Ted Huber is DISCUS Small Distillers chairman

The Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS) has made Ted Huber of Huber Starlight Distillery in Starlight, IN, chairman of its Small Distiller membership, an affiliate arm for distillers who produce less than 100,000 gallons per year.  In addition to serving as chairman, Huber will also attend DISCUS board of directors meetings.

To ensure regional representation of the growing small distiller movement across the US, the Council has also appointed four regional vice chairmen.  They are Steve Johnson of Vermont Spirits Distilling Co., Hartford, VT (Northeast); Phil Prichard of Prichards’ Distillery, Kelso, TN (South); Guy Rehorst of Great Lakes Distillery, Milwaukee, WI (Midwest); and Tom Mooney of House Spirits, Portland, OR (West).

The Small Distiller affiliate members have elected an eight-member advisory council for a term through the 2015 Annual Policy Conference.  These members comprise Andrew Auwerda of Philadelphia Distilling, Philadelphia, PA; John Dannerbeck of Anchor Distilling Co., San Francisco, CA; Kent Fleischmann of Dry Fly Distilling, Spokane, WA; Dan Garrison of Garrison Brothers Distillery, Hye, TX; Scott Harris of Catoctin Creek Distilling Co., Purcellville, VA; Wes Henderson of Louisville Distilling Co., Louisville, KY; Paul Hletko of Few Spirits, Evanston, IL; and Lance Winters of St. George Spirits, Alameda, CA.

“Today’s announcement enhancing the governance structure of DISCUS’ Small Distiller Affiliate group will help advance the public policy interests of distillers of all sizes in our nation’s capital, in the states, and around the globe,” Distilled Spirits Council CEO Peter H Cressy says.  “It is critically important to work together in addressing the ongoing challenges of market modernisation and blocking job-killing hospitality taxes, while promoting social responsibility and moderation.”

The Small Distiller Affiliate Membership, which was originally launched in 2010, now numbers over 80 members in 30 states. Its purpose is to organise the growing number of small distilled spirits producers across the nation and to give them a voice in public policy issues affecting the industry at every level of government. In addition to public policy matters, the members have many opportunities to participate in a wide range of activities from export promotions abroad to high-level meetings and events with top legislative and policy leaders and major associations from the other industry tiers. 

“I have worked closely with the Distilled Spirits Council since the founding of its Small Distiller group with Fritz Maytag of Anchor Distilling in 2010.  I have always believed that bringing the resources of large distillers together with the grassroots strength of the growing number of small distillers will produce positive results in the public policy arena,” says Huber Starlight Distillery’s Ted Huber.

4 February 2014 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor