Craft Spirits Weekly
Welcome to the 179th 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.

While this is normally a members-only benefit, we are distributing this newsletter to all DSPs as a public service during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are also offering a 15-month membership for the price of 12 months (existing members will receive an additional three months). If you are not a member, learn more about joining here .
ACSA Plans Virtual Event in Lieu of In-person Convention
Due to health and safety concerns, ACSA is cancelling its in-person 7th Annual Distillers’ Convention and Vendor Trade Show that was scheduled for early August in Portland, Oregon.

However, ACSA is planning a virtual, live event to be held Aug. 10-12. This summit will include networking, education, trade show components and more, so please hold the dates if you wish to be a part of the exciting new digital program. More details will follow soon.

Originally scheduled for late March, the in-person event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But after careful consideration—including reviews of Oregon's plans for reopening and CDC guidelines, and input from board members and staff—ACSA decided to pursue a new path.

Those who had previously registered for the in-person event may choose to sit tight for details on the virtual summit; roll their registration to ACSA’s 2021 convention in Louisville, Kentucky; or donate registration fees to ACSA. If you were previously registered, please contact ACSA's operations administrator, Teresa McDaniel , or call 502.807.4249 to let us know your preference.

While we were eagerly preparing to gather in person, your health and safety are at the heart of our decision making. We thank you for understanding and hope you will join us virtually in August.
Register Now: ACSA Virtual Town Hall, June 30, 4 p.m. ET
ACSA will be hosting a virtual Town Hall on June 30 at 4 p.m. ET so you can meet our new officers, get acquainted with the slate of candidates in the Board of Directors elections, and l earn what's coming up in the next few months at ACSA.   This event is open to members and non-members to allow all interested parties to understand the passion and commitment for the craft spirits industry.

Each nominee for the Board seat will be given three minutes to share their platform—namely, why they are the right candidate to represent your interests within the industry. Voting will then open in July with the new Board fully installed by August 1, 2020. 
Less than $2,000 to go: Donate now to support Du Nord Craft Spirits!
We are $2,000 shy of the $100,000 goal in the GoFundMe campaign for Minneapolis-based Du Nord Craft Spirits, which was severely damaged amidst citywide protests on May 29. Several fires were set inside Du Nord's distillery, owned by Chris Montana, ACSA's immediate Past President and unsung craft spirits advocate. While Du Nord's fire suppression system prevented the fire from destroying the building, the damage was vast, as more than 26,000 gallons of water dumped inside the facility over the course of four to four and a half hours. Please help us across the finish line by donating today.
Du Nord Launches Contest to Party with Al Franken, Sarah Silverman
Du Nord Craft Spirits is raffling off an opportunity to join a virtual cocktail party with former Sen.  Al Franken  and comedian  Sarah Silverman . Participants can enter to win by donating to the Du Nord Craft Spirits Riot Recovery Fund GoFundMe page. The winner will join former U.S. Sen. Franken, D-Minn., Silverman and Du Nord founder  Chris Montana  in a half-hour Zoom cocktail party. Du Nord co-owners Shanelle and  Chris Montana  established the Riot Recovery Fund for Black and brown-owned small businesses that were damaged in the unrest following the death of  George Floyd . (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal)
Poll: Are Tariffs Impacting Your Business?
Is the threat of impending U.S. tariffs on the U.K. and EU impacting your business?
Yes
No
What percentage of your overall revenue stems from exports to either the U.K. or EU?
24% or less
25%-49%
50%-74%
75% or more
Dept. of Transportation Extends Policy for Transport of Hand Sanitizer
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced that it will extend temporary relief from certain Hazardous Materials Regulations (HRM) to companies producing hand sanitizer. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
Watershed Distillery to Host Drive-thru Festival and Curbside Release
Gin lovers can expect  Watershed Distillery’s  annual festival celebrating all things gin to look a little different this year, but nonetheless Four Peel Fest is taking place June 30-July 3 in Columbus, Ohio. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
Join Us for Craft Spirits Live on Instagram
Join ACSA for Craft Spirits Live, our new Instagram Live show. In each episode, a leading craft spirits producer invites us into their distillery for 30 minutes of engaging conversation and a virtual tour—as well as an opportunity to answer all of your burning questions.

UPCOMING GUESTS

July 1: Michael Myers, Distillery 291
July 2: Michael Langan, Yellow Rose Distilling
July 8: Heather Shade, Port Chilkoot Distillery
July 9: Bob Gunter, Kōloa Rum Company
July 15: Jeff Kanof, Copperworks Distilling Co.
July 22: Gina Holman, J. Carver Distillery
August 5: Gabe Spencer, Whistling Andy Distillery

Not sure how Instagram Live works? Click here to learn more.
Wigle Restaurant and Bar Reopens Today
The newly renovated  Wigle  Distillery, Restaurant, Bar and Mini Museum is re-opening today for indoor lunch and dinner service, cocktail and bottle sales. The Pittsburgh distillery unveiled the renovations to the public in March right before COVID-19 shut everything down. Wigle will be operating at half capacity with other measures in place to ensure all visitors have a safe experience. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
Skunk Brothers Dedicates Smoke Jumper Bourbon to Firefighters
Skunk Brothers Spirits  of Stevenson, Washington, has released Smoke Jumper Bourbon, dedicated to the heroic wildland firefighters who parachute into the epicenter of the fire to fight it at the source. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
Reminder: Importance of Registering Sanitizer
Recently, ACSA leadership met with the FDA and the biggest takeaways were the importance of following current FDA guidelines and the necessity  to register  if you are producing hand sanitizer, packaging or labeling for distribution (either for sale or donation). You must also register with the FDA if you are manufacturing ethanol for use by others in making sanitizer.

If you believe a distillery is producing or distributing hand sanitizer or ethanol in a manner that is inconsistent with recent federal regulations and guidelines published for use during the COVID-19 public health emergency, please click here .

And if you haven't already added your distillery to our list of DSPs producing hand sanitizers, click here .
Dogfish Head Celebrates 25 Years with ‘The Dogfish Head Book’
In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Dogfish Head is excited to announce the release of “The Dogfish Head Book: 25 Years of Off-Centered Adventures.” Debuting on Sept. 1, this design-centric book is a colorful account of the company's 25-year history. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
State 38 Distilling Signs with Republic National Distributing Co.
State 38 Distilling  in Golden, Colorado, has signed with Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) of Colorado to handle distribution of State 38 whiskeys and agave spirits as well as the company’s Damn Good Spirits line, which includes vodka, gin and absinthe. The change in distribution is effective June 22. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
Members in the Media
A Roundup of Stories, Videos and More Featuring ACSA Members
Bardstown Bourbon Co. to Produce Certified Kentucky Proud Whiskey
The  Bardstown Bourbon Co.  of Bardstown, Kentucky, is excited to partner with Kentucky Proud as one of the first distilleries to produce a wheated whiskey using ingredients and barrels derived completely from Kentucky. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
ACSA Extends Membership Term by Additional Three Months
As distillers continue to operate during a difficult time of uncertainty, ACSA is extending its membership term by three months at no additional cost for existing members, and new members will receive a 15-month membership for the price of 12 months. Read more about the decision here.
Craft Spirits TV

Copperworks Crowdfunds & ACSA Announces New Board Officers
In this episode, Copperworks Distilling  details its successful crowdfunding campaign and we congratulate Becky Harris ( Catoctin Creek ), P.T. Wood ( Wood’s High Mountain Distillery ) and Jeff Kanof (Copperworks Distilling), the new President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer, respectively, of the American Craft Spirits Association’s Board of Directors.
Got a question? ACSA's got the answer.
In these challenging times, seek advice and lend your knowledge in ACSA's online forums. Our main forum topics include crisis management, services, TTB, safety, technical, equipment & materials, legislation, business and marketplace.
Read the Latest Issue of Craft Spirits Magazine
In case you missed it, the latest issue of Craft Spirits magazine is online. Click here or on the cover photo to read the full issue.
Send News to Craft Spirits 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 .
The American Craft Spirits Association is the only national registered non-profit trade association representing the U.S. craft spirits industry. Its mission is to elevate and advocate for the community of craft spirits producers, and membership in ACSA is open to anyone. 

ACSA is governed by a Board of Directors elected by the eligible voting members of the Association. Voting members must be independent licensed distillers (DSPs) annually removing fewer than 750,000 proof gallons from bond (the amount on which a Federal Excise Tax is paid.)