Welcome to the 183rd 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
.
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ACSA's Board of Directors Elections Deadline Extended to Friday
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The deadline for ACSA's Board of Directors elections has been extended and will close at noon ET on Friday, July 24.
If you are an eligible voting member, your participation is vital. If you have not received a ballot, please
contact Carason Lehmann
, ACSA's Member Services & Social Media Coordinator. To learn more about the process and the candidates,
click here
.
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ACSA Releases Sneak Peek of Presentations for Virtual Summit
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ACSA is excited to share a sneak peek of some of the educational presentations we will offer Aug. 11-12 at the Craft Spirits Virtual Summit: A New Journey. In addition to topics focused on various aspects of distilling, sales, packaging, safety, and more, we are offering several presentations tailored specifically for operating a business during these challenging times. Below is a list of confirmed presentations, and stay tuned for more topics soon!
- Pivoting in a Time of Crisis (Heather Greene)
- Cocktails to Go: Fresh, Fast & Fun (Doug Kouma of Vikre Distillery)
- Gimme Some Goods & Services: Spirited Supplier Diversity (Andrea Meriwether)
- Developing a Strategy to Operate Your Distillery Safely (Gary Yurt of ISTS)
- How Barrels Work (Jason Parker of Copperworks Distilling Co.)
- Retrofitting (Colleen Moore of Dalkita)
- Industry Trends (Emily Pennington of Park Street)
- In-pack Stability of Spirit-based Drinks (Paul Hughes of Oregon State University)
- How to Develop a DtC Program (Kelly Woodcock of Westward Whiskey)
- Get the Most From Your Grain: Key Points for the Conversion of Starch (Andrew Fratianni of DuPont)
- Increasing Accessibility in Your Distillery (Hoby Wedler)
- Distilled Spirits Labeling (Tracy McNeill, TTB)
In addition to these presentations, the summit will also feature opportunities to network with distillery owners, operators and suppliers, as well as a virtual trade show floor and the ability to connect with suppliers at their booths.
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Please Complete the Craft Spirits Data Project Survey
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Our business outlook changed with the onset of the global health crisis earlier this year. Or, did it? The Craft Spirits Data Project (CSDP), launched in 2016, and now recognized as the leading authority for economic craft spirits industry data, is attempting to answer that question. But, we need your help now more than ever to produce economic data to give to Congress and the TTB so we can best assist in advocating on your behalf, particularly as we realize many lost substantial income from the closure of tasting rooms due to the global pandemic.
Please complete your survey as soon as possible but no later than August 13th as the survey will close at that time.
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Coalition Urges Legislative Leaders to Support Craft Beverage Makers
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The directors of eight associations representing craft beverage producers this week signed a letter urging Senate and Congressional leadership to further support producers of craft beverages. The coalition thanked the legislators for their tireless efforts responding to the pandemic, and asked them to
consider the following recommendations in support of craft beverage producers as they work to develop further economic aid for small businesses around the country:
- Enact a permanent extension of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (H.R. 1175/S. 362)
- Support the RESTAURANTS Act, which creates a revitalization fund for eligible food service establishments to keep workers employed, maintain operations, and meet financial obligations.
- Replenish funding, reopen applications, and offer expanded flexibility for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) administered by the Department of Treasury and Small Business Administration.
- Create temporary tax incentives that encourage consumers to return to on-premise dining and drinking establishments once public health officials determine it is safe to do so.
- Encourage the Administration to work with trading partners to simultaneously suspend tariffs on beer, wine, distilled spirits products and supply chain partners and reduce trade barriers on the agriculture and food sector.
- Defer all federal excise tax obligations on domestic and imported alcohol products through December 31, 2020.
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Reminder: Comment on Tariffs Due Sunday
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Some of our craft members export their spirits. In the future, more will look to do so to expand their businesses. Some of our members are also involved in the import of spirits.
Regrettably, spirits on both sides of the Atlantic have become pawns in a trade war that has nothing to do with our industry. This is a long-standing dispute regarding subsidies for foreign airline manufacturers. ACSA believes that spirits should not be part of this trade war.
As such, we are encouraging our members that have strong feelings on the issue to express their views to the U.S. Trade Representative.
Click here for more information
, including an email draft that you can personalize to express your concerns on this issue. The deadline to submit a comment is midnight on Sunday, July 26.
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Massachusetts to Allow To-Go Cocktails Until February 2021
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Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed a measure on Monday, July 20, allowing restaurants to sell cocktails to-go with the purchase of food until February 2021 or until the state of emergency is lifted, whichever is later.
(CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Still Austin Whiskey Co.,
a homegrown distillery situated in the heart of South Austin, has released its first high-rye straight bourbon whiskey featuring grains that are 100% grown by Texas farmers. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Next Century Spirits Closes $6 Million Series C Funding
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Next Century Spirits
of Raleigh, North Carolina, completed its final closing of a $6 million Series C fundraising round this week. The most recent funding round was led by the Blue Hill Group, a private equity firm based in Chapel Hill. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Join Us for Craft Spirits Live on Instagram
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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 29: Nick Scarff, Next Century Spirits
August 5: Gabe Spencer, Whistling Andy Distillery
August 12: No Craft Spirits Live due to Craft Spirits Virtual Summit
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LibDib Unveils App Enabling Licensed Buyers to Restock Shelves
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LibDib
, the
web-based wholesale alcohol distributor
, today unveiled the industry’s first mobile app allowing restaurants, bars and retailers to purchase small-batch wine and spirits from their distributor. LibDib Mobile is now free to download in the Apple store (Android version is coming soon). (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Honey Spirits Competition Online Registration Closes Soon
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Registration for the National Honey Board’s free Honey Spirits Competition closes on Aug. 12. The annual competition recognizes the best made with honey spirits in the nation.
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Reminder: Importance of Registering Sanitizer
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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
.
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Members in the Media
A Roundup of Stories, Videos and More Featuring ACSA Members
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ACSA Extends Membership Term by Additional Three Months
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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.
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Got a question? ACSA's got the answer.
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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.
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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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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.)
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