Welcome to the 264th 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.
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Judging: Register Before Price Increase on Wednesday, March 16 |
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With less than one week to register before a price increase, the clock is ticking on your chance to grab gold in ACSA's 9th Annual Judging of Craft Spirits. General registration fees are in effect through Tuesday. The late-riser fee will be in effect from Wednesday 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
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Watershed to Donate Proceeds from Vodka Sales to Support Ukrainians |
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In support of the current humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, Watershed Distillery of Columbus, Ohio, announced it will donate 100% of the profits from its vodka sales during March and April to World Central Kitchen to aid in feeding Ukrainians. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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TTB Issues Industry Circular on Consignment Sales |
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Last Friday, the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) released the following industry circular clarifying how it views extended payment terms under the consignment sales provisions of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act). Per TTB:
The consignment sales provisions of the FAA Act, 27 U.S.C. 205(d), make it unlawful for an industry member (such as a producer, importer, or wholesaler of malt beverages, wines, or distilled spirits) to sell, offer for sale, or contract to sell to any trade buyer (a wholesaler or retailer), or for a trade buyer to purchase, offer to purchase, or contract to purchase any products:
(a) on consignment; or
(b) under conditional sale; or
(c) with privilege of return; or
(d) on any basis other than a bona fide sale; or
(e) where any part of the sale involves, directly or indirectly, the acquisition by the industry member of other products from the trade buyer or the agreement to accept other products from the trade buyer.
Sales “on consignment,” as that term is used above, are arrangements in which the trade buyer (i.e., a wholesaler or retailer) is under no obligation to pay for distilled spirits, wine, or malt beverages until they are sold by the trade buyer. See 27 CFR 11.22.
Although TTB’s consignment sales regulations generally prohibit arrangements in which a trade buyer is not obligated to pay an industry member for distilled spirits, wine, or malt beverages until after the trade buyer sells such products, the regulations do not specifically impose payment term limitations for sales between industry members and trade buyers.
However, this does not mean all payment terms are beyond scrutiny as potential sales on consignment. In the absence of explicit terms that violate the consignment sale regulations, payment terms of up to 30 days are unlikely to constitute consignment sales.
On the other hand, payment terms exceeding 30 days for sales between industry members and trade buyers may invite scrutiny from TTB to determine whether the payment terms were merely a subterfuge to sell on consignment because the trade buyer is effectively under no obligation to pay for the product until such trade buyer sells it.
ACSA's government affairs committee is reviewing the circular and seeking further clarification on how it affects craft distillers. If you have questions or comments, please email legislation@americancraftspirits.org.
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Join us in the V.I.P. Lounge & Hang Out with Lance Winters |
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We are very pleased to announce the first of our series of virtual happy hours for V.I.P. Lounge supporters at the $40 and $60-per-year levels. Craft spirits icon Lance Winters of St. George Spirits will be joining us for the first edition on March 17, at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. Sign up for the V.I.P. Lounge to ensure that you get a chance to hang out with Lance via Zoom.
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Cathead Distillery Adds to RTD Lineup |
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Just in time for the warmer days ahead, Jackson, Mississippi-based Cathead Distillery announced the launch of Cathead Sparkling Grapefruit, the newest addition to its line of ready-to-drink sparkling vodka sodas. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Register 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 while our early bird rates are in effect until April 1!
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Copperworks to Produce Peated Whiskey on Annual Basis |
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Seattle-based Copperworks Distilling Co. unveiled its third release of Washington Peated American Single Malt Whiskey this week, and announced that it will be crafting the whiskey on an annual basis. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Chicago-based Business Acquires Bardstown Bourbon Co. |
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Pritzker Private Capital (PPC), a Chicago-based leader in family direct investing, announced the acquisition of Bardstown Bourbon Co., an innovative distiller, producer and bottler of premium Kentucky bourbon and rye whiskey brands. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Register for Upcoming Webinars |
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Next Century Spirits, Greg Norman Debut RTDs |
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Next Century Spirits of Raleigh, North Carolina, this week announced the debut of its first-ever ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktail offering with the launch of Caddy Clubhouse Cocktails in partnership with golf legend, Greg Norman. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Craft Spirits Podcast: Heather Greene of Milam & Greene Whiskey |
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Our latest guest on The Craft Spirits Podcast is Heather Greene, CEO of Milam & Greene Whiskey in Blanco, Texas. She recently joined us to discuss her journey to Milam & Greene and how being a writer helps her as a CEO.
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Berlin Packaging Acquires United Bottles & Packaging |
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Chicago-based Berlin Packaging announced the acquisition of United Bottles & Packaging, a Canadian-based distributor of high-quality glass bottles and closures for the food and beverage end markets. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Make Your Own Whiskey With Iowa Craft Distillery’s Private Barrel Club |
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A unique private barrel club experience that allows its members to taste, smell and choose their own recipes for a barrel’s worth of curated spirits awaits whiskey connoisseurs at West Des Moines, Iowa-based Foundry Distilling Co. (CraftSpiritsMag.com) |
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Report: Alcoholic E-Commerce Platforms Worth $30.5 Billion by 2030 |
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According to a report from InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. of Jersey City, New Jersey, the global alcoholic beverage e-commerce platforms market size is valued at $2.19 billion in 2021, and it is expected to reach $30.5 billion in 2030, recording a promising CAGR of 34.3% from 2022 to 2030. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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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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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, particularly during a mid-term election 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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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! |
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