Welcome to the 223rd 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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Texas Governor Signs Bill Making Cocktails to Go Permanent |
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott this week signed HB 1024 making cocktails to go permanent in the state—supporting hospitality businesses devastated by COVID-19 and providing increased convenience for consumers. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Applications Open for Robert Qualls Scholarship Fund |
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Applications are now open for the Robert Qualls Scholarship Fund—a new educational scholarship opportunity created by Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits in memory of Robert Qualls, an extraordinary hospitality and spirits industry veteran. The scholarship fund will award a total of $100,000 in scholarships to students pursuing a hospitality-related degree over the next five years. (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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Iron Heart Canning Announces Expansion |
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Iron Heart Canning Co.—the nation’s largest mobile cannery—has added two new warehouse locations, one in Chicago and another in Springfield, Massachusetts. Counting these warehouse additions, Iron Heart will have launched five additional canning lines across the company ahead of increased canning demand forecasted for the summer months. (CraftSpiritsMag.com) |
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One Spot Remains on ACSA's Bar at Bar Convent Brooklyn |
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ACSA is inviting you to participate at our Craft Spirits Pavilion at Bar Convent Brooklyn (BCB), a highly sought-after ticket in town, pulling trade from the Tri-state area. The Brooklyn Expo Center again will again host this event in New York on August 17 & 18, 2021. Bartenders, bar/restaurant managers and owners, food and beverage managers, and distributors will be there to examine what liquids they might wish to pour at their venues as consumers begin to return to "normal" outings. For a reduced fee, ACSA has one area remaining on our craft spirits bar.
To be eligible to showcase your products, you must be an ACSA member in good standing at the time of the event and meet state distribution requirements to present your product in the state of New York. You also must attend the event to conduct the tasting and interact with attendees.
Please let us know if you'd like to participate by completing this form by May 15.
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St. George Spirits Releases California Reserve Apple Brandy |
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St. George Spirits of Alameda, California, announced the release of its latest California Reserve Apple Brandy. It is now available at the distillery’s bottle shop and St. George says bottles have also started shipping out elsewhere in California and to other states. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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Westward Whiskey Creates Online Gift Concierge Tool |
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Westward Whiskey of Portland, Oregon, recently launched its Father’s Day Gifting Concierge, an online gift-finder. To elevate the drinking experience of dads everywhere, the distillery designed this tool to pair your recipient’s personality to one of Westward’s American Single Malts. (CraftSpiritsMag.com)
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High West Releases Limited-Edition Rendezvous Rye |
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Park City, Utah-based High West Distillery & Saloon has released an exclusive rendition of Rendezvous Rye, an award-winning blend of straight rye whiskeys. (CraftSpiritsMag.com) |
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Register for Upcoming Webinars |
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WhistlePig, Runamok Maple Launch Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup |
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Two award-winning Vermont producers, Runamok Maple and WhistlePig, have joined forces to launch a pair of handcrafted barrel-aged products this spring: WhistlePig Rye Whiskey Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup and WhistlePig Barrel-Aged Maple Bitters. (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 19th: Meredith Meyer Grelli and Alexander Grelli, Wigle Whiskey (1pm ET)
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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Detroit City Distillery Announces Limited-Edition Summer Rum |
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Detroit City Distillery (DCD), an independent craft distiller of small-batch artisanal spirits in Detroit, will bring back its limited-edition spirit, Summer Rum, made in collaboration with some of Detroit’s best bartenders. (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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