Welcome to the 260th 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. Due to the importance of a report from the U.S. Department of Treasury and a TTB rule, we have expanded our outreach for this week's newsletter.
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Treasury Releases Competition Report for Alcohol Market |
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The U.S. Department of the Treasury, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, released a new report on Wednesday on competition in the markets for beer, wine, and spirits.
While commending the proliferation of new firms over the last several decades, the report also details challenges to the growth of small businesses and new entrants into the marketplace. It contains a series of recommendations to better level the playing field for small businesses and new marketplace entrants by enforcing existing laws that promote competition and modernizing outdated alcohol regulations. The report, Competition in the Market for Beer, Wine and Spirits, is a product of Executive Order 14036, Promoting Competition in the American Economy.
“We very pleased that the Biden administration has listened to the concerns of small independent distilleries," said Margie A.S. Lehrman, CEO of the American Craft Spirits Association. "We believe today’s report will initiate the federal government and state governments to take a fresh look at antiquated alcohol laws that are working against small businesses and curtailing access to our products for consumers."
Last August, ACSA submitted comments to the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) in response to the executive order. (Click here to see the comments.) ACSA will continue to review the report and provide further updates to its members.
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The U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) this week published a final rule that will implement Phase 2 of its rulemaking on modernization of the labeling and advertising regulations for distilled spirits and malt beverages. |
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In its published rule this week, TTB noted that it received comments in support of including American Single Malt Whiskey as a standard of identity. However, the rule states that "because these issues were not specifically put forward for comment in Notice No. 176, the public and the industry were not given an opportunity to comment on the standards of identity suggested by the petitioners. TTB has determined that actions on these petitions would be premature without seeking public comment on the petitioned-for standards of identity. Accordingly, TTB will consider these comments for future rulemaking." |
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Register Now for ACSA's Judging of Craft Spirits |
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Don't wait until it is too late this Valentine's Day—enter your spirits at a discounted rate for ACSA's 9th Annual Judging of Craft Spirits competition! Show your spirits some love and register by Monday to save $50 per entry!
Register your spirits by Feb. 14 to save big with the early bird rate!
Fees for ACSA Members
Early Bird: $225 per entry
General Fee: $275 per entry
Late Riser: $300 per entry
Fees for Non-Members
Early Bird: $325 per entry
General Fee: $375 per entry
Late Riser: $400 per entry
General registration fees begin February 15 and 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.
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
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Join Us for the 9th Annual Distillers' Convention and Vendor Trade Show |
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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! |
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In a collaboration with Marianne Eaves, Columbus, Ohio-based Watershed Distillery is set to release a new premium cask strength bourbon available only via online lottery starting Feb. 16. (CraftSpiritsMag.com) |
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Driftless Glen to Release Tawny Port-Finished Bourbon |
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Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Driftless Glen Distillery of Baraboo, Wisconsin, announced the release of Tawny Port-Finished Bourbon. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Craft Spirits Community Mourns Loss of Robin Blazer |
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We at ACSA send our deepest condolences to the family of Robin Blazer, co-founder of Willie's Distillery in Ennis, Montana. Blazer, who was 46, passed away peacefully at home, early in the morning of Jan. 27. Click here to read her obituary.
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Garrison Brothers, McConnell’s Ice Cream Returns |
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For the second year in a row, Hye, Texas-based Garrison Brothers Distillery has teamed up with McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams of Santa Barbara, California, to create the ultimate whiskey ice cream flavor: Garrison Bros. Whiskey & Pecan Pralines. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Endless West Secures $60 Million in Series C Funding |
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Spirits and technology startup Endless West announced it has raised $60 million in Series C funding led by Level One Fund and funds managed by UBS O’Connor, bringing its total investment to date to $95 million. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Social House Vodka Welcomes New Master Distiller |
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Social House Vodka of Kinston, North Carolina, announced that Lisa Lowery has joined the team as master distiller. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Register for Upcoming Webinars |
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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!
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Join us in the V.I.P. Lounge |
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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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How to Close the Books on Hand Sanitizer |
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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.
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ACSA Starts Facebook Group for Voting Members |
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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.
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The ACSA PAC Needs Your Support |
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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.*
*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.
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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.)
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