Welcome to the 224th 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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ACSA Applauds Bipartisan Bill to Allow USPS to Ship Spirits |
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Members of Congress on Monday introduced bipartisan legislation that would allow the United States Postal Service (USPS) to ship alcohol—including distilled spirits—directly to consumers in accordance with state laws. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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U.S., EU to Enter Discussions on Trade |
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Earlier this week, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo and European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis announced the start of discussions to address global steel and aluminum excess capacity. As part of its effort to reboot transatlantic trade, the EU announced that it will not double its tariff on American whiskeys to 50% on June 1, as was previously announced. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Milam & Greene Releases The Castle Hill Series Bourbon Whiskey |
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Milam & Greene Whiskey is introducing The Castle Hill Series Batch 1, a vintage batch of 13-year-old hand-selected bourbons bottled at barrel proof. Only twenty barrels mingled to create this stunning whiskey, making it the most limited of the company’s boutique whiskeys that garnered top awards at the recent San Francisco World Spirits Competition. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Heartland Whiskey Competition Registration is Now Open |
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ACSA is proud to announce that registration for the third biennial Heartland Whiskey Competition is now open. The competition is open to craft whiskeys from all 50 states that incorporate corn in their mash bill. Top mixologists, brand ambassadors and whiskey aficionados will judge the competition. The deadline for entries is July 14 with a spirits delivery deadline of July 18.
This competition is generously sponsored by the following state corn association marketing boards. ACSA extends very special thanks to all of them for their support.
- Colorado Corn Administrative Committee
- Illinois Corn Marketing Board
- Indiana Corn Marketing Council
- Iowa Corn Promotion Board
- Kansas Corn Commission
- Kentucky Corn Promotion Council
- Ohio Corn Marketing Program
- The Corn Marketing Program Of Michigan
- Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council
- Missouri Corn Merchandising Council
- Nebraska Corn Growers Association
- New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association
- North Dakota Corn Council
- Texas Corn Producers
- Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board
- Tennessee Corn Promotion Council
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Watershed Distillery Welcomes Aaron Harris as Head Distiller |
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Watershed Distillery announces the appointment of its new, and first, head distiller. Aaron Harris joins one of Ohio’s oldest and largest craft distilleries, bringing years of experience from two Kentucky-based distilleries with him. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Dashfire Expands Distribution to Western Canada |
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Dashfire LLC and David Herman & Son Western Canadian Wine importing agency announced that Dashfire Ready-to-Drink (RTD) 100-mL cans and Café Dashfire RTD hard coffees are now available in Alberta and British Columbia. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Filmmakers Launch Kickstarter for ‘The Donn of Tiki’ |
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Documentary filmmakers Alex Lamb and Max Well of Surf Monkey Films recently launched a Kickstarter to financially support their documentary, “The Donn of Tiki”, an investigation into the illusive Donn Beach, born Ernest Gantt. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Denver-based Laws Whiskey House announced the third release of its Bonded Centennial Straight Wheat Whiskey. Launched in 2019 as one of the first Bonded Wheat Whiskey releases in the nation, the Bonded Centennial Wheat expressions are made from 100% Colorado-grown wheat. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Craft Spirits Podcast: Sonat Birnecker Hart of KOVAL Distillery |
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In the latest episode of The Craft Spirits Podcast, Sonat Birnecker Hart of KOVAL Distillery joins us for a wide-ranging conversation, which includes her thoughts on the benefits of exporting spirits and how starting up the distillery during the subprime mortgage crisis helped KOVAL navigate the pandemic. |
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Register for Upcoming Webinars |
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Still Austin Launches Limited-Release Cask Strength Bourbon |
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Still Austin Whiskey Co. launched its first limited-release Cask Strength Bourbon, in on- and off-premise establishments throughout Texas and at the Still Austin Distillery Tasting Room. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Access Assets to Advocate for DtC |
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ACSA has a collection of resources for guilds and distilleries to advocate for DtC changes, including a postcard to send to legislators, model guidelines necessary for elements of a model DtC bill, talking points and FAQs about DtC. |
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Join Us for Craft Spirits Live on Instagram |
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Join ACSA for Craft Spirits Live, our 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
May 26th: No Craft Spirits Live
June 2nd: Mark Elia, Long Branch Distillery
June 9th: TBA
June 16th: Stephen Paul, Whiskey Del Bac
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Boardroom Spirits Releases Vodka Iced Tea Canned Cocktail |
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Boardroom Spirits announced the launch of its latest canned cocktail flavor series, Vodka Iced Tea [5.5% ABV]. The sweet and tart Original Lemon is the first flavor released in the series. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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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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The American Craft Spirits Association proudly presents the May 2021 issue of CRAFT SPIRITS magazine. In our cover story, distillers around the nation weigh in on their adventures with heirloom corn. As our editor in chief writes, "Many, perhaps most, of you don’t work with heirloom corn (or even make whiskey, for that matter), but the piece is about all of you. That’s because craft spirits, regardless of what fermentable substrate you use, is an heirloom industry."
This issue also includes:
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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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