This member spotlight highlights the journey of Old Hillside Bourbon Company, a bourbon brand rooted in storytelling and community.
ACSA Craft Brand Spotlight: Old Hillside Bourbon Company
Distilled Spirits
Tom Bard, Phil Steger, Mark Shilling Elected President, Vice President, & Secretary/Treasurer, Board of Directors, Along with New Board Appointments
WASHINGTON, DC (April 29, 2026) – The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) today announces the election of new Board leadership, with Tom Bard of The Bard Distillery (KY) assuming the role of President of the Board of Directors. He has served as a member of the organization’s Board of Directors...
Moonshine University/Distilled Spirits Epicenter’s Completely Custom Whiskey-PX Finish Takes Best in Show at 2026 ACSA Spirits Competition
Sacramento, Calif. (April 18, 2026) – Today, the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), the nation’s only nationally registered nonprofit trade association representing the U.S. craft spirits industry, announced the medalists in its 12th Annual American Craft Spirits Competition and Sixth Annual Craft Spirits Packaging Awards. Medalists were honored in...
Expanding The Table: ACSA Welcomes Craft Brands into Voting Membership
The craft spirits industry is evolving and so is the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA). Today, ACSA announced an important update to its bylaws, expanding its voting membership to include Craft Brands alongside Craft Distillers. This change reflects a simple but powerful idea: the craft spirits community is strongest...
Margie A.S. Lehrman to Retire as ACSA CEO; Emily Pennington Appointed to Lead Organization
Washington, D.C. (March 25, 2026) — Following over a decade of leadership at the helm of the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), Margie A.S. Lehrman will retire from her role as Chief Executive Officer, transitioning into a newly created CEO Emeritus position on May 1. ACSA Chief Operating Officer...
SPECIAL ALERT – HHS DROPS NEW DIETARY GUIDELINES; ALCOHOL RECOMMENDATIONS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT MODERATION
Released today, the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans continue to recommend moderation in alcohol consumption for better health, largely in line with ACSA’s long-standing perspective.
Craft Spirits Sales See Second Year of Decline
Citing Continued Economic & Market Access Headwinds, Producers Report Volume & Value Losses Washington, D.C. (October 21, 2025) – The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) and Park Street today presented highlights from the 2025 Craft Spirits Data Project (CSDP) at its Annual Craft Spirits Economic Briefing. Jordan Cotton (President,...
ACSA & California Distillers Association Celebrate Passage of Direct-to-Consumer Shipping Bill
Sacramento, Calif. (October 15, 2025) – The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) and the California Distillers Association (CDA) applaud the State of California on the passage of AB 1246, a direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping bill. The bill extends temporary allowances for California distillers, and also includes the ability for out-of-state...
What To Do During the Government Shutdown
The federal government has officially shut down following Congress’s failure to reach a funding agreement. This shutdown has immediate and significant consequences for craft distilleries. Recently, ACSA urged the Treasury Department to keep label and formula approvals operational during any shutdown. Unfortunately, those services have now been suspended as...
ACSA Urges Treasury to Keep TTB Approvals Running During Potential Shutdown
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On Sept. 26, ACSA sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urging the Department of the Treasury to designate the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau’s (TTB) label and formula approval services as essential in the event of a government shutdown. ACSA emphasized that delays in approvals...
Craft Spirits Producers Toast the Launch of the Craft Spirits Caucus on Capitol Hill
As the craft spirits community navigates the most challenging economic environment in its history, nearly 40 independent distillers and industry allies ascended Capitol Hill this week to unveil the newly created Craft Spirits Caucus and garner bi-partisan support for legislative priorities that will broaden market access and provide regulatory...
Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition Statement on ‘Liberation Day’ Announcement
The Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition—which includes 55 organizations representing the entire three-tier chain of the U.S. alcohol industry, including the American Craft Spirits Association—has released the following statement in response to President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs announced on April 2: “As part of the administration’s America First trade policy,...
The Monthly Mash: November 2024
Volume 9.11 ACSA’s Mission: To elevate and advocate for the community of craft spirits producers. Join us. From the Desk of Margie A.S. Lehrman, Chief Executive Officer Dear Friends in the Craft Spirits Community: Thank you. Grazie. Merci. Danke. Xie Xie. Arigato. Shukran. Spasibo. Obrigado. D’akujem. Gracias. As Thanksgiving...
The Monthly Mash: October 2024
Volume 9.10 ACSA’s Mission: To elevate and advocate for the community of craft spirits producers. Join us. From the Desk of Margie A.S. Lehrman, Chief Executive Officer Dear Friends in the Craft Spirits Community: I love Costco. It meets so many of my needs, finding “treasures” I was unaware...
The Monthly Mash: September 2024
Volume 9.9 ACSA’s Mission: To elevate and advocate for the community of craft spirits producers. Join us. From the Desk of Margie A.S. Lehrman, Chief Executive Officer Dear Friends in the Craft Spirits Community: As we step into fall, there’s no better time to reflect on the joy and...
