Welcome to the 175th 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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U.S. Senate Votes to Further Enhance PPP Lending Program
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Last evening, the U.S. Senate cleared legislation to further enhance the Small Business Administration’s PPP lending program. The Senate passed H.R. 7010 by voice vote which means that the names of senators or numbers voting is not recorded. It passed the U.S. House last week with only one member opposed. The bill was introduced by Congressman Dean Phillips (D-MN), who comes from a distilling family (and attended the ACSA Congressional reception last year) and by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) an area home to many craft distillers. The President is expected to sign the bill.
Congress recognized that the stay-at-home orders and slow openings throughout the country did not makes the initial program viable.
The legislation provides the following changes: it extends the “covered period” from June 30, 2020, to December 31, 2020; if further extends the loan forgiveness period to 24 weeks rather than 8 weeks; it replaces the 75/25 rule with a 60/40 rule; all new PPP loans that are not in the forgiveness period will receive a 5-year maturity. Existing loans will remain at a 2-year maturity (but a longer maturity can be renegotiated with lenders); it fixes an issue and now allows businesses that receive PPP forgiveness to also receive payroll tax deferment; it ensures that small businesses will not be penalized by high unemployment benefits by allowing a good faith documentation that full employment cannot be achieved in re-hiring; and finally, it creates the same good faith determination that a business cannot re-hire to its previous level of employment because it is required to operate below normal capacity due to emergency orders.
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Fundraising Effort to Support DuNord Craft Spirits Nears $100K Goal
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Minneapolis-based Du Nord Craft Spirits was severely damaged amidst citywide protests on May 29. Several fires were set inside the distillery, owned by Chris Montana, ACSA's immediate Past President and unsung craft spirits advocate. While DuNord's fire suppression system prevented the fire from destroying the building, the damage was vast, as more than 26,000 gallons of water dumped inside the facility over the course of four to four and a half hours.
To help restore peace and rebuild DuNord, ACSA launched a GoFundMe campaign that is nearing its goal of $100,000. Because insurance adjusters are unlikely to enter the city anytime soon, these funds will go a long way to cover immediate expenses for Chris and his team. Please donate today to let Chris and his distillery team know he is not alone by donating today.
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IMPORTANT SURVEY: How is COVID-19 affecting your distillery?
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YOUR INPUT IS CRITICAL as ACSA continues the fight for FET relief.
To help us better understand how the pandemic is affecting your bottom line and your employees, please complete the following survey.
Your responses are vital to our mission
and the survey should only take a few minutes of your time.
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Members in the Media
A Roundup of Stories, Videos and More Featuring ACSA Members
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The 2020 DISCUS/ACSA Public Policy Conference that typically takes place in Washington, D.C. each year will take place virtually.
While we are disappointed to not be able to join together in person with distillers from across the country, we unfortunately cannot be certain that the Capitol complex and Washington, D.C. will be ready to welcome group meetings in September. As it’s more important than ever that we communicate with lawmakers about the impact COVID-19 has had on our industry, we ask that you save the dates of September 15-16.
Though we’ll be virtual, we intend to offer the same opportunities that you have come to expect from this conference each year—to learn and share from one another and celebrate this great industry. Please stay tuned for schedule information and registration details coming in early July!
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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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Join Us for Craft Spirits Live on Instagram
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Join ACSA each Wednesday 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
June 10: Mark A. Vierthaler, Tenth Ward Distilling Co.
June 17: Murphy Quint, Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery
June 24: Colin Keegan, Santa Fe Spirits
July 1: Michael Myers, Distillery 291
July 8: Heather Shade, Port Chilkoot Distillery
July 15: Jeff Kanof, Copperworks Distilling
To watch,
click here and make sure you're following @craftspiritsus on Instagram.
When we start a live video, our profile picture will appear at the top of the feed with a colorful ring around it and the word Live. Tap or click our profile picture to view our live video. You can watch the live videos on the Instagram app or on Instagram.com.
And you can also watch a replay in our Instagram Stories for up to 24 hours after the interview.
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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 are concerned about improper production or labeling of hand sanitizers, we owe it to our industry to help that DSP who may be out of compliance. ACSA has developed a complaint process to allow you to anonymously file a complaint. ACSA will evaluate the claim and communicate with the distillery manufacturing the hand sanitizer, in an effort to determine the nature of the violation and help lend guidance to bring the product into full compliance. As we push for modernization and seek further regulatory relief, it is critical that we adhere to government regulation in all aspects of our business operations. Please use
this form
to lodge a complaint.
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Are you on our list of distilleries making sanitizers?
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ACSA has compiled a list of hundreds of distilleries that are making hand sanitizer or sanitizing spray. If you haven't already added your distillery or confirmed that you are on the list, please click the link below.
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10 Black-Owned Distilleries Making Some of America’s Finest Bottles
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A shortlist spotlighting a variety of options from Black producers across the country. (Wine Enthusiast)
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SanTan Spirits Inks Distribution Deal with Crescent Crown Distributing
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SanTan Spirits, the distilling side of SanTan Brewing Co., is now making its award-winning whiskeys, vodkas and gins available through Crescent Crown Distributing (CCD). (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Kentucky Distillers Awaiting OK On Reopening Plan
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The Kentucky Distillers’ Association is awaiting approval of its 30-page proposal submitted to Gov. Andy Beshear in advance of the June 8 reopening date for distilleries. (WKU)
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Rootstock Cider and Spirits Introduces Online Sales
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Rootstock Cider and Spirits
, a family-owned-and-operated cidery and distillery in Williamson, New York, has made its selection of award-winning cider and spirits available for online sale.
(CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Craft Spirits TV
Copperworks Crowdfunds & ACSA Announces New Board Officers
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In this episode,
Copperworks Distilling
details its successful crowdfunding campaign and we congratulate Becky Harris (
Catoctin Creek
), P.T. Wood (
Wood’s High Mountain Distillery
) and Jeff Kanof (Copperworks Distilling), the new President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer, respectively, of the American Craft Spirits Association’s Board of Directors.
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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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