Craft Spirits Weekly
Welcome to the 123rd 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.
Wisconsin’s Wollersheim Helps Vets with Red, White & Blue Corn Whiskey
In an effort to do something good for local veterans, Wollersheim Distillery created a one-of-a-kind Red White & Blue American Whiskey with the help of a local farmer who grew red, white and blue corn exclusively for Wollersheim. (Channel 3000)
There's Still Time to Enter the Heartland Spirits Whiskey Competition
Following its successful launch in 2017, the second Heartland Spirits Whiskey Competition returns to Chicago's CH Distillery on June 4. The competition is open only to products made with corn. ACSA-sanctioned-and-supervised judging will include best-of-state awards for Heartland states, including Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.   We will also have best-of-category and medalists in each category. The competition is made possible through the generous funding and support of your state corn grower associations. The registration deadline is May 25.
Garrison Brothers Raises $30,000 for Texas Park Restoration
Garrison Brothers continues its mission to give back to the community while producing high quality bourbon. Its latest contribution was a $30,000 donation to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation from Good Bourbon for a Good Cause, the 501(c)(3) public charity founded by the Garrison Family and their staff in 2018. The funds were earmarked for the restoration, preservation and a long-term landscaping plan for Balmorhea State Park and its stunning spring-fed pool, which shuttered in May 2018 due to structural damage. The donation resulted from sales of Balmorhea, a rich, twice-barreled bourbon named after the West Texas park. (Forbes) 
2020 ACSA Convention Call For Presentations Now Open!
The Call for Presentations is officially open for ACSA’s 2020 Convention at the Hyatt Regency, Portland, Oregon from March 29–31, 2020. Share your expertise with the craft spirits community! ACSA’s Education Committee is seeking out technical, sales and marketing, business and legal/compliance topics. Of particular interest are presentations on:

• Advanced technical topics (especially all things yeast)
• Sensory tasting sessions
• Industry-specific safety topics
• In-depth sessions on specific ingredients
• Distribution
Your Input Is Critical! 2019 Craft Spirits Data Project
It's time once again for the Craft Spirits Data Project to query you on the economics of the industry. The Craft Spirits Data Project, which ACSA conducts in conjunction with Park Street and the IWSR, provides the industry's most detailed picture of the size, scope, growth trajectory and economic contributions of the craft distilling industry. This information will be critical as we continue our fight to keep the reduction in the Federal Excise Tax.
Seattle’s Copperworks Unveils Amaro-Finished American Single Malt
Seattle’s Copperworks Distilling Company has announced a new limited-run American single malt finished in casks that once held amaro, the bitter Italian liqueur, labeled as Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey Release 17. (The Whiskey Wash)
Buffalo, New York's Lockhouse Repurposes Cherry Blossoms in Gin
The dozens of cherry blossom trees in front of the Buffalo History Museum served as a picture-perfect backdrop for the 6th annual Cherry Blossom Festival this past weekend. However, after the whirlwind of events are over, and the blizzard of blossoms settles to the ground, they get vacuumed up. Partnering with the Olmsted Park System, Lockhouse Distillery sucks up the blossoms, about 50 pounds of them during the whole season, and uses them as one of the ingredients for their Sakura Gin. (Spectrum Local News) 
Kentucky’s Jeptha Creed Releases First Batch of Bourbon
Jeptha Creed distillery is introducing its first batch of bourbon, which has been a long time coming. Six years in the making have now come full circle for the Nethery family in the form of Jeptha Creed. (WLKY News)
Black Band Distillery to Open in Peoria, Illinois
A distillery in expected to open in the not-too-distant future in the Warehouse District. Black Band Distillery is to be housed in a renovated building at 1000 SW Adams St. (JournalStar) 
Craft Spirits and Craft Brewers Compete for Thirsty Consumers
The share of big name brand premium beers in the overall beer market is down by almost 10 percent since 2010, according to the National Beer Wholesalers Association. And while high-end craft beers and imports are growing, that growth is slowing. Enter the new kid on the block: craft spirits. (Marketplace)
Gompers Distillery Opens in Oregon
While Redmond, Oregon has its share of breweries, wineries and even a hard cider maker, spirits had eluded the city. But a new craft distillery is bringing Redmond forward in that regard, while making a nod to the past. Gompers Distillery opened its 6,832-square-foot Redmond tasting room and production facility to the public April 26. (Bend Bulletin)
Distillery Opens at Art House Theater in Lancaster, Pennsylvania 
Distilling has begun and meals are being served at Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse in downtown Lancaster. The roughly 60-seat restaurant opened last month adjacent to the theater, while stills for Lancaster Distilleries—set up in a corner of the restaurant—began operating this week.(Lancaster Online)
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