Law change brings opportunity for NC distilleries
Craft breweries, meaderies and distilleries have swept the country in the past few decades, transforming a once small industry into a major source of tourism and economic growth. Experts speculate that micro-distilleries are the next big thing for the booze business. However, many local industry members have been worried about their business prospects being stunted by harsh state regulation.
Posted — UpdatedKrupnikas is a Lithuanian styled liquor brewed with honey and 12 different spices to give it its unique taste. Originally brewed by the brothers as a tasty drink to make for their friends as well as pay homage to their heritage, it eventually evolved into the business the brothers and Parker now run today. Bottles can be found at local ABC stores for $29.95, and drinks at establishments like Mateo and Bull City Burger and Brewery in Durham and The Foundation Bar in Raleigh.
Jason and Rim offer tours and tastings in the front room of the warehouse, and on Oct. 1 they unveiled a brand new tasting room and bar area in the space next door funding in part by a $20,000 Kickstarter campaign. This openingcoincides with new liquor legislation that allows distillers to sell one bottle per customer per year directly out of their own distillery, opening up a new revenue stream for local spirit manufacturers. Previously no sales whatsoever were allowed at distilleries in the state.
Distillers: NC laws prohibited growth
Craft breweries, meaderies and distilleries have swept the country in the past few decades, transforming a once small industry into a major source of tourism and economic growth. Experts speculate that micro-distilleries are the next big thing for the booze business. However, many local industry members have been worried about their business prospects being stunted by harsh state regulation.
To entrepreneurs like her, the passage of this law is a chance to catch up to the meteoric rise in craft spirits seen in the rest of the nation.
Other control states, like Oregon, have flourished in the wake of direct sales. Portland even has its own area known as Distillery Row where patrons can walk through a several block area tasting and purchasing spirits from micro-distilleries.
Fears remain
Industry leaders don’t seem to want privatization, though. When confronted with the scenario above, Rim responded, “That would be chaos. We would have to redo all the stuff we’ve done to get our product on shelves. I find [The ABC System] a much easier system to work under than a private system.”
“The sales of the local products in the stores go up, because when people want to buy a second bottle, the odds of them coming back to me are very low, actually currently impossible. They’re gonna go back to their local ABC store.”
Job growth, tourism growth, sales growth
While the NC ABC might be apprehensive about the passage of the new law, distillers are clearly ecstatic. The passage of this law has already driven job creation and product expansion.
Rim hopes that this law and its affect on the local spirits scene continues to spur on the the rapid growth of industry in the local area and state as a whole.
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