pressure9pa

Congratulations!

^Still haven't finalized a site. We have looked at the North Vernon area unsuccessfully, and are now looking in the Greenwood area.

Welcome, I'm sure it will be very well received.

As long as your marketing is vague enough (type of spirit, brand name, positive descriptions) and doesn't include a picture of the bottle, I see it as low risk.

Anyone have experience with a GE Merlin system? That's what I have targeted.

Thanks!

Until 2004, typical copper prices were about $.70 - $.75 / lb for cathode. Today, it's about $3.50. Stainless has increased in price over the last decade as well, but nowhere near what copper has done. Thus for most of distilling history, the premium for copper was considered to be worthwhile. In today's market, the premium is considerably larger which is forcing designers to really consider where copper is needed, and where stainless should be acceptable.

I realize this is a longshot, but does anyone have any microdistillery industry statistics on the capacity utilization rates of the stills in our shops? Failing a pubished number, has anyone researched this well enough to offer an estimate?

I little off topic, but also be sure to research state and federal tax credits (not deductions) for R&D work. Generally supplies and wages related to R&D can also be elible for a credit. Consult a tax expert, which I am not.

ASTM A666 is the most common standard for chemistry and temper for flat rolled stainless steel. If you are questioning the manufacturer's interpretation, you should ask if the chemistry conforms to this standard. 7-9 percent nickel and 16-20 percent chromium is what you're after.

Agreed. My compliments, Scott.

Welcome to the board and best of luck.

304 is generally considered sufficient for food/beverage needs.

Unreal. Really curious to get the TTB's side of this one.

There are certainly more informed opinions than my own available from this forum. However, I would say that based upon lead times from domestic manufacturers that the market could certainly support another player. That said, I think your challenge will be selling "hand built" as an advantage, particularly if there will be a pricing variance. I would assume that you would have an advantage in terms of being able to customize specific units. Based on your stated experience I would assume that you could build a quality unit. Now, where is your competitive advantage over the current producers? If you're in my region, it could be the ability to service your products. It may be a short lead time for experiemental sized units. Maybe you truely can make equivalant size/quality for less. One advantage you have is that you already have a stable business that can survive even if the still market is a slow climb. You also should have a good handle on your costs, and this site is a great investigative tool to figure out the pricepoints and lead times that are currently in the market. It also shouldn't be difficult to estimate the costs you mention from dealing with overseas producers - even the harder to quantify (travel, language barriers, exchange rate fluctuation, time zone differences, etc.). So in a very general sense, I believe that a domestic manufacturer would be welcomed with open arms. Whether your business can expand to be that manufacturer is dependant upon your ability to meet the current pricing of the established manufacturers, or clearly demonstrate value for any additional costs. Hope that helped a little, and welcome aboard.

Glad to hear there were no injuries.

Thanks. I didn't know if the error was only my own.

Welcome to the forums.

Frankly, the best reading I've done is here. I took a weekend day, and literally read every thread on this board, followed a lot of links, and made a lot of notes. I have also visited 11 distilleries and asked a lot of questions. I was very surprised at the willingness to share information. I also met with a potential distributor, which was very informative and changed my approach to inventory planning and product offerings. As for the nuts and bolts of distilling, I would reccomend a class offered by one of the ADI members who offers them, and perhaps peruse www.homedistiller.org/forums .

Congrats and good luck.

I received my incorporation paperwork 3 weeks ago, and best I can tell is nothing so far.

Congrats BVS! Out of curiosity, how long did it take to sort out the bond issues?

It was second hand, but I was at a meeting with another manufacturer who shared similar treatment with St. Pats being sworn at over the phone on an order inquiry, and then receiving an email that their order was cancelled. I struck them from my potential vendor list that day.

Congratulations!

I'm no expert, but my reaction was the same as Scott's. I'd try to find out what the fears are. Maybe a procedure could be established to keep any discharge below a certain ABV level? Water is cheap, equipment is expensive.