Craft Spirits Weekly
Welcome to the 128th 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.
WE NEED YOUR INPUT TODAY! 2019 Craft Spirits Data Project
Time is running out! We need your input today for the 2019 Craft Spirits Data Project! 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. That's why we urge you to take just a few minutes to answer the survey.
Michigan’s Iron Fish Distillery Brings Back Venerable Whiskey
A wall painting of a long-gone Copper Country product led to a conversation that brought it back to life. Iron Fish Distillery has revived the Copper Queen Whiskey, which originated in Calumet in 1914. It was the product of Narciso Bianchi, an Italian immigrant and saloon operator who sourced and relabeled the high-grade blended whiskey. (The Daily Mining Gazette) 
Hardware Distillery Makes Aquavit on Washington State Fjord 
While many children follow in their parents’ footsteps, Jan and Chuck Morris found themselves in the opposite scenario. Their son, Cody, was already a successful brewmaster in Seattle (he founded and ran Epic Ales in SoDo until 2015 and Mollusk Brewing in South Lake Union until earlier this year) when, in 2012, the elder Morrises decided to open a distillery as a retirement hobby. They created The Hardware Distillery Co., setting up the business in a 1930s building they bought on the picturesque shores of Hood Canal after relocating from Seattle. (Seattle Magazine)
N.C. Bill Would Allow On-Site Cocktails, Greater Number of Bottle Sales
Senate Bill 290, which is moving in the North Carolina Senate this month, would let distillers play by similar rules as their beer and wine counterparts. They’d be able to serve cocktails to their visitors and sell a larger number of bottles on-site. The bill also removes some hurdles in the ABC system that can make it difficult for distillers to get their beverages in bars and restaurants. (Wilkes Journal-Patriot) 
Deadline Approaching! Submit Your ACSA Convention Education Proposal
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

Please submit your proposal by July 1.
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Ohio Distillery, Sauce Maker Team Up to Raise Money for Tornado Relief
A Dayton-area distillery has teamed up with a specialty sauce maker with local ties to create a limited-edition bourbon sauce that will benefit Miami Valley residents impacted by the Memorial Day tornadoes. All proceeds of the sales of Mutt’s Sauce Limited Edition Bourbon Sauce, made with Stillwrights bourbon produced by Flat Rock Spirits distillery near Fairborn, will go to Dayton-area disaster recovery, according to Charlynda Scales, CEO of Mutt’s Sauce. (Dayton.com)
Growing Heirloom Corn Connects W.V. Distillery with Region’s History
When Athey Letts and his wife started Still Hollow a year and a half ago, they bought about 7,000 pounds of heirloom corn from Edgar Meadows, in Nicholas County. The Meadows family has been saving this seed for more than 200 years. (WV Public) 
SlipKnot Partners with Iowa’s Cedar Ridge Distillery
Slipknot has unveiled details of its very own craft spirit, No. 9 Iowa Whiskey, which will be available August 10 at select retailers in all 50 states and at the band’s headline "Knotfest Roadshow" North American tour. (Blabbermouth.net)
Send News to Craft Spirits Magazine
We are thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of our new, bi-monthly digital publication,  Craft Spirits Magazine , arriving this summer. The launch will coincide with the unveiling of the magazine’s official website, which will offer original content, as well as showcase some of the items that will appear on the pages of the magazine. 

Do you have exciting stories to share about your distillery? Keep us posted on new products, events, trends, tips and more by sending us a note at  news@americancraftspirits.org .
Virginia Winery Plans to Open Distillery and Brewery
A small farm in Montgomery County, Va. is trying to morph into a hub for “all things fermented,” according to Richard Obiso, owner of the recently rebranded Obiso Co. The business is better known as Whitebarrel, one of the first vineyard wineries to open in Montgomery County in 2011. It was then called Attimo Winery. But now Obiso said he and his wife are preparing to launch a brewery and distillery, called Blackbarrel Brewery and Blackbarrel Distillery. (Richmond Times-Dispatch) 
Pernod Ricard Acquires Majority Stake in Louisville’s Rabbit Hole
Pernod Ricard, based out of Paris, announced Friday morning in a press release that it had signed an agreement with Rabbit Hole, and that the Kentucky distillery would be a natural fit in its portfolio, which includes other well-known brands such as Jameson Irish Whiskey and Kahlúa liqueur. (Courier Journal) 
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