Craft Spirits Weekly
Welcome to the 261st issue of Craft Spirits Weekly. This newsletter is dedicated to bringing ACSA members 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.

SUSTO MEZCAL Appoints Mark Shilling as CEO, Expands Team
SUSTO MEZCAL, a hand-crafted mezcal based jointly in Austin, Texas, and Oaxaca, Mexico, has filled two key leadership positions with the appointment of Mark Shilling as CEO, and Fabiola Lozano as Texas market manager. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
Register Now for ACSA's Judging of Craft Spirits
Will your spirits grab gold? Register now for ACSA's 9th Annual Judging of Craft Spirits. General registration fees are in effect through March 15. The late-riser fee will be in effect from March 16 until registration closes on March 25. All spirits must be received by March 31.

Fees for ACSA Members
General Fee: $275 per entry
Late Riser: $300 per entry

Fees for Non-Members
General Fee: $375 per entry
Late Riser: $400 per entry

This year, we're headed to High Wire Distilling Co. in Charleston, South Carolina, on April 5 & 6 for your spirits to be tasted and evaluated by a panel of top professionals. Submit your spirits in the following categories:

  • Brandy
  • Gin
  • Ready-to-Drink 
  • Rum
  • Specialty Spirits (absinthe, agave-based products, amaro, aquavit, liqueurs and shochu)
  • Vodka & Grain
  • Whiskey

ACSA members must be logged in to receive the discounted member rate. Login here. If you forgot your login or need to check membership status, please contact membership@americancraftspirits.org.
Join Us for the 9th Annual Distillers' Convention and Vendor Trade Show
We're headed to New Orleans on July 21-24, 2022, for the 9th Annual Distillers' Convention and Vendor Trade Show. ACSA is planning a stellar convention with three-plus days in the Crescent City, where you will gain from tailored educational content from top professionals and be given opportunities to mix and mingle with suppliers and friends in our craft spirits community! Register now, and we can't wait to see you in New Orleans this summer!
Whiskey Del Bac Releases 2022 Spring Distiller’s Cut
Whiskey Del Bac of Tucson, Arizona, announced the Feb. 19 release of its 2022 Spring Distiller’s Cut. It is the distillery’s Whiskey Del Bac Classic (unsmoked) aged in new American white oak and then finished over additional months in Armagnac barrels. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
Register for Upcoming Webinars
Green River Distilling Co. Releases Green River Bourbon
Green River Distilling Co. of Owensboro, Kentucky, recently announced the launch of its flagship Green River Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.(CraftSpiritsMag.com)
MGP Announces $12 Million Barrel Warehouse Expansion
MGP Ingredients, Inc., a leading provider of distilled and branded spirits and food ingredient solutions, announced it has begun a $12 million barrel warehouse expansion to meet growing consumer demand for its American whiskey. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
Glass Packaging Institute Announces 2022 Clear Choice Awards
The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) is excited to announce the 2022 Clear Choice Awards. The Clear Choice Awards is the only awards program which recognizes North America’s top brands and manufacturers creating exceptional designs that shape dynamic consumer experiences. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
Eastside Distilling Launches Maraschino Cherry Whiskey
Eastside Distilling of Portland, Oregon, recently announced the release of its first-ever Maraschino Cherry Whiskey, crafted with Eastside’s rare whiskey blend and Italy’s premier Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
BCB Brooklyn Reveals New Location for 2022
BCB Brooklyn—set for June 14-15—will relocate to a bigger venue in the historical, creative hub Industry City from its original location, the Brooklyn Expo Center in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
WoodCraft Bourbon Blender Announces First Franchisee: Barrels & Billets
WoodCraft Bourbon Blender of Newtown, Ohio, announced that it will begin franchising. Its first franchisee, Barrels & Billets, will open its doors Feb. 23 on Whiskey Row in Louisville, Kentucky. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
USBG Welcomes New Leaders for National Council of Chapters
The United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) this week announced that, effective immediately, Jen O’Blenis (New Orleans) and Geo Thompson (Boston) will assume the National Council of Chapters Chair and Vice-Chair roles. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
CRAFT SPIRITS Magazine
Read Our Latest Issue
The latest issue of CRAFT SPIRITS magazine is here, and it includes stories on the scarcity of glass bottles, jenever's heritage, a closer look at the medalists from the second annual Craft Spirits Packaging Awards, and much more!
Join us in the V.I.P. Lounge
Our latest V.I.P. Lounge members received a special thanks in the latest issue of CRAFT SPIRITS magazine, which landed in their inbox a week early. To unlock additional bonuses, like a set of CRAFT SPIRITS-branded Glencairn glasses, join us in the V.I.P. Lounge today.
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.
In Case You Missed It
How to Close the Books on Hand Sanitizer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is winding down its emergency guidance on hand sanitizer production and recently sent to distillers a notice of intent to inactivate outdated drug listing records. The notice is essentially the FDA telling distillers to clean up their books after the Dec. 31, 2021 deadline to cease production of hand sanitizer and ahead of the March 31, 2022 deadline to cease distribution of hand sanitizer. If you have ceased production and have yet to delist your product, deregister your company and deactivate your labeler code, please follow the instructions here.
ACSA Starts Facebook Group for Voting Members
In an effort to use the platforms that you most often use, ACSA is starting a private Facebook group for voting members only (open to all employees of member DSPs). The group will be an environment to not only ask questions without judgement, but to provide input and feedback to colleagues based upon members’ experiences and best practices. If you would like to be added to the group, please send an email to carason@americancraftspirits.org.
The ACSA PAC Needs Your Support
ACSA’s public policy advocacy on behalf of its members is critical to making sure our community’s voice is heard on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures. A crucial piece of this strategy is a strong Political Action Committee (PAC) and to maintain this presence, we need your support.
 
Would you please consider a donation to the PAC of $500, $250, $100? Or give whatever you can afford so we can continue to support key candidates in 2022 and have the voice of craft distillers heard in the halls of government. The easiest way to engage and give is to go to our website and log in to ACSA and donate directly.
 
Should you have any questions about ACSA’s PAC, or ACSA’s public policy initiatives, please write to acsapac@americancraftspirits.org.
 
*Contributions to ACSA PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Contributions from foreign nationals, federal government contractors, corporations and labor unions are prohibited. We are not soliciting contributions of more than $5,000 from individuals, or soliciting contributions from corporations, labor unions or other federally prohibited sources. Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to report the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year.
The American Craft Spirits Association is the only national registered nonprofit 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.)
Thank You, Sponsors!
ACSA would like to thank all of our annual sponsors and our key supporters of education. We are grateful for all of your support throughout the year. Cheers!