Craft Spirits Weekly
Welcome to the 195th 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.
Enter the Craft Spirits Packaging Awards
Best in Show to Grace Cover of CRAFT SPIRITS Magazine
Presented by the American Craft Spirits Association and CRAFT SPIRITS magazine, the Craft Spirits Packaging Awards celebrates excellence and creativity in the design of craft spirits labels and packaging. Medalists will be featured in the January issue of CRAFT SPIRITS magazine, with Best in Show gracing the cover. Entries will be judged by an independent panel of industry experts.

Deadline for entry is Nov. 13, 2020.

The competition is open to all producers of craft spirits. No physical samples are required for entry (some winning entries may be asked to ship samples for photography).

A panel of design experts will judge labels and packaging in the following categories:
  • Best Brandy Packaging
  • Best Gin Packaging
  • Best Ready-to-Drink 
  • Best Rum Packaging
  • Best Specialty Spirits Packaging
  • Best Vodka & Grain Packaging
  • Best Whiskey Packaging
  • Best Portfolio (Recognizing outstanding packaging across a range of products three or more products. Must be entered separately from individual entries.)
  • Readers’ Choice Award (Judged by CRAFT SPIRITS magazine readers)
  • Best in Show

Cost
ACSA Members: $40 per entry; $100 per portfolio entry
Non-members: $55 per entry; $140 per portfolio entry

The deadline for submissions is Nov. 13. If your spirits packaging is creative, beautiful, unique or all of the above, show it off by entering now!
Ohio Becomes Second State to Make To-Go Cocktails Permanent
Ohio this week became the second state in the U.S. to permanently grant distilleries, bars, restaurants and more the right to sell cocktails to go. The shift comes after Gov. Mike DeWine signed Ohio House Bill 669, which had previously been approved by both of Ohio’s General Assembly chambers. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
Chemist Spirits Releases Founders Reserve Single Malt Whiskey
Chemist Spirits of Asheville, North Carolina, announced the release of its Founders Reserve Single Malt Whiskey. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
Watershed Distillery Hosts First Garage Sale
Watershed Distillery of Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday will host a socially distanced, outdoor bottle sale event, making unique and special spirit offerings available to the general public for the first time. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
West Fork Whiskey Co. and Sun King Spirits Partner on Vodka
Craft whiskey distillery West Fork Whiskey Co. of Indianapolis has joined forces with Sun King Spirits to produce Sun King Vodka, a small-batch, handcrafted vodka available beginning Oct. 16. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
TTB Issues New Ruling on Gluten Content Statements
In response to changes to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is updating its policy on gluten content statements on labels and in advertisements for wines, distilled spirits, and malt beverages regulated under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act). (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
Join Us for Craft Spirits Live on Instagram
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
October 21st: John Little, Smooth Ambler Spirits
October 28th: TBA
November 4th: Blake Jones, West Fork Whiskey Co.
November 11th: Nathan Newhall, Steamboat Whiskey Co.
November 18th: Greg Lehman, Watershed Distillery

Not sure how Instagram Live works? Click here to learn more.
Copperworks Announces Single Cask Release of American Single Malt
Seattle’s Copperworks Distilling Co. today announced a single cask release of its American Single Malt Whiskey, bottled at natural cask strength. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
Pratt Standard Cocktail Co. to Release New Old Fashioned Syrup
Pratt Standard Cocktail Co. of Washington, D.C., will launch its Old Fashioned syrup on Oct. 29. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
DOT to Host Webinars to Help Distilleries Maintain Compliance
The Department of Transportation – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT-PHMSA) will be hosting informational webinars to assist with transitioning to full compliance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) once the Temporary Policy for the Transportation of Certain Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Products expires on October 31, 2020. The webinars will cover key HMR transportation topics for hand sanitizer products as well as important information on how to obtain training. An emphasis will be placed on what your first steps are should you continue with hand sanitizer transport operations past October 31, 2020. There will be a limited time for live Q&A with guidance on where to direct any future compliance questions. There are two offerings for these webinars:
Wilderness Trail Distillery Owners Claim Ernst & Young Honor
Ernst & Young LLP this week announced that Shane Baker and Patrick Heist of Wilderness Trail Distillery were named as Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020 East Central Award winner. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
JK Williams Distilling Announces Initial Releases
Owners Andy Faris and Stacy Shunk announced the purchase of the historic JK Williams Distilling brand last spring and are now ready to launch the next step of their journey—releasing whiskey at retail and opening a 20,000-square-foot warehouse and production facility in Peoria, Illinois. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
Reminder: Importance of Registering Sanitizer
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 believe a distillery is producing or distributing hand sanitizer or ethanol in a manner that is inconsistent with recent federal regulations and guidelines published for use during the COVID-19 public health emergency, please click here.

And if you haven't already added your distillery to our list of DSPs producing hand sanitizers, click here.

Additionally, FDA recently announced that it is providing a laboratory testing method to assess the quality of finished hand sanitizer products.

This testing method can be used to help assure hand sanitizers contain the correct ingredients and do not contain harmful levels of impurities. To read the full bulletin on the FDA's laboratory testing method, click here.
Cocktail Critters Donates 5,000 Masks to Support Hospitality Industry
Honolulu-based Cocktail Critters will donate 5,000 cocktail-inspired face masks to various restaurants and bars around the world as they continue the reopening process. The startup apparel brand has partnered with Healthy Hospo and Field Trip NYC and numerous food and beverage industry groups to help distribute the masks across the United States, United Kingdom and nine countries in Asia. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
Got a question? ACSA's got the answer.
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.
Watch the Latest Episode of Craft Spirits TV
Read the Latest Issue of Craft Spirits Magazine
In case you missed it, the latest issue of Craft Spirits magazine is online. Click here or on the cover photo to read the full issue.
Send News to Craft Spirits Magazine
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.
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.)