Welcome to the 203rd issue of Craft Spirits Weekly. This newsletter is 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.
Next week, Craft Spirits Weekly will be on hiatus in honor of Christmas. We wish you and yours happy holidays!
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Pilot House Distilling to Expand, Move Near Buoy Beer |
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Pilot House Distilling of Astoria, Oregon, will move to its permanent home on the waterfront in a former fish processing plant adjacent to Buoy Beer. The new distilling facility will include a new 5,000-liter copper pot still and column (a significant upgrade from the current 950-liter still), a new fermentation cellar with a mash mixer and a mash filter, and a 12,000 sq. ft. second floor devoted to barrel aging. (CraftSpiritsMag.com) |
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The Latest Update on FET Reform |
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While top Congressional negotiators are finalizing a year-end omnibus package of legislation, ACSA expects that a number of expiring tax provisions, such as our federal excise tax (FET) reduction, will be re-authorized. We believe that a permanent reduction could happen, as we’ve worked tirelessly to garner the support of key tax Committee leaders. We are still cautiously optimistic at this point, however the legislative situation remains fluid and negotiations continue. There is also the possibility of a one year or multi-year extension.
Throughout this process, ACSA, together with those guilds and members who have responded to our request, has been reaching out to key state delegations of the Congressional leadership, such as California, New York and Kentucky to strongly advocate for permanence.
We expect the U.S. House could take up such an omnibus bill on Friday and the Senate could act shortly thereafter, but it is possible we’ll have no decision before the weekend. ACSA is deploying all of resources as we near the end of this Congressional session to have our FET reduction renewed and finally across the finish line. We will update you again when we have more specific information the legislation the Congress is presently crafting.
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The Craft Spirits Podcast: P.T.Wood of Wood's High Mountain Distillery |
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P.T. Wood is the co-founder of Wood’s High Mountain Distillery, vice president of the American Craft Spirits Association and the mayor of Salida, Colorado. In the second episode of The Craft Spirits Podcast, Wood joins CRAFT SPIRITS magazine senior editor Jon Page to discuss his path to making craft spirits and the realities of running a distillery and a city. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Monday, Dec. 21: ACSA to Host Virtual Packaging Awards Ceremony |
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ACSA and CRAFT SPIRITS magazine will host a virtual ceremony via Zoom on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. ET to announce the medalists in the inaugural Craft Spirits Packaging Awards. Sponsored by the Glass Packaging Institute, the awards celebrate excellence and creativity in the design of craft spirits labels and packaging.
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Special Thanks to Our Craft Spirits Packaging Awards Sponsor: |
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ACSA's Judging of Craft Spirits Now Open for Entries! |
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ACSA is thrilled to announce that its 8th Annual Judging of Craft Spirits is now open for entries! ACSA takes great pride in conducting a rigorously professional judging program that recognizes the best craft spirits in the categories of Vodka/Grain, Gin, Brandy, Rum, Ready-to-Drink, Whiskey, and Specialty Spirits.
Register now to take advantage of early bird fees. General registration fees are Jan. 2-Feb. 28. The late riser fee will be from March 1 until registration closes on March 12.
All spirits must be received by March 17, 2021. The competition is open to all producers of craft spirits in the United States. Due to COVID-19 we will not be accepting international entries in this year's competition.
FEES FOR ACSA MEMBERS
Early Bird: $200 per entry
General Fee: $250 per entry
Late Riser: $275 per entry
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Kentucky Alcohol Producers Can Now Ship Directly to Consumers |
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With the click of a button, the first online, direct-to-consumer bourbon purchase in Kentucky was placed Monday from the state capitol annex, moments after House Bill 415 went into effect. Direct-to-consumer means Kentucky distilleries, wineries, and breweries that wish to sell their product can now do so on their own websites and fill their own orders instead of going through wholesalers or distributors. (Spectrum News 1)
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Silverback Distillery Releases Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon |
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Silverback Distillery of Afton, Virginia, announced the fourth release in its Alpha Series: its first bottled-in-bond bourbon. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Moonshine University Reveals Top Spirits Trends for 2021 |
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Experts at Moonshine University, the nation’s premier educational distillery, have announced the top trends set to shape the spirits industry in 2021. Driven by the long-term effects of an on-going pandemic, this year’s forecast is shaping up to be focused on authenticity in the form of appeals to community, premium experiences, and hospitality. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Spirit Hub Launches Nonprofit to Provide Relief to Distilleries |
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Chicago-based Spirit Hub, an online direct-to-consumer marketplace to shop for thousands of hard-to-find craft spirits from independent distilleries, announces the launch of The Spirit Hub Independent Distillery Preservation Fund, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization established to provide financial aid and resources for independent distilleries around the world. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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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
December 23rd: No Craft Spirits Live
December 30th: No Craft Spirits Live
January 6th: Alex Laufer, One Eight Distilling
January 13th: Karen Hoskin, Montanya Distillers
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ROOT Crafted Expands to Florida |
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ROOT Crafted, an award-winning, woman-owned organic cocktail mixer company from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is proud to announce Wynn’s Market in Naples, Florida, will carry four of the company’s most popular flavors; Au Pear, Granada, Hibi-Hibi, and Lemongrass in 16 oz. bottles for approximately $9.99 each. This marks ROOT Crafted’s entry into the Florida retail market. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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BCB Launches Product Line to Support the Bar Sector |
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Bar Convent Berlin (BCB) is supporting bars and bartenders during lockdown with a new merchandising campaign. The revenue of the BCB product line comprising shirts, hoodies and accessories will be donated to “SupportYourLocalBar.” (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Bardstown Bourbon Co. Unveils Three New Products |
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The Bardstown Bourbon Co. of Bardstown, Kentucky, is excited to close out 2020 by adding three new expressions to its product lineup: the second iteration of its collaboration with Calistoga-based winemaker Phifer Pavitt, and the fourth iteration of its own Fusion and Discovery Series bourbons. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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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 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.
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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 November issue of CRAFT SPIRITS magazine. In our cover story, we highlight sustainability and social awareness principles within the craft rum business.
This issue also includes:
- A feature story profiling distillers elected to serve in public office
- Insights for craft spirits producers looking to boost off-premise sales
- Tips for troubleshooting the most common fermentation challenges
- Alluring cocktail recipes from ACSA members
- And much more!
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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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