The sting of stun grenades and tear gas is still fresh for Chris Montana, owner of Du Nord Craft Spirits, one of the few Black-owned microdistilleries in the United States. He spent the better part of May 27 — two days after the killing of George Floyd — handing out water and...
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A Black-Owned Distillery Was Set On Fire In Minneapolis. Here’s How The Owner Responded.
Chris Montana, owner of the first Black-owned microdistillery in the U.S., shares his hopes for the future. This story, as told to Garin Pirnia, is from the perspective of Chris Montana, co-owner of South Minneapolis’ Du Nord Craft Spirits. When Montana opened the distillery in 2013, in the neighborhood where he...
The Monthly Mash: May 2020
The Monthly Mash Volume 5.5 Member-Owned, Industry-Driven ACSA Mission: To elevate and advocate for the community of craft spirits producers. From the Desk of Margie A.S. Lehrman, Chief Executive Officer Dear Friends in our Craft Spirits Industry: 160 days. 31 hours. 256 sessions. That represents my personal dedication to...
ACSA Launches GoFundMe Campaign to Support Du Nord Craft Spirits, Badly Damaged During Minneapolis Unrest
To Our Alcohol Beverage Community and Supporters of Craft Spirits —In the early morning hours of Friday, May 29, Du Nord Craft Spirits, the Minneapolis distillery owned by the American Craft Spirits Association’s immediate Past President Chris Montana, was severely damaged amidst all of the devastation in the city....
Newly-Appointed Veteran Board Members to Steer ACSA and Its Membership Through COVID-19 Recovery Efforts
BECKY HARRIS, P.T. WOOD, & JEFF KANOF ELECTED PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, & SECRETARY/TREASURER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AMERICAN CRAFT SPIRITS ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON, DC (May 26, 2020) – The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) today announces the election of Becky Harris of Catoctin Creek Distilling Co. (VA) as the President of the...
New Hand Sanitizers Packaged in Beverage Bottles Could Pose Health Risks
During the coronavirus pandemic, calls to poison control centers related to sanitizer have risen Among the products Americans are having a hard time purchasing during the coronavirus pandemic, hand sanitizer tops the list: Seventy-four percent of people say they have been unable to track it down, according to a new nationally...
Craft Distillers Struggle to Survive Amid COVID-19
COVID-19 has battered the entire whisky industry but perhaps no one is struggling quite like the thousands of craft distillers in the U.S. The pandemic has shuttered tasting rooms and disrupted distribution, cutting off crucial revenue streams, prompting staff cuts, and potentially putting some on the brink of permanent closure. While...
6 Ways to Support Small Distilleries, Wineries, and Breweries
The global pandemic is having a significant local impact throughout the drinks space. While sales of wine, beer, and spirits are strong at retail, that doesn’t necessarily translate to craft producers, and it doesn’t make up for the loss of the entire on-premise channel. With most of the country’s...
