Moose.'
Craft distilling is a growing industry in Alaska. There are currently nine in the state. Port Chilkoot part-owner Heather Shade says the tasting room has been a crucial part of their growth.
"The tasting rooms allow a small business to start up, they allow us to succeed in a challenging economic environment in the state, and it allows up to grow our staff, infrastructure and distribution by having cash flow into our businesses to do that," says Shade.
Read more.
Related story:
Bar Wars: Alaska alcohol board bans distilleries from selling cocktails
Read story.
UPDATES
(as of press time):
Alaska distilleries may be forced to stop serving mixed drinks
Read story.
Alaska's distillery trouble may have been caused by a regulatory blind spot
Read story.
Alaska state legislature stands with craft distillers
In a letter to the
Director of the Alaska Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office dated August 15, 2017, Alaska State Senators and Representatives show solidarity with local distillers:
Dear Director McConnell, It has come to our attention the Alaska Alcohol & Marijuana Control office has issued an advisory notice to Alaska's distillers regarding distillery licenses and what practices are permitted in their tasting rooms. In the 28th Alaska Legislature we sponsored HB 309 which clarified that distillers can sell and give away samples of their product under certain conditions.
Read more.
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U.S. Congressman Higgins introduces bill to level playing field for American rum producers
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U.S. sugar cane fields (courtesy of Bayou Rum)
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Repeal the rum tax cover-over
The rum tax cover-over has placed rum producers in the continental United States at a distinct disadvantage to their counterparts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. H.R. 3476 repeals the cover-over and creates a fair and level playing field for rum producers, regardless of their location. Read more.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) has introduced H.R. 3476, a bill that repeals the cover-over of federal excise tax revenue from rum production and allows rum producers in the continental United States to better compete with producers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). Federal excise taxes collected on rum in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are returned to the treasuries of Puerto Rico and the USVI. This revenue transfer is referred to as the cover-over. "Tax revenues collected from U.S. companies should be used in a manner that benefits our entire economy, however in our domestic rum industry, these funds are taxed and collected equally but then sent in their entirety to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This creates an unlevel and clearly unfair playing field, which disrupts innovation and prosperity," said Congressman Higgins. "Our economy thrives when Congress practices and maintains free market principles and open competition, and this piece of legislation is a step in that direction.".
Read more.
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Dying art: creating brandy the old-fashioned way
by Eugene Yiga, Business Day [South Africa]
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Bygone age: A pot still used for making brandy on a farm in the Karoo. The big companies control the market and there are not many independent producers in SA.
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The winery on Mons Ruber near Oudtshoorn dates back to 1850. "The set-up is similar to the traditional methods," says co-owner and manager Coenraad Meyer. "Much of the landmarks on the farm have disappeared, but you could locate where the pot still was by looking at the trees."
South Africa's early distillers set up close to irrigation furrows for cleaning purposes and near trees for shade. But when production began to expand, it became impossible for one man do to it all.
"The farm had about eight pot stills, which was quite a job to keep running because you needed three people per still and they would run it day and night to get through the harvest as quickly as possible," Meyer says. "It was a major exercise."
Read more.
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Beyond the cask: Repurposed whiskey wood for music and riding
by Madeline Nyqvist and Kelly Vaughan, DrinkMe
The craftsmen of Ireland have joined hands to present a limited edition set of handmade guitars that you can obtain in your own home. The eldest whiskey distillers in Europe, Bushmillls, has donated their spare barrel materials to the small staffed artisans of Lowden instruments to create a series of seriously individualistic pieces of art... Not only is this functional artistry, but they're taking advantage of a market that United States hasn't; because of distilling laws The States are only legally allowed to use aging whiskey barrels once before they are required to dispose of them, most European countries (especially Ireland) have taken advantage of these low cost barrels and double-purposed them into eco-friendly artwork whose music will project for others to enjoy for years.
Read more
Related: Whiskey distiller Glenmorangie teams up with Renovo bikes
Read story.
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Home distillation on the rise
Despite ban on distilling alcohol at home,
craft spirit hobby movement is growing
by C. Jarrett Dieterle, The Federalist
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Making apple brandy in Serbia.
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Although laws concerning distillation vary from state to state, there is a federal ban in place on distilling spirits for consumption, even for personal use. Owning distillation equipment such as a copper pot still, however, is not illegal. This is because distillation stills could serve several other purposes: producing essential oils, distilling water for disinfection and the production of fuel alcohol to name a few.
There is a movement underway to reverse this ban. Seen as outdated by many, groups such as the Hobby Distiller's Association are actively lobbying on Capitol Hill. They want to add a provision to The Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act which would legalize home distillation. This would put home distillation on par with home wine making and beer brewing, which have been legal since 1978 when then president Jimmy Carter signed legislation allowing Americans to produce limited quantities of these beverages at home.
Read more
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A whiskey weekend awaits on the Tennessee trail
by
Lizzy Alfs, USA Today Network/Tennessean
Tennessee's whiskey industry is exploding. Now home to more than 30 distilleries, the state has experienced an unprecedented boom in whiskey production in recent years as the iconic spirit surges in popularity. Tennessee whiskey remains one of the state's top exports, thanks in large part to industry leader Jack Daniel's based in Lynchburg, Tenn.
As of this year, Tennessee officially has an organized Whiskey Trail which includes stops at more than two dozen unique distilleries stretching from East to West Tennessee.
Jam pack your weekend with distillery visits, hot chicken and communal-style Southern fare by starting and ending in Nashville, with a trip south to Lynchburg and Tullahoma in between.
More.
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Reclaiming the Cavalier: A distillery takes
shape inside a former laundry room
by
Stacy Parker, The Virginian-Pilot
Bright lights illuminate an interior room on the ground floor of The Cavalier Hotel. It used to be where the hotel's laundry was washed. Now something much different is taking shape: think Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory with shiny copper machinery, pipes, gauges and thermometers.
But instead of candy, this equipment will make spirits - vodka, bourbon, gin and rye whiskey. It will be one of the only craft distilleries in the world operating inside a hotel. Read more.
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Tattersall increases production output potential by 200 percent with custom new equipment install
"2017 has been an impressive growth year for Tattersall and the pace shows no signs of slowing into next year," says Jon Kreidler, Chief Officer, Tattersall Distilling. "We've also added new, custom stills and fermenters, more production and warehousing space. We are in conversations now with national-scope distribution partners in order to really prepare for the kind of nationwide business expansion that our investment in production will afford going forward." Read more.
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Pioneering legal distillery in Franklin County goes back to country roots
by Casey Fabris,
The Roanoke Times
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Chris Prillaman, 39, from Ferrum, is the distiller and owner of Twin Creeks Distillery in the Henry community of Franklin County, VA. |
With the recent boom in craft distilleries, Chris Prillaman decided he, a native son of the moonshine capital of the world, ought to give it a try. "I figured if they was doing it everywhere else, darn, somebody need to do it around here," he said.
So Prillaman started Twin Creeks Distillery in 2015. The endeavor has grown recently, with a tasting room and distillery store in Henry.
Twin Creeks previously had a production facility in Rocky Mount and considered opening a tasting room in the Jones Building, beside the Harvester Performance Center. The town council approved a special-use permit allowing the distillery to operate downtown.
Read more.
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New distilleries in the news
State Line Distillery in Wisconsin: John Mleziva's vision saw through crumbling floors, broken windows and grimy cinder-block walls.
He convinced friends and family to invest in his $1.2 million project and has worked around the birth in March of his first child, Chloe, to transform a blighted former manufacturing facility into a gleaming addition to Wisconsin's growing craft distilling industry. Read more.
Händen Distillery to open in September. Cedarburg [Wisconsin] will welcome Händen Distillery to its downtown this summer. The distillery, owned by Kristin and John Padberg, is still under construction but is set to open in September.
It promises milling, fermentation, blending and bottling areas, along with a lounge and bar area and summer outdoor seating. The operation's primary focus will be whisky, but vodka, gin and various seasonal spirits will also be offered. Read more.
Red Fork Distillery owners Michael and Dana Hoey hope to be bottling their product before the year is out in Red Fork [Oklahoma] on Route 66. When the law allows in 2018, the distillery will have a tasting room open to visitors.
Read more.
Danny Boy Beer Works announced a new venture in spirits,
Danny Boy Distilling Works
, "The latest innovation in the creative crafts that Danny Boy has mastered. The Distilling Works is now in operation at the brewery in the Village of West Clay. With this new distillery, we have taken the art and creativity of making wicked awesome craft beers and applied it to making a great lineup of spirits," said Kevin "KP" Paul, owner.
Sun King Brewery's approximately 15,000-square-foot craft distillery and tap room in Carmel is projected to open in spring 2018.
Big Woods Hard Truth Cinnamon Flavored Vodka in 750 mL bottles now is available exclusively and in limited quantities at all Big Woods restaurants and the distillery at Big Woods Bloomington.
Read more. (scroll to bottom for distillery news)
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