ACSA Convention Recap: Spirits, Stories, and a Whole Lot of Fun

Hey there, Craft Spirits Enthusiast!

Welcome back to the Bridgetown Brew Systems Newsletter—your go-to resource for expert tips, industry insights, and strategies to help your distillery thrive.

Last week, we packed our bags and headed to the ACSA Convention. What followed was a whirlwind of inspiration, education, and a few unforgettable moments. Here’s a look at the highlights from an incredible week.

Exploring Local Distilleries

One of the best parts of the convention was visiting local distilleries. Seeing their setups, hearing their stories, and tasting their spirits was a reminder of why we love this industry so much. It’s not just about the equipment or the process—it’s about the people and the passion behind every bottle.

Meeting New Distillery Owners

We had the pleasure of meeting so many new distillery owners—some just starting out, others expanding their operations. It was inspiring to hear their visions and challenges, and we loved sharing tips on how to optimize their equipment and processes.

Shoutout to everyone who stopped by Booth #908 to chat! If we talked for more than 10 minutes, we’re basically best friends now. Let’s keep the conversation going—whether it’s about stills, spirits, or just swapping stories over a glass of your latest batch.

Networking with Industry Contacts

The convention was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with industry contacts and forge new relationships. Whether it was catching up with suppliers, swapping stories with fellow equipment manufacturers, brainstorming with distillers, or picking the brains of industry consultants, the energy was electric.

These conversations reminded us that the distilling world is as much about collaboration as it is about competition. (And also about who has the best booth setup. Hint: It was us. We had a killer display.)

Training Sessions: Learning Never Stops

On the last day, we had the chance to attend some training sessions that were both enlightening and practical. A huge thank you to the presenters for sharing their expertise!

1. Hiring Brand Ambassadors

   • Presenter: Elayne Duff

   • This session was packed with tips on finding, training, and retaining the right people to represent your brand. Elayne emphasized the difference between salespeople and brand ambassadors:

     • Salespeople focus on transactions and distribution.

     • Brand Ambassadors are storytellers who build relationships and create emotional connections with your industry partners.

   • The key takeaway? Hire for passion and personality—skills can be taught, but enthusiasm is priceless. Bartending experience is also priceless.

2. Improving Efficiency

   • Presenter: Anna Mantheakis

   • Anna walked us through the meticulous steps they took at their distillery to track down inefficiencies. From analyzing workflow bottlenecks to optimizing equipment usage, her approach was both methodical and inspiring.

   • Key steps included:

     • Data Collection: Tracking every aspect of production to identify inefficiencies. Including ensuring you have the proper tools for tracking data.

     • Process Mapping: Visualizing workflows to spot redundancies or delays.

     • Team Involvement: Engaging staff to gather insights and implement changes.

3. Exit Strategies: Building for Profitability vs. Building to Sell

   • Presenters: Paul Hletko, Kevin O’Brien, Nick Papanicolaou, and Maria Pearman

   • This roundtable discussion explored the different paths distillers can take—whether it’s building for long-term profitability (cash flow) or positioning the business for acquisition. It was a fascinating look at how to align your goals with your business strategy.

The Grand Finale: Tasting of American Craft Spirits

The highlight of the week? Hands down, the spirits competition tasting. With over 350 spirits on display, it was a craft spirit enthusiast’s dream come true. From bold bourbons to delicate gins, the creativity and craftsmanship on display were truly awe-inspiring.

(And yes, we may have tried a few more than we planned. But hey, it’s research, right?)

Thank You for an Unforgettable Week!

A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by Booth #908, shared a story, or raised a glass with us. These events remind us why we love this industry—it’s not just about the spirits; it’s about the community.

Honorable Mentions:
A special shoutout to the following companies and individuals who made the week even more memorable:

• Quartz Mountain Distillery

• Outlaw Distillery

• Nick Maas with Dancing Goat Distillery

• Sioux City Distilling

• Allan Cogan with the Crafted Conversations Podcast

• Kris Bohm with Distillery Now Consulting

Your passion and insights made the convention truly special.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

👉 If you missed us at the convention or want to chat more about what we learned, hit reply! We’d love to hear from you.

What’s the next conference you’ll be attending? Let us know—we’d love to see you there and continue the conversation in person!

Want more tips? Hit reply and let us know! (We read every email… even the ones written at 2 a.m. after a long distilling session.)

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