Craft Spirits Weekly
Welcome to the 108th 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.
TTB Updates Spirits Industry on Backlog Caused by Government Shutdown
The TTB sent this notice today regarding the status of applications held up by the Federal government shutdown:

We have received a number of questions regarding how we plan to address the significant backlog of applications and other work items we now have following the shutdown, including how long it will take us to resume normal operations. We recognize that TTB approvals are critical to your businesses, and that the partial government closure over the past five weeks may have adversely affected your operations.

The permit, formula, and label submissions received during the funding lapse roughly doubled our existing backlog prior to the shutdown, at which time we were on average achieving our service standards of 15 days for label and formula applications and 75 days for permit applications. We are still assessing the overall effect of the shutdown on our service levels going forward, and we are committed to working diligently to process these applications and restore normal operations as quickly as possible. We encourage you to monitor  TTB.gov  for the latest information regarding our  processing times .

What we’re doing
As part of our recovery efforts, we are:

  • actively developing strategies to further streamline processes;
  • redeploying staff to critical areas;
  • authorizing the use of overtime where appropriate; and
  • applying our risk-based enforcement approach to address compliance issues that may have occurred during the shutdown.

What you can do
You can help us recover from the shutdown by:

  • Withdrawing any applications that you may have submitted but no longer need, reducing the size of the overall backlog;
  • Waiting to submit an application until you have decided on a final formulation or label because multiple submissions for the same product further increases the backlog;
  • Ensuring that any applications that you submit are complete and correct, speeding our review and approval process; and
  • Checking TTB.gov for any needed guidance or assistance prior to reaching out to us by phone or email, minimizing the overall volume of inquiries requiring a response.

We will provide an update on our efforts to restore normal operations and service levels when additional information is available, and thank you for your understanding as we work to address these challenges.
State of Tennessee Awards $30K to Distillery That Will Use Local Grain
Tennessee awarded a $30,000 grant for the creation of a new distillery that will use locally produced grain. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture presented the award last week to Lost State Distilling, a new craft distillery coming to Bristol. (WJHL News Channel 11)
Register for Distillery Safety Management 101 in Orlando, Fla., March 7-8
Don’t miss our next safety regional program which takes place in sunny Orlando, Florida on March 7 and 8, 2019. This program is presented by Industrial Safety & Training Services, which provides strategic safety and consulting services to chemical, petrochemical, education, public emergency responders, power generation, construction, distillery, automotive, warehousing, hospital, environmental, maritime, gas drilling, transportation, other commercial and industrial clients across the US.  We have secured a discount room rate of $159 per night at Hyatt Place Orlando/Lake Buena Vista. The room block closes on February 13.

Topics covered will include:
  • Introduction to OSHA
  • Record keeping (injury and illness)
  • Differences between first aid/OSHA recordable
  • Requirements of written policies (what OSHA expects)
  • Hazard recognition
  • Elements of a safety management program
  • Regulatory training requirements
  • Auditing and assessment skills
  • General OSHA compliance

Here is what past registrants in Ohio, during the June 2018 program, are saying about Distillery Safety Management 101:

  • “I thought it was exceptionally well done and I learned a lot, coming back inspired, invigorated, and ready to make our workplace safer and more compliant. ISTS did an amazing job, I really can’t say enough.”
  • “I thought the training was extremely useful and I’d recommend it, along with any other ACSA seminar to anyone.”
Conn. Distillery Opening 100 Years After State Declined to Ratify 18th
Connecticut’s newest distillery timed its debut open house for Sunday, Feb. 3, the 100 th anniversary of the state declining to ratify the 18th Amendment authorizing Prohibition—with its whiskey and gin blends including ingredients derived from hemp. (The Hour)
ACSA 6th Annual Convention & Vendor Trade Show in 10 Days
Join fellow producers and other industry experts for the largest gathering of licensed craft spirits producers in the U.S. We'll be in Minneapolis, Minnesota February 10-12 with some cool pre-convention programs planned.
Seattle's Copperworks Unveils Single Variety Malt Whiskeys
Seattle-based Copperworks Distilling Co. announced the first releases in its new Single Variety Malt series of Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey. The new releases are made from a single variety of barley grown in one growing season on a single farm in the Skagit Valley, 70 miles north of the distillery. (The Drinkable Globe)
New Orleans Distillery Atelier Vie Launches New Brandy
Jedd Haas, the head distiller of Atelier Vie, has released his third run of Orphan Street brandy. This one is 100 proof and called “El Jefe.” It was aged for two years. To make the 18 bottles of this smooth spirit, Haas used nearly 100 gallons of wine. That’s why he has to charge $100 per bottle for Orphan Street “El Jefe” brandy. (The Times-Picayune via NOLA.com)
Pittsburgh's Wigle Whiskey Expanding
Just in time for the new Roaring Twenties, Pittsburgh’s premier distillery is expanding. Last week, the Strip District-based craft spirit  company  Wigle Whiskey announced that it has purchased both its current headquarters and the adjoining building on Smallman Street. The acquisitions will enable the boutique distillery to double its existing space and expand the workshops and social events the company is known for. (Next Pittsburgh)
Indiana's Edwin Coe Spirits Hosting Friday Grand Opening
Local distillery Edwin Coe Spirits in Churubusco, Indiana is inviting the public to a grand opening event and will introduce its new cocktail lounge Feb. 1. (Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly) 
South Carolina's Burnt Church Building 20K-Square-Foot, $7.7M Distillery
A locally run distillery is expanding in Beaufort County, South Carolina by investing $7.7 million in a new facility and bringing 27 new jobs. Burnt Church Distillery will be creating a 20,000-square-foot facility that will include a 7,000-square-foot space for tastings, events, merchandise and displays of historical research, according to a South Carolina Department of Commerce news release. (The Island Packet)
Preservation Spirits to Open in Sacramento This Spring
A new spirits distillery is set to open in Sacramento within the next few months. Preservation Spirits announced Friday a plan to open a restaurant and bar with an on-site distilling operation in Midtown by spring 2019. (KCRA Channel 3) 
American Craft Spirits Association | americancraftspirits.org