Shane Chambers

Hey all,

I'm in a legal bind that requires me to ship two cases of spirits across state lines, in the next few months.  We're not in a position to do that ourselves right now, as covid has totally skewed our startup timelines.

So I'm looking for a contract distiller to produce a case of whiskey (white is fine), and rum (again, white is fine), under my DSP, with my labels.

Preference to Texas, but open to anywhere.

Thanks,

Shane Chambers
Managing Partner
Solenopsis Distilling
Texas Outlaw Revenuers™
Local Anesthetic™

On 3/5/2018 at 10:12 AM, maddog said:

Hi! I’m ready to get going on my suburban downtown microdostillery and I’m looking for a lawyer familiar with Texas to help with all of the intellectual property, TM, and DSP stuff. I’ve heard that lawyers with distillery specific experience are super helpful. Any suggestions? I’m just North of Austin. Thanks!

A little late to the question, but for DSP/TABC specialty I'd recommend Bill DuFour.  He's here in Austin, and the "former TABC prosecutor and assistant attorney general in the Tax Division of the Texas Attorney General's Office."  I just had an initial consultation with him this past week.  The man knows his stuff.

https://www.billdufourlaw.com

Yeah, but I can produce "Agave Spirits," and not have a problem.  I would guess that the TTB would also allow "Agave Tequilana" on a label as well, because it is technically true.

Putting "Sotol" on a restricted terminology list, is akin to putting Agave on it.

I can just imagine the labels now "Distilled spirits from an arid growing succulent plant that we can't mention."

Personally I find this problematic for Sotol.  First off, there is at least one producer of Sotol in the US (Desert Door Sotol here in Texas).  Other items in NAFTA and here, are locations or regional names.  Sotol is a plant.  Is this effectively saying that spirits made from sotol can't be distilled in the US?

Here's the important part...

Quote

1. Mexico shall initiate, subject to its applicable laws and regulations, the process to consider prohibiting the sale of any product in Mexico as American Rye Whiskey, if it has not been manufactured in the United States in accordance with the laws and regulations of the United States governing the manufacture of American Rye Whiskey.

2. The United States shall initiate, subject to its applicable laws and regulations, the process to consider prohibiting the sale of any product in the United States as Charanda, Sotol, or Bacanora, if it has not been manufactured in Mexico in accordance with the laws and regulations of Mexico governing the manufacture of Charanda, Sotol, and Bacanora.

United States-Mexico Side Letter on Distinctive Products