absaroka

For a starter, which state are you in? I can recommend a few good ones, but they aren't licensed in every state.

Montana's HB 517 http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/2005/billhtml/HB0517.htm Allows for sampling room and on-site sales.

Don, you are a wealth of helpful information.... I knew if nobody else would have it you guys would. We owe you guys a cocktail or two and will be out to see you soon. Thanks! Bryan

Dealing with the owners of the building that we would be leasing, it has come up that the insurance companies have sort of thrown up a red flag as far as rates are concerned when they hear that a distillery will be operating within the building. Have any of you that have gone down the road of leasing your space found that to be the case? At this point the owner(s) can't get a straight answer from the insurance company and they are holding our lease until they find out if their rates will increase due to our nature of operation. Any feedback would be a great help. Thanks!

Thanks everybody! That was how I interpreted it, just wanted to clarify before starting the bonding process. I'll make a formal introduction here soon. Until then, I look forward to exchanging information and learning through those that have successfully done this. Cheers, Bryan

Looking over the application, I'm trying to filter through the surety bond section. As I read it, if I'm a small start-up craft distiller that produces and stores the product on-site until delivered to a distribution network then I am only subject to a $10,000 bond. Am I reading this correctly? Hopefully some of you that have been through this process can help me out a bit. Thanks in advance, Bryan Owner of a soon-to-be-named distillery in Montana Confused, overwhelmed, and watching the funds disappear fast... and enjoying every minute of it! (P.S. hope to meet some of you at the 2008 conference in April! )