Beauport Bob

Clarity,

Did Jesse speak to me about you?

If you have Mass. Malt I'm in.

Cheers,

Bob

So Emmanuel, I just read your earlier introduction post. No need to reply to mine. Wrong of me to read from the newest to old on these updates. Lesson Learned.

Cheers,

Bob

Hello & Welcome Manu de Hanoi,

Nice info on your postings. I do get a sense of home still vs industrial. Although theory is practical, and I am not challenging, but some of the info might not readily/economically apply. So could you give an idea of your size distillation unit?

Cheers,

Bob

I certainly understand, I "police" the few bills that remain in my wallet. The heads must face the same direction. But unless there is an inside joke I am not aware of, if anyone were to meet Mike, shake his hand and have a cup of coffee with him, you would very gladly exchange a little slip for the privilage of knowing him. Same goes for Steve Ross in South Bend. Not an upsetting item for sure, just expressing my thoughts.

Cheers,

Bob

Hello Bryan,

We got some from Seal-it Division, Printpack, Inc. 1-516-935-3965 , Marie Gulotta

For inventory items, they sent samples pretty quickly.

Cheers,

Bob

This is good. CValesq, Do you have a Boston, MA, area rep. to allow us to pursue what you say, hopefully at a reasonable price?

Bob.

So, ok we get it Mr. Miller. You have saturated us with your Name and services. I do hope to meet and greet you some day.

May I advise you a supplier, and the distillers interested to look into past threads on use of 500ml bottles. Also the difficulties of bottling in opaque. It would be a shame to have someone spend the dough and find they might have problems with the TTB. Maybe there are no issues. Not antagonizing, I'm just concerned.

That is what this Forum is about.

Cheers,

Bob

Emily,

You earlier mentioned Waffles and Chocolates. You are welcome to come by our plant in Gloucester, MA , 01930.

Especially if there are waffles and chocolate involved.

Cheers,

Bob

Dave, with that volume and about 20% headroom, and only because it has not been mentioned, you may want to do a "step down" series of dilutions. One and one sometimes does not equal two. One dilution to get close, then another to get finer. There may be another thread on this subject. Any comments out there?

Nice to hear from friends. Thank you all for the info. They are starting July 9th I think.

And with regards to all those USD$.02, I spent it all on our 4th of July Float. Right Jesse?

Our city just announced the addition, beginning July 1, of Chloramines (a compound of chlorine and ammonia) to the public water supply. It has caused quite a stir. I searched this Forum and came up with just a quick mention of them.

Does anyone have comments,opinions or experience with them in distilling process?

Thanks,

Bob

Just 2 cent worth, you may think nothing of it, but should you express the products as GNS as in neutral spirits made from grain, because there are other neutral spirits, rather than NGS or grain spirits neutralized, TTB will appreciate your knowing the difference.

Hello Dave, "Guppy"?

Thanks for the visit to our facility.

Be sure to help problem solve here at ADI when you have a chance.

Cheers,

Bob

Yes, could any of the still manufacturers, I know they monitor, chip in on this? I seem to remember reading somewhere all Copper is not the same copper required. So recovered scrap copper might not be what you want!

Comments?

I have never met the good Dr. Berglund, but always keep in mind their may be a chance an "underling", likely a marketing major, may have taken the liberty to sign his name. This often occurs. Especially with email. Just a thought.

Bob

Hello Max Action,

If you are really interested in moving forward I recommend, repeatedly,and if you have the time and money, to go and attend one of the workshops put on by any of the several still manufacturers. Rather than hunt and peck for bits of info you get a wealth of knowledge from the sections offered. A lot of handout material also such as the graph you requested.

Cheers, Bob

I run my life "flipping" questions and problems.

So, there are restrictions to a DSP connected to a residence. Has any one tried to get an occupancy permit for a residence in a DSP? I believe, under any zoning by-laws, that would be difficult if not impossible.

And, with respect for all, I will listen to almost anything Ralph or any of you have to say. Glad you are all here.

Bob

To answer my own post, in Nova Scotia you can either sell from a "store front" on the distillery or you can sell to the NSLC for province wide distribution in the liquor stores.

Also, there is no restrictions on locations with residences. In other words, you can have your distillery in the garage attached to your house.

Case in point is Iron Works Distillery which is both. It was a blacksmiths shop on the end of a residence and it has been converted to a micro-distillery while they live in the attached home. They will sell from their storefront on the distillery when they open in May-June 2010.

I mentioned this site when I went to visit them for help in opening my own micro so I'm guessing they are probably lurking. (Welcome Lynne and thanks again for the info)

Is that in Lunenberg? Home of Canadian International (2 man) Grand Bank Dory Racing? I am in Gloucester. The U.S. side. Welcome Lynne.

Hello,

Y'know, we all are interested in not only the solutions, but the problems. I would appreciate hearing the full story , so the more that is done on PM or telephone, other than select sensitive informantion, would defeat our purpose of information exchange. Also there are some who "hide in the weeds" until they have an opportunity for a unique contribution can be made. You would not like to exclude their contribution. I look forward to hearing the continued story on this.

Cheers,

Bob Ryan

Great advice so far.

If I could add:

A big reason there is no legal "template" is because each State, County and local municipality is different. There is also no "one fits all" for different types and goals for distilleries.

Plan to take tasks as you need them. No need involve the locals before you know what you are doing, open flame vs steam, etc.

Time managment: People function task best at different times of the day. Since you have a road ahead of you, now set up a schedule of when and more importantly when not to address issues. Give to your day job what is your day job...... This way you can fully focus your time with each.

Outside involvement: allow people to be involved who can help you, when they can help you. Do not allow distractors or bottom feeders to cling too long. I've mentioned this before, if you have a business college nearby, likely they will have an "Enterprise" or "Incubator" program. They may know nothing about distilling, but they can be very helpful on business design, etc, if you are patient and give them the tools. And usually very inexpensive.

Workshops: Really get some fermentation background at a brewery or winery. Yes go to Bill Owens' ADI conference, as Jonathan Forester recommended. Also the Still Manufacturers, put on workshops targeting the start-ups. Very good place to start.

Above all do not be unaware of the money required. It is not a shoestring operation.

Good luck , BR

Be sure to consider follow through of Logo design & Label design to website and promo design!

Cheers,

Hello Dusty,

With only the info of your post it is natural we rely on our own experiences as Porter mentioned. We can go in a lot of directions. I am confused actually on what you are asking. "Community Support" is difficult if you listen to every one. Am I right to assume you really are asking a question of zoning and variance rather than ability to have a distillery in the community? I think this as you "ran mandatory ad in local paper". And your previous posts on open flame distilliing. That would seem more of micro local than macro. If I guess wrong, sorry. Did you start with having your proposed location meeting the Federal TTB regs? You can use that as a tool to the locals who may not understand your needs. View the recent threads here on Fire Codes.

Romance of distilling aside, you are entering a "Value Added" business with true business decisions to be made. The costs of operating a distillery profitably have to be recovered. Take a look at your business plans (I hope, a 5 pager and a more intense line item 20+ pager), and as Scott mentioned be prepared to change. How important is this community to your profitability? The biggest industry in my town is the grocery store and realtors. I travel 7 miles and I have 400 years of coastal New England history.

Now, your original request. These are things we did. At this point, remember you are the "face" of your facility and product. Your actual Marketing starts now with selling your facility.

It is an election year for someone all the time. Get you picture at a "Meet & Greet" Federal, State and local Politations. Let them know personally what you intend. Install curiosity about the future of Jobs, taxes, commerce, dollars stay local, etc. Give them the tools to help you.

Do you have a local business school. Involve them in a business plan compitition (note:get non-compete, and release clauses).

How about a local art school, or art society.. label designs( again release and exclusive use, get the picture on legal stuff.)

Historical Society.....how do you relate to the past? Sombody has a grandfather who got caught. What is the ethnic legacy of your community? Build on it.

What is the future of your town? growth, expansion? Get the Chamber of Commerce on board. They should eat up having a distillery in town. Any "Membership Driven" organization would be.

I have not even asked about what you intend to produce. Can you use local ingredients? Helping local agriculture, Agri-tourism, is "the nuts" (Best!). That one is weak for us as our Sacred Codfish and Haddock do not ferment well.

2 more cents: unfortunatly, you have already given credence to what a few may have already mentioned against you.

Thicken your skin, You will need to when you start selling your product anyway.

Cheers and good luck!

I often compare the act of opening and running a craft distillery to that of a notable chef who would like to open their own restaurant. Your time is spent no longer as a chef, but as a businessperson.

If your thoughts to open are genuine and you are willing to do the work, a great place to start is by rubbing shoulders with the distilling community.

Go to Bill Owens' ADI conference next week in Louisville. There are several presentations and discussions with regard to what you need to know. Many vendors of what you need to have. Also the TTB people are there to help.

When left to my own smart-butt devices, I usually make a mistake before being successful. I have some closures that do not fit any of my bottles. That meaning although the shape of a bottle from one manufacturer may be similar to anothers, the Finish may be different diameter mm.

I made a bottle purchase, for a short run product, from Rick at United and asked him to provide the proper T-top. It was on his plate to provide the proper size. That was easy and they were priced correctly.

Thanks for explaining.

We used Namifiers.com

Printed $.850 each for 1,000. Key ring, one color, one side print, repeated

Add about $30. ground shipping.

We use them for when we are involved with "Decorator house tours" (usually before holiday time)and things like that. We get to do signage at each home and place bottles in each home Bar. With a Badge holder for the tour passes, another $.110-$.150, You are up to about a Dollar.

Each adjative adds a dime. Wider, longer, additional color, etc.

It is a competitive business. You can shop on-line but, before pulliing the trigger, check other sites for cost then use the telephone and try to get the freight cost forgiven. First one to say yes gets the order.