Craft Spirits Weekly
Welcome to the 67th 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.
Tennessee Legislature Passes Sunday Sales Bill
Seven-day liquor and wine sales will be legal in  Tennessee  if the governor signs a bill lawmakers passed Wednesday, despite opposition from religious conservatives. The bill would allow liquor stores to open for business on Sunday, effective immediately, and grocery stores to sell wine on Sunday, starting next January. Liquor and wine could also be sold on holidays, with the exception of Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. (US News & World Report)
Distillery 291 Puts Colorado Rye on the Map
Move over, barley, and make room for rye—Colorado is quickly developing a reputation for whiskey to rival that of its beer. Case in point:  Distillery 291 . In the past few weeks alone, the Colorado Springs producer has raked in big accolades, garnering two medals at the Denver International Spirits Competition—a double gold for its small-batch rye and a gold for its one-year-aged bourbon—as well as two World Whiskies Awards from UK publication Whisky Magazine, first for best American rye in late February and then for best rye on the whole darn planet in late March. (5280 Magazine)  
Beehive Diversifies at New Distillery
Bigger is better for Utah’s Beehive Distilling. The gin producer just moved into a 10,000-square-foot production facility where the showpiece is a shiny, new 450-gallon still. The new equipment will allow the distillery to start producing a variety of spirits including whiskey, rum and maybe brandy, said Matt Aller, a co-owner with Erik Ostling and Chris Barlow, who also is the head distiller. (The Salt Lake Tribune)
Reminder: We Still Need Your Response for 2018 Craft Spirits Data Project
ACSA, Park Street and the IWSR are again asking for your help. We are collecting, analyzing, and reporting on economic data for our craft spirits community, the media, and Congress. Reinvestment of the FET savings, job growth, in-state versus out-of-state sales, and bottom line contribution to the U.S. economy will be reported. This year, this data is all the more important as we attempt to educate your federal Representatives and Senators on how you are using your tax savings. Tell us! We cannot do this without your assistance. We will again collaborate with our industry partners to secure updates from the wholesale and retail tier.
Durham Distillery to Double Production Capacity
North Carolina-based gin producer Durham Distillery is planning to double its production capacity as it prepares to launch in Europe. The distillery will add 2,369 square feet of space by expanding into the adjacent property, where it will install new equipment and production facilities. (The Spirits Business)
Sugarlands Sees 50 Percent Growth
Sugarlands Distilling Company, an East Tennessee distillery, experienced impressive growth in its fourth year of business. It saw a 50 percent annual growth in distribution sales, it expanded its distribution area to 24 states and added four products to its award-winning line of spirits. (BevNet)
Twisted Path Opens New Tasting Room
Twisted Path Distillery’s new tasting room in Milwaukee’s Lincoln Warehouse (2018 S. First St.) replaces the smaller one preceding it— the speakeasy you may remember as Dock 18 Cocktail Lab. Twisted Path owner Brian Sammons announced in late 2017 that he’d end the confusion caused by having a tasting room with not only a different name but run by the staff of fellow warehouse tenant Bittercube Bitters. (Milwaukee Magazine)
New Jersey Distillery to Close
James Yoakum wants everyone to know he's still in good spirits, even though his dream of creating a successful liquor distillery in downtown Camden is coming to a close. "A lot of people have dreams about starting a business, chasing their dreams," Yoakum said Wednesday. "I went out and did it. You can chase your dream and not really have it work out the way you want it, but still come away glad you did it. We had a good 4-year run, and starting from where we started I'm still pretty proud of what we did." (NJ.com) 
Minnesota Distilling Scene Moves Beyond Twin Cities Region
Cocktail enthusiasts have something new to cheer about: Minnesota’s growing craft distilling trend is spreading north. The Brainerd, Minnesota City Council approved regulations last week that open the door for the city’s first microdistillery and cocktail room —part of a budding movement to revitalize the city. (Star Tribune)
Baltimore Whiskey Company Launches Straight Rye
Over in Baltimore, Maryland, whiskey news is often dominated by Sagamore Spirit, the high-flying whiskey distillery backed by Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank. To date Sagamore has been releasing whiskey sourced outside of Maryland, though it does have locally distilled product in barrel aging. Meanwhile, Baltimore Whiskey Company has just released Epoch Rye, said to be the first straight rye distilled in the city in almost a century. (The Whiskey Wash)
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