Welcome to the 218th 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. This week's newsletter is sponsored by Briess Malt & Ingredients Co.
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Back on Track: Register Now for ACSA's Convention in Louisville |
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ACSA is thrilled to announce that registration is now open for its annual Distillers’ Convention and Vendor Trade Show. The convention is scheduled for Dec. 4-6, 2021, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Get ready to join fellow producers and other industry experts to network, learn, and toast our incomparable, vibrant industry in Derby City. ACSA is planning a stellar conference that will showcase our LEGACY and demonstrate our GRIT. Over two and half days, 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.
As the health and safety of our attendees will continue to be our main priority, expect a release of COVID-19 precautions shortly.
All prior attendee and exhibitor registration fees from the July 2021 event will automatically roll over and be applied to the December dates. If you need to check registration status or have any immediate questions, please contact Teresa McDaniel at (502) 807-4249 and/or teresa@americancraftspirits.org.
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Ghost Coast's Burl Gin Earns Major Accolades |
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Savannah, Georgia’s Ghost Coast Distillery was awarded a Gold medal, 93 points for its Ghost Coast Burl Gin by the Beverage Testing Institute. The judging panel describes Burl as “complex, fruity, and spicy.” (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Register for Our April 15 Webinar: Innovation in Bottle Design |
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Join us next Thursday for our webinar: Packaging Series: Innovation in Bottle Design. Scott DeFife, president of the Glass Packaging Institute, will moderate a panel of medalists—including Best In Show, Brooklyn Gin—in ACSA and CRAFT SPIRITS magazine's inaugural Craft Spirits Packaging Awards. The webinar is sponsored by Vitro Glass Containers.
When: Thursday, April 15th at 3 p.m. EDT
What: In the first of our series on craft spirits packaging, we explore the latest bottle design trends that are giving brands the sort of shelf appeal that drives sales. Scott DeFife, president of the Glass Packaging Institute, will moderate a panel of spirits producers behind some of the most dynamic bottle designs on the market.
Who: Scott DeFife, Glass Packaging Institute (Moderator); Emil Jättne and Joe Santos, Brooklyn Gin; Mike Shannon, Restless Spirits Distilling; Paul Tamburello, The Family Jones,
How much: Free to ACSA members, $59 for non-members
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Westward CEO, ACSA Founding Pres. Mooney on #ToastsNotTariffs Panel |
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Westward Whiskey co-founder and CEO Tom Mooney, who served as ACSA’s founding president, will be among the panelists on an April 12 webinar urging the industry to support the #ToastsNotTariffs effort and advocate against tariffs on American whiskeys. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Register Now for our Public Policy Conference |
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Join us for the American Craft Spirits Association and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States' Virtual Public Policy Conference on May 25-26, 2021. While we are disappointed COVID-19 prevents an in-person visit again this year, we plan to offer the same opportunities that you have come to expect from our conference—to learn and share from one another and celebrate this great industry.
As part of the conference, craft distillers and suppliers will participate in virtual congressional visits with your home state legislators to discuss the extreme hardships craft distilleries are facing due to the impacts of COVID-19.
You can register for the May 25 and 26 free event and attend from the comfort of your home or distillery/office as it is VIRTUAL.
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Oak & Eden Re-Releases Bourbon & Brew |
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Dallas-Fort Worth-based whiskey producer Oak & Eden has announced the re-release of its prized seasonal whiskey, Bourbon & Brew, which took home a Double Gold medal at San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Middle West Spirits Hires Industry Veteran as National Sales Director |
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Middle West Spirits recently announced that Victor Spotloe, a recognized brand builder in the alcohol industry, has joined forces with the notable Central Ohio whiskey distillery as its national sales director. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Durham Distillery's Conniption Navy Strength Gin Named Best in U.S. |
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Durham Distillery announced that its award-winning Conniption Navy Strength Gin was named the best in the United States at the 2021 World Gin Awards as part of the “World’s Best Navy Gin” Taste Winners, marking the third year in a row that it has won the prestigious title. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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The Craft Spirits Podcast: Brooklyn Gin's Emil Jättne and Joe Santos |
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Emil Jättne and Joe Santos are the co-founders of Brooklyn Gin. They met while working for Bacardi and eventually hatched the idea for their own gin. They joined senior editor Jon Page via Zoom in early March to talk about lessons learned from striking out on their own a decade ago, and to preview what visitors can expect when they complete their own distillery, hopefully by the end of this year. They also shared some insights on everything that went into the creation of their bottle, which claimed a gold medal and best in show in ACSA and CRAFT SPIRITS magazine’s inaugural Craft Spirits Packaging Awards in late 2020. You can stream the episode at CraftSpiritsMag.com or listen via the following outlets:
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Take Our Survey on Tasting Room Revenue Loss |
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ACSA continues to work with Congress to ensure distilleries have access to maximum PPP and debt relief. Now that 2020 is well behind us, please take one minute to provide your most recent analysis of total loss of revenue in 2020 from your tasting rooms.
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FIVE x 5 Solutions Introduces Redesigned Whiskey Systems |
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FIVE x 5 Solutions, a leader in operations management software for distilleries, introduced a new, redesigned Whiskey Systems specifically designed for small and startup distilleries at a competitive price point. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Craft Spirits TV: Having a Smoke with Whiskey Del Bac |
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In the latest episode of Craft Spirits TV, we drop by Hamilton Distillers/Whiskey Del Bac in Tucson, Arizona to find out from co-founder Stephen Paul how the distillery’s American single malt whiskey gets its signature mesquite smoke character.
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Glass Packaging Institute Welcomes New Board Chair |
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The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) announced the selection of Tim Connors, managing director, O-I Americas North, as Chairman of GPI’s Board of Trustees. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Fifth-Generation Owners Take Helm at Fee Brothers |
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Continuing their family’s legacy, Jon Spacher and Benn Fee Spacher announced that they are the new, and fifth-generation, owners of Fee Brothers. As direct descendants of one of the original four brothers, John Fee, they are following in the footsteps of their aunt Ellen Fee and late uncle Joe Fee. (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
April 14th: Scott Mayer, Blended Family Spirits
April 21st: Britt Moon, Swamp Fox Distilling Co.
April 28th: Jon Lawson and Tristan Mermin, St. Barts Spirit Company
May 5th: Chris Sywassink, Ghost Coast Distillery
May 12th: TBA
May 19th: TBA
May 26th: No Craft Spirits Live
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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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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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