Monthly News and Announcement Roundup!

Here is what's new with Artisan Spirit, and a round-up of the months distilling industry news.

‍Artisan Spirit Magazine: It's time again for our annual "Artisan Spirit of the Year'' award! The committee of distilling pros (including multiple recipients from past years) selected this year's honoree in record time. I want to tell you who they picked, but I can't. Not yet, but soon! That's called a tease. You have been teased. Luckily it won't be long before we wrap up the spring issue of ASM and share the name of the winner, along with a boat load of new education, articles, and distilling spotlights. Keep an eye on the blog for updates and more teasers.

‍Distilling Industry Events Calendar: We are officially in convention season and the Industry Events Calendar is looking packed. As we speak, WSWA is having its annual convention, soon to be followed by back-to-back events starting in February with the Craft Maltsters conference, ACSA's annual conference, the DISCUS annual conference, and the Beam Institute conference. Not to mention you still have time to buy tickets online and support the epic fight against cancer for Rob and Heather Masters. Come see a comedy show, share a drink with friends, and support a good friend of the industry.

‍Society of Spirit (SOS): The SOS had an incredibly productive livestream symposium on the future of Malt with guests Dr. Harmonie Bettenhausen, Jake Capron, and Zach Gaines. If you were not able to join live, there is a VOD available for all to see! Come add your voice to the over 250 distillers and industry professionals who are sharing, educating, and occasionally debating their favorite horror movies on our distilling Discord server right now.

‍Journal of Distilling Science: Huge thanks to our science editor, Dr. Gary Spedding, and Creative Director, Amanda Christensen for finishing the task of uploading all past JDS articles online. That also means we are officially open access, and registered with DOI numbers on all JDS content. Two new articles have been accepted by the review board and are available as we speak! Science is cool.

If you like what we do, please consider picking up a subscription to Artisan Spirit Magazine and the Journal of Distilling Science for yourself, or as a gift to let your favorite distiller or spirits enthusiast know you love them.

HAVE YOU HEARD?

OMG, ANOTHER ARTICLE IN THE FORM OF AN ARBITRARY LIST! YOU BETCHA, JOURNALISM.
We are all too busy for a list of 10. Instead, we save you time by highlighting a "5 trends to watch for in cocktails and the spirits industry." Despite my ridicule, the article sources some excellent information and provides reasoned metrics for the trend predictions. Stand outs include Gen Z favoring spirits (Yah!), and increasing consumer familiarity with Asian spirits (awesome). [S EVENFIFTYDAILY]

GOOD NEWS, MORE GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION MIGHT BE ON THE WAY...
As DTC and other avenues for alcohol sales opens up, its not surprising that the government is looking into more robust ways to monitor spirit sales. Specifically with an open consultation on whether digital age verification should be utilized in stores and with home delivery. [BETTERRETAILING]

WE MAY MAKE BOOZE, WE MAY SELL BOOZE, BUT WE ALSO ENCOURAGE TAKING A BREAK.
It's been a little bizarre seeing some of the mainstream "backlash" to trends like dry January. Oddly enough most spirits professionals I've polled all support and embrace the concept of moderation and slowing down consumption. As an industry its important to track the dangers alcohol can impose on public health. Like this next article from my hometown of Spokane, WA where a segment of bartenders serve, but do not imbibe. [INLANDER]

SCIENCE TIME NERDS. LETS LEARN ABOUT KOJI
If you know sake, then you appreciate the place koji mold has in its production. American consumers and producers alike are branching out and appreciating what sake has to offer. Yet, as spirits producers the science is what really draws our attention, so lets dig into a excellent piece on koji brewing science. [S EVENFIFTYDAILY]

COLORADO KEEPS THE HOPE ALIVE FOR TO-GO SALES
Like so many other states Colorado made to-go sales a staple of Covid business survival, but the laws lapsed. Luckily there is fresh hope in the form of bill introduced to the legislature that would make restaurant to-go sales permanent. [CBSNEWS]

NEW WHISKEY, NEW PROBLEMS
Last month we showcased an article that asked the question, "Who will buy all this whiskey?" Now there is a companion piece asking who is going to buy up all the new whiskey too? [DRAMFACE]

YOU GOT A ROUND-UP IN MY NEWS ROUND-UP
Here we have an excellent article discussing the environment and social governance activations from around the distilling. From Pernod to AB InBev, there is a comprehensive collection of initiatives and social programs to learn about. [DRINKS-INTEL]