Boston city councilor unveils legislation for cheaper liquor licenses, meets resistance from license holders →
In June, City Councilor Ayanna Pressley unveiled legislation that would designate 105 new licenses costing about $3,000 for lower-income neighborhoods such as Mattapan, Roxbury, Mission Hill, and East Boston. Current operators, who paid up to $400,000 for their license, are concerned that allowing more establishments to sell alcohol will dilute the value of their existing licenses.
Luxco will start bourbon distilling this year →
Luxco owned Lux Row Distillers, based in Bardstown, Kentucky, will start production of bourbon at the end of 2017. It will have a capacity of one million proof gallons a year. Luxco currently produces Rebel Yell, Ezra Brooks, and Blood Oath, but anticipates adding new brands.
Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation donates $1 million to Washington State University →
The Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation has announced that it will donate $1 million to Washington State University’s Viticulture & Enology Program. The donation will be dedicated to help complete teaching labs and facilities at WSU’s Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Wine Science Center, as well as to scholarships for WSU Viticulture & Enology students.
Kansas' Tallgrass Brewery shifts strategy as craft category evolves →
More than 5,600 U.S. brewing companies are now in operation across the U.S., and mid-sized breweries are feeling pressure to change strategies. Among them is Tallgrass in Kansas, who reorganized their staff, downsized its portfolio from 21 products to 12, and shifted away from traditional products including IPAs and porters to fruit-flavored beers. Tallgrass founder Jeff Gill says it is a scary time for smaller regional breweries, saying that there is a lot more to the market dynamic now that competition has increased.