U.S. Distilled Spirits Industry Leaders Launch “Spirits United” Grassroots Platform to Mobilize Community of...
WASHINGTON, DC – Spirits United (https://www.spiritsunited.org/), a new multifaceted grassroots tool aimed at bringing together a broad base of spirits advocates from industry professionals to consumers, was formally launched today by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS),...
California Distillers Go to D.C. to Support The Craft Spirits Modernization and Tax Reform...
On July 22-23 a small delegation of California distillers went to Washington D.C. to attend the Public Policy Conference hosted by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) and the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA). The primary...
Industry Growth Continues its Uphill Trend
Introduction
Over the past several decades, waves of change have swept through U.S. consumer behavior and attitudes towards food and drink. The trend towards fresh, “handmade” products made with real, and less-processed, ingredients has affected all segments, as consumers increasingly...
Make Your Voice Heard
On October 19, 2018, the Alcohol Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) published its Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2018–2022. TTB’s second strategic goal of the five-year plan is to “facilitate commerce through a modern labeling program focused on service...
The Rise of the B Corporation
One of the greatest consumer shifts in America over the last thirty years has been back toward buying from local producers, away from larger corporations. We like to know who grew our food, distilled our spirits and brewed our...
TTB vs FDA
When it comes to understanding the authority differences between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), there is a great deal of confusion among craft distillers. What role does the FDA have on...
A Surge in Craft Bottled-in-Bond Whiskey
Bartenders and bargain hunters have rejoiced in recent years with the return to prominence for bottled-in-bond, or bonded, whiskeys. I’ve long said the best $20 you could spend in a liquor store was on bottom-shelf bonded bourbon. Now, though,...
A Whiskey by Any Other Name
At the end of 2014, the TTB issued a clarifying “Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)” regarding age statements on whiskey labels. It was significant, as it reinforced the TTB’s firm stance on label compliance, especially for whiskey and bourbon labels....
Legal Considerations for Leasing or Purchasing Real Estate for Distilleries
With the growth of the distilling business, landlords are paying more attention to potential tenants in this industry, which present a viable solution for spaces left vacant by traditional retailers. The number of active craft distilleries in the United...
A Tale of Two Distilleries: Exploring Two Paths to Building a Code-Compliant Distillery
As the craft-spirits industry expands and gains prominence nationwide, there has been an accompanying increase in scrutiny by building and fire officials. The applicable codes are often not well understood, not only by members of the distilling community, but...
