Welcome to the 164th 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
Craft Spirits
magazine and the American Craft Spirits Association.
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ACSA Postpones Annual Distillers' Convention and Vendor Trade Show
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Since early February, the American Craft Spirits Association Board of Directors has been monitoring, evaluating and deliberating over what action to take regarding our hallmark event in light of the coronavirus, COVID-19. The ACSA Distillers' Convention and Vendor Trade Show was scheduled to be held in Portland at the end of March. We heard from attendees on both sides of the fence: some urged us to hold a steady course and press ahead; others shared their concerns about holding a large meeting where the virus could be spread. No one on the ACSA team took the matter lightly—we all struggled with doing what is right for our community of craft spirits.
Today our decision became abundantly clear as the Governor of Oregon, Kate Brown, shared this message:
It is clear today; we must take immediate action. Our focus is on prevention to save lives. And, we must act now
. As a result,
the state of Oregon is prohibiting gatherings of over 250 people through April 8th
. As suggested during that press briefing,
lives and livelihoods are at stak
e.
We recognize many of you, like our ACSA team, have been preparing for over a year to visit Portland. We share your disappointment. Your health and safety, however, is our paramount concern, so we fully intend to support the Governor’s ban to limit large gatherings and keep a social distance.
This is formal notice that our convention is postponed
.
We will notify you when we formally reschedule our annual convention
, JOURNEY TO CRAFTLANDIA, which will likely be sometime this summer. For those who have registered as either an attendee, presenter or exhibitor, you will be receiving a separate notice as we work with you to reconcile the path ahead.
We cannot thank you enough for your understanding, support and well wishes during a difficult time for all. We extend our heartfelt wishes that you and your families remain in good health.
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Poll: Effects of Coronavirus on Your Distillery
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Is the coronavirus impacting your distillery operations?
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If you answered yes, please select all that apply.
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Disruption of supplies reaching the distillery
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Disruption of ingredients reaching the distillery
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Disruption of spirits leaving the distillery
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Decreased traffic in tasting room
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Decreased bottle sales at distillery (if allowable in your state)
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Employees unavailable due to illness
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Employees unavailable due to fear of spread of illness
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Ska Street Brewstillery to Open in Boulder on March 16
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Ska Street Brewstillery will open to the public on March 16 in Boulder, Colorado, followed by a grand opening celebration slated for April 9. A joint project of Ska Brewing and its sister company, Palisade’s Peach Street Distillers, Ska Street Brewstillery will include a restaurant, a 10 BBL brewing system, a 450-liter still, thirty taps for serving Ska beers, a mixology program and all of the music-inspired silliness the has established Ska and Peach Street as iconic Colorado destinations. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Copperworks Launches Equity Crowdfunding Campaign
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Copperworks Distilling Co. of Seattle recently announced the launch of an equity crowdfunding campaign in hopes of doubling whiskey production and sales. The distillery invites individual investors to become Copperworks shareholders via this SEC-regulated funding method.
(CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Application Period Opens for TTB's Chemist Certification Program
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As a condition of importation, some countries require that certain chemical analyses be performed on wine, beer and/or distilled spirits entering their marketplace. TTB offers the Chemist Certification Program as a service to the alcohol beverage industry to facilitate the export of domestic alcohol beverage products. Under this free program, chemists in the private industry are certified to conduct the specific tests listed in
TTB Procedure 2018-2
.
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From Craft Spirits Magazine: Mountain Rum
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A member spotlight on Montanya Distillers of Crested Butte, Colorado.
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Laws Whiskey House Announces California Distribution Partnership
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Laws Whiskey House, the award-winning Denver-based distillery, has announced an exclusive strategic distribution partnership with Wine Warehouse, a California Distributor of Spirits, Wine and Beer. Effective immediately the entire Laws Whiskey portfolio including its flagship Four Grain Straight Bourbon & San Luis Valley Straight Rye along with three Bottled in Bond expressions will be available throughout the Golden State. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Tales of the Cocktail Cancels Puerto Rico Tales on Tour Event
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After much consideration and consulting with local tourism agencies, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) announced the cancellation of this year’s Tales on Tour in Puerto Rico, originally slated for April 19 – 22, 2020. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Portland's Shine Distillery Makes Hand Sanitizer
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With most store shelves still bare of hand sanitizer, Shine Distillery and Grill of Portland, Oregon, is repurposing the high-proof byproduct from its 130-gallon steel-and-copper still to produce hand cleaner, and making it available to the public in 2.7-ounce bottles. (Willamette Week)
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Kentucky Bourbon Distilleries Announce No More Tours
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Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark, two of the biggest-selling Kentucky bourbons in the world, announced Thursday that their distilleries are suspending all tours until further notice in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. (Kentucky.com)
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Read the Latest Issue of Craft Spirits Magazine
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Send News to
Craft Spirits Magazine
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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
.
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