Bourbon Barrel Selection Bill Passes KY Senate

Seeking to keep Kentucky’s signature bourbon industry competitive on a national level, the Senate passed House Bill 500, sponsored by House Majority Whip Chad McCoy, ensuring distilleries are able to continue the process of private barrel selections.

Highlights of the bill includes:  

• A distiller would be allowed to sell 30 percent of its annual allotment of private barrel selections to consumers or other unlicensed entities directly from the gift shop.
• A distiller can sell more than 30 percent of its annual allotment to consumers. But anything above 30 percent sold through the gift shop must be sold through the three-tier system.
• Allows distillers to sell exclusive bottles on-site in their distillery gift shop at a limit of three liters per person, per day.
• Any gift shop exclusive bottle must be sold in-person at the distillery.
• Distillers would be permitted to sample and sell their brands by the bottle at fairs and festivals.

McCoy said in his senate committee presentation that the bill seeks to keep Kentucky’s bourbon industry and the tourism surrounding the industry robust.

The measure now moves to the governor’s desk for his signature.

This article originally appeared on The Bourbon Flight here.

 

Private barrel selection issue in KY partially resolved through compromise

The Kentucky House of Representatives passed a bill to advance Bourbon tourism and resolve regulatory issues with popular private barrel selection programs after Rep. Chad McCoy negotiated a compromise among key stakeholders.

Two floor amendments settled concerns between the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA), the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Kentucky (WSWK), and many liquor store retailers which led to HB500, sponsored by McCoy, R-Bardstown, passing the House after a 75-17 vote.

McCoy noted the compromise ensures restaurants, bars and liquor stores will continue to have access to the overwhelming majority of private barrel selections while allowing a small percentage of gift shop sales for distillery tourism purposes.

Likewise, he said exclusive bottles at distilleries will attract repeat visitors to Kentucky, and satellite tasting rooms will enhance downtowns and local communities around the state that might not have access to a full distillery experience.

“HB500 is the next bold step in advancing Bourbon tourism and attracting repeat visitors to Kentucky just as California leverages its signature wine industry to benefit Napa and Sonoma valleys,” McCoy said.

“I appreciate the willingness of the distillers, wholesalers and several retailers to come together and find common ground that will continue to grow Kentucky Bourbon’s popularity and strengthen all partners and players in our signature industry,” McCoy said.

Offering specific praise to WSWK for coming to the table and negotiating in good faith, McCoy said, “Wholesalers have a vested interest in growing the Bourbon industry and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® experiences. When we collaborated with that goal in mind, we quickly found common ground. Compromises like this grow the pie for everyone instead of fighting over smaller pieces.”

HB500, as passed by the House, would:

• Allow distillers to sell exclusive bottles on-site in their distillery gift shop at a limit of 3 liters per person, per day. These bottles could not be sold anywhere else and would not be made available to any wholesaler.
• Tighten language around satellite tasting rooms to ensure that only a distillery with sampling and souvenir bottle sales may operate an off-site retail location at any wet or moist location in Kentucky.
• Codify regulations on vintage spirits that limit a consumer to selling 24 packages a year and require licensees to keep records and report all purchases to the ABC prior to selling vintage spirits bottles.
• Limit a distiller to selling only 30% of its annual allotment of private barrel selections to private consumers directly from the distillery gift shop. All other private barrel selections must go through the three-tier system.

SB160, introduced as an “emergency” act Feb. 10, was the first piece of proposed Kentucky legislation to define private barrel selections. It was unanimously passed by the Senate 30-0 on March 3rd and forwarded to... wait for it... the House Committee on Committees. Seriously, they have a committee whose sole purpose is other committees. 

What's next? Well, we wait for the House to pass SB160 and for the Senate to pass HB500. Then it all goes to the Governor, so it appears all signs are pointing in the right direction. We have finished distilling (introducing the bills), we are currently in the aging process (bills are in the houses) and we are waiting to bottle (for it to be signed into law). Until then, there's not much to do but wait... and sip on some bourbon.

 

 

 

 

Pinhook 2019 Plans - Vertical Series and Beyond

So earlier this week, after some snooping on the TTB COLA website, I found the labels for some upcoming Pinhook releases. After posting them here on my blog in my regular Caught on COLA - Bourbon feature, I decided to post them on Instagram. When I did, I gambled and asked Pinhook Bourbon Founder and Master Taster Sean Josephs if he would provide any insight into the upcoming releases. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised, no… I was shocked with the response I got. He not only responded but went into some detail. No release dates but… well read below and you will see.

The first label I posted was the Bourbon War which is this year’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey. I finished my post by asking Mr. Josephs if he had any tips on a release date? This was his reply:

"This is the fall bottling of Pinhook’s first release of our Vertical Series. Age statement of 4YO (proofed to 98) and will be released for 9 years, with the age statement increasing by 1 year annually. I will proof each vintage to what I think is the ideal proof. Idea is that you can collect from age 4-12 and follow the barrels as they mature. Doing the same for rye, with the first Vertical Rye coming Spring of 2020. Cheers"

My next post was for Rye Humor and likewise, I finished the post asking Mr. Josephs if there was any info he could share. His reply was:

"I was working on this blend 2 weeks ago at Castle & Key. Our first cask strength rye release. MGP barrels that will be a little shy of 4YO. Proof won’t be known until we dump, but guessing in the 115 range. Total production for the country is 65 barrels. For whatever it’s worth, coming from my biased perspective, it is ridiculously good"

Now I am sure his perspective is biased but I am also sure that the rye is really, really, REALLY good as well. The concept of the Vertical Series has me extremely intrigued and I really hope I can get in on them. I’ll do my best to track them down and will even try to review them but coming across them is not always easy for me. Unfortunately, I am not in the circles that people like Mr. Minnick and others are where they are all but guaranteed access to some of these releases. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing but respect for them, I’m just saying that I will struggle to get the Vertical Series and bring my thoughts on it to you.

Hmmm… I have apparently gone off rambling. I’m sorry. Well, that’s it for now. I hope you enjoyed this little bit of insight into this year’s Pinhook releases. If you have any additional information or thoughts, please let me know in the comments.  And thanks again to Sean Joseph.

Looks like this is happening!

Well, it looks like this is a real thing now. I wasn't for sure if I was going to do this or not and then the next thing I know I am paying for a domain name and everything. Sooooo.... welcome to Bourbon and Mead.  My little corner of the matrix where I plan on sharing my love for.... wait for it.... bourbon and mead! Shocker right? Seriously, though, I started on an interesting bourbon journey last year and it's only gotten worse because sometime in November I decided to try mead. Why did I ever do that because now I have two wonderful intoxicating libations that have become an obsession. Just what my bank account needed!! LOL!!!

Even though this blog is called Bourbon and Mead, don't think that is all I will talk about. I'll post just about anything. We will see some bourbon reviews, mead reviews, latest news on the industry, and links to other sites of interest.  I may even throw in a food recipe or two if the spirit moves me.  Hell, I may even decide to discuss my opinions on various TV shows or sporting events because, well, this is my blog and that means I can pretty much talk about whatever I want. I'll try to keep it interesting but I make no promises. So sit back and enjoy the ride because I'm not really sure where this thing is going but I think it should be fun.Sláinte!