Welcome to the 266th 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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Election for ACSA's Board of Directors Closes March 29 |
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In case you missed it, the election for new members of the ACSA Board of Directors is now open with a deadline of Tuesday, March 29. This is your chance to exercise your right to vote and have a say in which leaders will fill five board seats for the next three years.
Are you missing the ballot?
Voting members should have received an online, electronic ballot from vote@simplyvoting.com. If you have not seen the ballot, please check your spam filter. If you did not receive it, please contact carason@americancraftspirits.org.
Please vote now, but no later than midnight Eastern Time on Tuesday, March 29.
Thank you to everyone who has already voted!
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FINAL DAYS to Register for ACSA's Judging of Craft Spirits |
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The deadline to register for ACSA's Judging of Craft Spirits is nearly here! The late-riser fees are in effect until registration closes TOMORROW—Friday, March 25. All spirits must be received by March 31.
Fees for ACSA Members
Late Riser: $300 per entry
Fees for Non-Members
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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Wondering if you should submit your spirits? |
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Watch the videos below to see Chad Butters of Eight Oaks Distillery and P.T. Wood of Wood's High Mountain Distillery tell craft spirits producers why they need to enter the American Craft Spirits Association's 2022 Judging of Craft Spirits |
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U.S., U.K. Reach Deal to End Tariffs on Whiskey |
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The Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition, which includes the American Craft Spirits Association, raised a glass of gratitude to the Biden administration for negotiating a successful end to the harmful tariffs impacting the entire U.S. beverage alcohol sector. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Corsair to Release Spirits in Miniature Trial Cans |
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Corsair Distillery of Nashville, Tennessee, announced the national release of a mini can for its flagship spirits. The new trial size is just that—a small 100-mL can. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Old Dominick to Release Limited-Edition Huling Station Whiskey |
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Old Dominick Distillery of Memphis, Tennessee, and the Overton Park Conservancy are celebrating the newly renamed Overton Park 9 with 7-year-old single barrel wheat whiskey. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Quick Survey: Are you selling cocktails-to-go in 2022? |
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Important Note on Hand Sanitizer Fees |
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ACSA has been notified that some of its members who have delisted and are no longer making hand sanitizer have received notifications from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding "Outsourcing Facility Small Business Establishment Fee Reduction Requests for fiscal year (FY) 2023." Please note that if you delisted your product, deregistered your company and deactivated your labeler code, you should be exempt from these fees. See more details below.
However, if your company stayed in the hand sanitizer business, please note that this week the FDA announced the rates for over-the-counter (OTC) monograph drug user fees for fiscal year (FY) 2022 in a Federal Register Notice (FRN) titled “Over-The-Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Rates for Fiscal Year 2022.” This FRN publishes fees for OTC monograph drug facilities and OTC Monograph Order Requests (OMORs) for FY 2022. The FRN includes information about facility fee calculations, OMOR fee calculations, fee due dates, and fee payment options and procedures. OTC monograph drug facility fees for FY 2022 are due June 1, 2022.
In January, FDA sent to distillers a notice of intent to inactivate outdated drug listing records. The notice was 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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The Craft Spirits Podcast: STEPUP Foundation |
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In the latest episode of The Craft Spirits Podcast, we focus on the STEPUP Foundation, a nonprofit spirits training and entrepreneurship program for underrepresented professionals in the spirits industry. Our guests include Erin Lee and Yakntoro “Yaki” Udoumoh—the program’s inaugural interns—and Margie Lehrman, the CEO of the American Craft Spirits Association and the president of STEPUP. |
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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 subject matter experts 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 Announces April Fools’ Day Mystery Whiskey |
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This April Fools’ Day, Copperworks Distilling Co. becomes opaque. Known for extreme transparency, the award-winning craft distillery, tasting room, and retail store in downtown Seattle’s waterfront district is releasing a first-of-its-kind Copperworks Mystery Whiskey—and the team is not sharing any further details upon release. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Brush Creek Distillery Launches Line of Spirits in Kentucky |
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Saratoga, Wyoming-based Brush Creek Distillery announced today the first line of Brush Creek spirits consisting of Brush Creek Vodka, Brush Creek Gin, Brush Creek Straight Bourbon and Brush Creek Straight Rye, is now available in liquor stores, restaurants and bars across Kentucky. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Middle West Announces Bar Sponsorship of Bar & Restaurant Expo |
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Columbus, Ohio-based Middle West Spirits, announced it was the bar sponsor of Bar & Restaurant Expo’s 2022 Welcome Kickoff Party on March 21 at SAHARA Hotel’s Azilo Pool. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Upcoming Webinar: Welcome to the 15-Minute Cities
When?: Thursday, March 31st from 3-4 PM Eastern
How Much?: Free to ACSA Members, $59 for non-members
What?:
DISTILLERY DOLLARS
THE NEW POWER OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND
HOW IT WILL INCREASE YOUR ON SITE REVENUE
As the world emerges from restrictions, a new customer culture is taking shape. A culture that will drive advantage, hospitality and retaili revenues for the distilleries that recognise the opportunity on their doorstep.
In this webinar, we take a look at how regeneration, community resilience and movements like the 15-minute city are driving the redesign of the visitor experience and the strategy for the newest of urban distilleries in high density areas.
Who?: Jason Milne (Creative Director, Contagious; Lecturer, Moonshine University)
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Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Announces New Board Members |
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Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is pleased to announce the addition of four new board members to its Board of Directors: John Gakuru, Tess Posthumus, Perry Sholes, and Claire Warner. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Ogden’s Own Distillery Unveils 2022 Class of Five Husbands |
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Ogden’s Own Distillery of Ogden, Utah, is proud to announce the selection of its 2022 Five Husbands search. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Boardroom Spirits Adds New Flavors to RTD Cocktail Collection |
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Boardroom Spirits of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, recently announced the addition of new flavors to its ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail collection. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Read the March/April Issue of CRAFT SPIRITS Magazine
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The latest issue of CRAFT SPIRITS magazine is here, and it includes stories on heirloom rye, planning for the next crisis, contract considerations during the supply chain disruption and much more!
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Join Us in the V.I.P. Lounge |
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Our V.I.P. Lounge members received the March/April issue of CRAFT SPIRITS magazine early, and our $40- and $60-per-year supporters were invited to join craft spirits icon Lance Winters of St. George Spirits for a virtual happy hour. To unlock additional bonuses, like a set of CRAFT SPIRITS-branded Glencairn glasses, join us in the V.I.P. Lounge today.
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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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ACSA Starts Facebook Group for Voting Members |
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In an effort to use the platforms that you most often use, ACSA started 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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