FrEwing

Will, you specifically differentiated between whiskey and cordials with sugar. Do you have a recommenbdation for cordials. Thanks Dick Garofalo

FYI: Most Artisan Italian Grappas are in blown glass.

I've been selling for over 50 years, for large and small organizations. I my opinion, that stuff is just a waste of money. It just makes you feel good to have your name on something you can give away. Use the money for something else that will bring a direct return. A tasting night at a good watering hole in a new market area makes more sense to me. Buyers can't taste your product licking a golfball. Dick G Fr Ewing

Great that your back!!! Thanks for the info on HR777. I wasn't aware of it. I did a search to read the bill and then checked out the number of sponsors. An absolute shame - ONLY 3 sponsors . Gang I'm in the DC area and 3 sponsors means a weak bill with no muscle. We need 25 to 50 or more sponsors. Please contact your US Congressman and urge them to sponsor the bill. It's in House "Ways and Means Committee" and can stay there for years if we don't push. Ralph thanks for asking us to 'Get on the ball" and get our Reps signed on and pushing or this bill will never come out of committee. It was introduced in Feb of this year I Googled it and read it. You can find it at www.govtrack.us. ( Or you can put the following in your browser: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-777 ) Check it out if your not familar with it, just as I was. Remind your US Congressman that the small distillery business and movement in the USA is a growing industry providing new jobs and new revenue to our States - their State will benefit. Remind them that the small distillery growth in this country is following the same growth track as has occurred with craft breweries and the wine industry before them. The annual revenue contribution to State and Federal Govt is hugh. Make note that wine and beer are taxed at far lower rates than distilled spirits permitting them to bring more product to market with a lower cost to consummer than spirits. The lower tax rate called for in HR777 will lower our costs and permit us to make more investments in our business to help us grow and have the revenue to hire more employees. Don't forget Ralph's argument about agriculture and providing employment in rural areas of their State. So lets give Ralph a strong "Welcome Back" and make contact with your US Congressman demanding they sign on to and support HR777. Question For Ralph: Is there a co similar bill being introduced in the US Senate? Dick Garofalo Fr Ewing

These are good logical insights into getting to an estimate of 1st year volume. Thanks -I find it usefull. If anyone has any thoughts specifically about Liqueurs, I would appreciate the information and suggestions. Dick G

I just came accross this thread by chance. However the last paragraph is SOOOO True. Dick G

Hi Gang. last week after I got all those great responces , I recalled a school chum I ran into during our class reunion earlier this month. He's a PhD Chemist invloved with a company in NJ, teaching at a local college and doing consulting work. I copied the responces I had gotten up to my question up to Rich Morgan's reply and attached it to an email to George Maass, asking the same questions about HDPE tanks and his ideas. The following is his reply. Hope it adds to everyones data base and understanding of the material. Dick G Hi Dick, This is a coincidence. Just yesterday, I put your business card on the top of my computer & said to myself, I must write to Dick today. We use stainless tanks in our business (refer to www.purestcolloids.com) , but that is mostly because we have to have FDA approval. I read some of the responses to your letters & I agree for the most part. I believe, if you use a good quality HDPE, you will not have to worry about resin leeching into your product. You probably will, however, notice as we have that, after a period of time, your product will be absorbed by the walls of the HDPE container. After a period of time, this can be absorbed back into your product, so you would have to try this to find out if this makes any noticeable difference. Because of the difference in price, if I were you, I would buy a small HDPE tank and try it with your strongest product. Expose the tank to some heat and sunlight, too, to see if anything happens. We use a lot of HDPE containers in the lab and all of our products are bottled in HDPE. We must have about 50 stainless tanks in production, ranging from 50 to 600 gal. It was great to see you again & feel free to ask me about anything I may know anytime. I, too, would like to stay in touch. Best wishes, George

You guys are really helpful. I'm getting so much good information and an education about things I would only learn about with experience. So far today I've had a long conversation with a GNS supplier re: plasticizers and some uses of HDPE UN approved containers and totes, and then I come back to the forum and learn as they say, more of the rest of the story. The headsup on reuse and retention of flavors in the surface impurities of the material was very concerning. I will be making a few different natural fruit based flavored liqueurs. Not being able to reuse a tote or drum for fear of flavor contamination seems to point me toward stainless as the best alternative. Expensive initially but more than likely the least expensive approach over time. Thank you again for all your insights and advice. If anyone has any additional info, please pass it along I don't want to end this discussion, it is very enlighening. I hope it helps others as well. Thanks Dick G

Whoaaaaa!! What kind of legality issues are you talking about? Is this another snag in this business? Dick G

Thanks for the comment J'ESP. Dick G

Thanks todd, This chart is very useful. I found whiskey on page 4. Apparantly HDPE is compatible with spirits which makes more more compfortable consideering these tanks. Like all good whiskeys, liqueurs develope complexity of flavor with aging. My concern is how this material effects flavor over time. I would love hearing from any folks who have used or are using HDPE for storage of their spirits and if they have any experience with flavor changes or not. Todd thanks again. Dick G

You guys are the best!!!! Thanks for the sources and advice. Dick G

Hi All I'm looking for sources of Colored Shrink Capsuls for my bottles. There were a number of references to shrink wrap suppliers in this forum but non have what I want. I did find info on one wine bottle capsul supplier " Janson Capsules " and will be contacting them on Monday. I'll report on that contact in this forum space after I speak to them. I want a plain capsul without grapes or wine references on the top. Nuff said> Centi Anni Dick G

Hi All again, I'm trying to keep my startup costs low and have had contact with a number of folks selling High Density Polyethylene containers and tanks. The costs are much lower than stainless but I'm concerned about the long term effect of spirits on the material and the flavor profile of my liqueurs. I'm interested to hear any experiences anyone has with these containers and if the material had any effect on flavor over time? I had contact with one fellow who is using them to store gin and vodka and has had seen no change in the flavor of his spirits. Any other feed back would be appreciated. Thanks Again Dick G

Richard - No Photo was attached

Amazing! this is a topic that is very much on my mind as well. Grehorst was very helpful in describing the process and time factors in re locating. I think you've saved me a bunch of problems. Any other insights or other folks experiences will be much appreciated. Dick G

Just my 2 cents as a consummer. As you recognize, wax poses an opening question for the consummer. Last week, My wife used a knife to cut a 1/2 inch wide channel around the neck of a Makers Mark bottle. I'm sure this is not how the distiller wanted that bottle to be opened, but there are no instructions and the wax chips are not a good marketing leave behind to encourage repurchases. Can you imagine that bottle on a bar shelf? A few years ago, I bought a bottle of Wasmunds Single Malt ( Copper Fox Distillery) and did the same thing. Once again the big question. "How do I open this?" I had an unattractive bottle sitting on my livingroom bar. When I visited his distillery, and he poured a taste from a new bottle, he twisted the cap and the wax broke cleanly in a thin line, as part of the cap. I learned something but not everyone is going to visit Rick and have that experience. My recommendation from a consummer point of view, is to use a thread or hang an opening instruction tag on the neck (you can also include some drink recipes on the tag) If you're using the wax for aesthetics purposes, my thoughts are that you'll get more attention to the bottle with a great label. Just my 2 cents - hope it helps Dick

Who supplies this style bottle? Any contact info will be appreciated.

I have the same question plus the question of what percent of list price do distributers usually ask for or negotiate?

Where in NY State are you located and what is the name of your distillery? I am interested in what you do with the Montmorency Cherries Dick Garofalo Fr Ewing

Congratulations. Hope it gets passed and made law. Do you have a copy of the bill that you can attach so it can be downloaded. It would be very helpful to others who are interested in introducing similar measures and changing state law. Dick G

I've made Blueberry and have not gotten a good result. The fruit is too weak in flavor to stand up to the spirit. Hope you have some success. Also of all my flavors, it was the least preferred. I love Blueberry jam and muffins and thought this would be just the cat's PJs. Very disappointing. Dick Garofalo

Would you care to share your form? As a new start up any aids and pointers are much appreciated Dick Garofalo

Rusty - The web site for Novatech doesn't have a - between Nova and Tech the correct web address is www.novatechusa.com

Great News!! Congratulations. Pual T's comments on sharing any info and tips on how you secured the financing will be much appreciated.