Craft Spirits Weekly
Welcome to the 43rd 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 the American Craft Spirits Association.
Craft Spirits Data Project: Craft Distillers Sold Nearly 6M Cases in 2016
The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), Park Street, and the IWSR this week presented highlights from the  2017 Craft Spirits Data Project at the Second Annual Craft Spirits Economic Briefing at Kings County Distillery in New York. Among the key findings was that craft spirits producers sold nearly 6 million cases in 2016. The Craft Spirits Data Project, which was first introduced in 2016, is a first-of-its-kind research initiative that aims to provide a solid and reliable fact base for evaluating performance and trends in the U.S. craft spirits industry.
One Day Left to Enter ACSA's Annual Craft Spirits Competition
Time is running out! Tomorrow, Friday, October 27 is the final day to register for ACSA’s annual judging competition. All participating spirits must be received by November 1. The cost to enter is $250 per spirit for ACSA members and $350 per spirit for non-members.  Winners will be announced during the ACSA Distillers Convention & Vendor Trade Show in Pittsburgh, Pa., March 5-6, 2018.
'Bluegrass Spirits' Film Shoots at Hartsfield & Co. Distillery
A new movie, “Bluegrass Spirits,” based on the bourbon industry and starring Jake Busey, is going to be filmed at the Hartfield & Co. craft distillery in Paris, Ky. (Lexington Herald Leader)
NY Gov. Eases Label Registration Rules for Craft Producers
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation late Monday to ease a regulation affecting New York's craft beverage producers. Before the governor's action, the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Law required manufacturers to submit brand label registration applications every year. The State Liquor Authority only accepted the applications by certified mail, registered mail or overnight mail. The bill approved by Cuomo changes the law to allow beverage makers to electronically submit brand label registration forms. The measure also extends the period the applications must be submitted from one to three years. (Auburn Citizen)
Grains & Grits Festival to Celebrate Southern Spirits
The second annual Grains and Grits Festival of Southern Spirits will be held on Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Townsend, Tennessee, Visitors Center. A gathering of whiskey lovers will converge on the city to celebrate the statewide 26-stop distillery tour organized by the Tennessee Distillers Guild. In addition, all 26 distilleries will attend the event. (Knox News)
Twisted Path Distillery Expands Tasting Room, Dock18 Moves Out
Dock18 Cocktail Lab, the collaboration between bitters-maker Bittercube and Twisted Path Distillery, is ending its run at Milwaukee's Lincoln Warehouse on Nov. 18 as the distillery expands its tasting room. Dock18 will live on in another form—pop-ups, events, and classes—Bittercube will continue to make its bitters at Lincoln Warehouse and continue to develop cocktails there. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) 
Bouck Brothers Launches Crowdfunding Campaign
Bouck Brothers Whiskey, a distillery located in Idaho Springs, Colorado, has launched a funding round on Indiegogo/Microventures’ equity crowdfunding platform. (Crowdfund Insider)
Union Horse Distilling Releases Four Grain Whiskey
Kansas-based Union Horse Distilling Co. is one of an ever-growing number of grain-to-glass whiskey makers doing almost everything in house, from grain milling to bottling. Its latest is a multi-grain American whiskey. (The Whiskey Wash)
Hope Springs Distillery Launches at 50 Georgia Retailers
Gwinnett County, Ga.'s first distillery has its products on the shelves of more than 50 stores. Hope Springs Distillery, located in a 4,000-square-foot on Railroad Street in Lilburn, makes Top Hat Vodka along with Jetty Green Absinthe.
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