Hard Truth Distilling to Triple Capacity

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Hard Truth Distilling Co., Indiana’s largest destination craft distillery, announced a major expansion that will include several projects, beginning with  second rackhouse that will triple storage capacity to 12,000 barrels from 4,000for its critically acclaimed Sweet Mash Rye and other whiskies.

Hard Truth will also be installing three, new 5,000-gallon fermenters in addition to its current 2,500-gallon fermenters, allowing the distillery to increase its current production rate by more than 800 percent. Along with this expansion, the distillery is transitioning to 24/7 production to keep up with demand.

Work began in late June with projected completion within six months.

Hard Truth Distilling Co., located in Nashville, the heart of Indiana’s famous Brown County artists’ colony , was founded in 2015. Sales have grown steadily year over year. Then, from 2020 to 2021, sales nearly doubled thanks to increases from existing brands and the introduction of three new products, including Hard Truth Maple Bourbon Cream.

In addition to ongoing sales gains, Hard Truth continues to add new markets. Already in the major markets of Illinois and Florida, Hard Truth products are now available in Texas, including the cities of Dallas, Houston and Austin.

The distillery’s portfolio is avialable in 16 states and the Bahamas, and Jeff McCabe, Hard Truth co-founder, says market expansion is a priority. “We expect to see our brands in 28 states by 2023,” said McCabe.

Hard Truth’s portfolio of award-winning premium spirits includes Hard Truth Toasted Coconut Rum, Toasted Coconut Rum Cream, Maple Bourbon Cream and Cinnamon Vodka — which has become the best-selling cinnamon vodka in the U.S. Whiskey brands in addition to Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye, include Indiana Straight Rye Whiskey, the Sipes’ family of bourbon and rye whiskeys, and the Schoonover family of bourbons.

Hard Truth: A Leading Midwest Tourist Destination

Many distilleries offer tours and tastings, but few sit among 325 explorable, wooded acres in some of the most beautiful countryside in the Midwest. Visitors to Hard Truth can tour the distillery, dine at its 250-seat restaurant, and hop on an ATV with a tour guide to explore the property while learning about the history of distilling.

Hard Truth hosts festivals, health and wellness adventures, mixology classes, and more. The forest-framed Hard Truth on the Rocks terrace and stage area offers live music and special events, a unique terrace food menu, and drinks.

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To Avoid Blackouts, London Paid $11,700 Per Megawatt Hour for Electricity from Belgium

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Why is a newsletter focused on alcoholic (and alcohol-removed) beverages reporting this?  Because paying 5,000% more than the regular spot price is what happens when utilities — I mean the folks responsible for power generation, distribution and regulation — fail to build, upgrade and maintain a region’s electric network.

We saw something similar in Texas a couple of years ago during February 2021’s Big Freeze when the state racked up an astounding $52.6 billion in incremental electric system costs — and still left residents short 1.6 million megawatts of electricity.  You will recall that Texas power plants weren’t winterized and most didn’t have dual-fuel capability, able to store and burn oil when natural gas wasn’t available.

Also:  Europe, and especially Germany, is grappling with the reality that it’s supply of electricity is essentially subject to the whims of Valdimir Putin since the German economy is built on cheap gas imports from Russia.

There were lots of theories advanced 50 or 60 years ago about why it was a good idea to replace a single electric utility with several different entities — one to produce the electricity, one to distribute it, a separate one in some cases to retail it, a regular coordinator to monitor demand and shift production from one area to another.  London and Texas demonstrate the risks of that approach.

Just as Covid forced packaged goods suppliers and others to recognize that Mother was right — “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” — and it’s unwise not to maintain inventories of 30, 60, or 90 day (or longer) from suppliers in multiple regions, so climate change may force electric utilities to rethink their business model.  It would make more sense, we think, for a utility to have contracted for an assured supply at a fixed price over a period of years than to rely upon the spot market.

That may in fact be the main lesson of the 2020s — that there always needs to be redundancy built in.  Redundancy is expensive, yes.  But so is $11,700 per megawatt hour extra, or $52.6 billion in incremental electric system costs when the normal power needs of a region can’t be met, or having goods retailers counted on for Christmas finally delivered in July.

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Who & What —

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates hires Andy Feuerstein as Senior Vice President of National Accounts On/Off Sale, effective July 25.  He joins from Red Bull North America, where he was most recently the Senior Vice President of National Accounts.

Mulholland Distilling has tapped KLP PR to represent it in communication matters.  Mulholland is a partnership between Matthew Alper, the cinematographer, director and writer,  and Walter Goggins, the actor.  Mulholland’s product line encompasses Gin ($31.99), Whiskey ($36.99) and Vodka ($23.99).

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What We’re Reading —

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Climate Change May Turn the UK Into a Global Wine-Producing Powerhouse

A new study examines how warmer temperatures are transforming vineyard production. (Treehugger)

The Science Behind Non-Alcoholic Beer and Wine Production

Rising demand for no- and low-alcohol beer and wine is spurring innovation in production methods. (SevenFifty.com)

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Shand Import Launches Spirits Wholesale Distribution in California

Posted on July 22, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Shand Import LLC, an experienced importer of brands such as Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky and Black Bull Blended Malt Whisky, launches Shand Import Distribution in California.  Based in Los Angeles, Shand has cultivated a catalog of rare and specialty boutique spirits, imported from around the world, and now available for distribution to retailers throughout the state of California.

With the continued consolidation of alcohol wholesale distribution across the US, it has become increasingly more difficult for suppliers to enter the market through the three-tiered system.  Due to limited options, many new and small suppliers, retailers, and consumers have been unfortunately been left with a homogenized selection of spirits and a reduction in choices.

Duncan Taylor is best known as an independent bottler of rare and hard-to-find single cask whiskies and rums from highly sought-after, current, and past distilleries, as well as the producers of the Black Bull line of blended malt scotches.

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A-B Closing Oakland, Calif., Distribution Center

Posted on July 22, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Markstein Sale Co. and Matagrano Inc.are to occupy the warehouse in September.  A-B will lay off 142 workers.  The closure and layoff were first reported by Brewbound.  

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