Distilled Spirits
The Monthly Mash: June 2020

The Monthly Mash Volume 5.6 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: Historical fiction is one of my preferred reading genres. Exploring a time...
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...
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...
The Monthly Mash: April 2020

The Monthly Mash Volume 5.4 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 the Craft Spirits Industry: Be prepared. Always, be prepared. I...
Craft Distillers Were Booming. Now They Face Bust.
In recent years, sales for small liquor makers have been surging, but coronavirus has shuttered tasting rooms and disrupted distribution. For Todd Thrasher, it seemed like a sure bet. In October 2018, he opened a sprawling bar and rum distillery along the newly revitalized District Wharf in Washington, D.C.,...
Recent Publications
- What To Do During the Government Shutdown
- ACSA Urges Treasury to Keep TTB Approvals Running During Potential Shutdown
- Strong Demand Persists for Direct-to-Consumer Shipping of Craft Spirits
- Craft Spirits Producers Toast the Launch of the Craft Spirits Caucus on Capitol Hill
- American Craft Spirits Association Announces 2025 Heartland Whiskey Competition Awards