We gathered in a cramped room in the Zetter Townhouse in St John’s Square off the trendy Clerkenwell Road in north London for a briefing on Beefeater 24, Pern...
In the last decade, the number of small distillers in the US has grown from a few dozen to more than two hundred today, now making an array of products from white spirits such as vodka and gin to wide varieties of liqueurs, aged whiskeys and brandies.
DISCUS president Peter Cressy said: “The rapidly growing number of craft distillers in states across the nation represents an important grassroots base for communicating substantive messages about industry modernisation, our strong marketing code and the important role distillers play in the hospitality industry.
“Together, we can educate public officials and pursue positive policies that advance the interests of the hospitality industry and the jobs we create.”
The new membership group will be headed by an eleven member advisory council of distillers chaired by Fritz Maytag of San Francisco’s Anchor Distilling. As a leadership body, its role will be to coordinate communications with the DISCUS policy teams, and engage and activate small distillers in their respective regions.
Other members of the advisory council will be: Scott Bush, Templeton Rye (IA); Robert Cassell, Philadelphia Distilling, (PA); Jess Graber, Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey (CO); Ted Huber, Huber Starlight Distillery (IN); Brett Joyce, Rogue Spirits, (OR); Marko Karakasevic, Charbay Distillery (CA); Brian McKenzie, Finger Lakes Distilling (NY); Guy Rehorst, Great Lakes Distillery (WI); Jorg Rupf, St. George Spirits (CA); and Rick Wasmund, Copper Fox Distillery (VA).
The new craft distiller membership will be offered to producers under 40,000 nine-litre cases annually. Benefits are to include a compendium of State Laws and Regulations; legislative newsletters; action alerts; consultations with DISCUS legal and regulatory experts; opportunities to showcase products at DISCUS-sponsored tasting events.
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