Craft Spirits Weekly
Welcome to the 78th 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 Riff Ready to Release Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
New Riff Distilling announced the release of its bourbon that has been patiently aging for four years. Distilled by an expert beer brewer-turned-distiller, New Riff Bourbon will be available in spirits retail stores, bars and restaurants beginning in Fall 2018. (BevNet) 
Rabbit Hole Pulls Permit Application for Second Location
A Louisville distillery had plans to build a second location in Henry County, but pulled its permit application because of push back from neighbors. Rabbit Hole Distillery is located on East Jefferson Street in Louisville. The owner decided not to move forward with the plan to expand on Lake Jericho Road in Henry County during a public meeting on Monday night. (WDRB)
Grain-to-Glass Experience Opens at Wisconsin's Ledgerock Distillery
In the peaceful countryside of "the ledge," lights glow from cupolas atop a barn—blue if vodka is being distilled, green if gin. Follow the light, and you’ll arrive at the newly opened Ledgerock Distillery, which welcomes you in to try a sample. (Fond du Lac Reporter)   
Romanian Spirits Producer to Establish Distillery in Upstate New York
The Alexandrion Group, the largest spirit producer in Romania, is looking to spend in excess of $40 million to establish its first US distillery. The company, which announced last July its intent to expand to the US, says it will spend more than $40 million in the construction and renovation of its new 120,000-square-foot distillery and tasting room at 39 Seminary Hill in Carmel, New York. (Globe St.)
Vermont Spirits Boom Creates Opportunity for Local Cooperage
Three Vermont National Guardsmen—Tony Fletcher, Josh Waterhouse and Mac Broich—took note of the growth of spirits production in the state and decided to start a business. Egged on by their compatriots at Danger Close Craft Distilling in St. Albans — who are also veterans — the trio founded Green Mountain Grain & Barrel in 2016. They make barrels for aging whiskey and other liquors. They work out of a renovated milk parlor on Fletcher's property in Richmond. (Burlington Free Press)
Michigan's Motor City Gas Undergoes $500K Expansion
Rich Lockwood and his wife, Tonya, opened their Motor City Gas whiskey craft distillery on Fourth Street in Royal Oak three years ago and tapped into a rising demand for craft spirits. Now they are undertaking a $500,000 expansion to their tasting room and distillery nearly doubling their footprint, and plan to begin distributing their craft whiskeys to retail sellers. (The Oakland Press)
Copper & Kings Relaunches Absinthe Alembic
Louisville-based Copper & Kings American Brandy Co. is relaunching its absinthe spirits in new packaging and adding a barrel finished absinthe to the permanent line-up. In addition, the distillery also serves a unique rotating, bottle-your-own barrel aged variant available for purchase by distillery visitors. (BevNet) 
California Craft Spirits Competition Announces Winners
The California Craft Spirits Competition has announced the award-winning craft spirits from its third-annual blind-tasting event, held June 19 at the California Mid-State Fair. Best of Show went to Re:Find’s Limoncello (Paso Robles), after winning a Double Gold Medal and the Best Fruit Liqueur award. (Paso Robles Daily News) 
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