Florida has long been known for its beautiful beaches, warm climate, and vibrant nightlife. However, there’s another reason that you may want to raise a glass in the Sunshine State: the Florida Craft Spirits Association.

This non-profit organization is dedicated to promoting and supporting the production and sale of craft spirits made in Florida.

With over 40 member distilleries, the association is on a mission to showcase the unique flavors and quality of Florida-made spirits to the world.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the Florida Craft Spirits Association to see who they are and what they do. Let’s get started.

What is the Florida Craft Spirits Association?

The Florida Craft Spirits Association (FCSA) is an establishment designed to act as a voice for the distilled spirits industries found in Florida.

The association’s mission is to educate consumers and policymakers about the value of locally-produced, small-batch spirits, and to advocate for policies that support the growth of the craft spirits industry in Florida.

The FCSA represents over 40 member distilleries across the state, from small startups to established businesses. The association also provides its members with resources and networking opportunities, as well as marketing and promotional support to help them reach new customers and grow their businesses.

Where is The Florida Crafts Spirits Association Located?

The Florida Craft Spirits Association is a statewide organization that represents craft distilleries across Florida.

The FCSA itself does not have a physical location, but its member distilleries are located throughout the state, from the Panhandle to South Florida.

The association works to promote and support the craft spirits industry in Florida as a whole, rather than focusing on a specific region or locality.

When it comes to contacting the FCSA at a specific location, some of the addresses currently active for the non-profit organization include locations in Tampa and Winter Park in Florida.

Make sure to check out the FCSA website if you are looking to find the specific addresses!

What Does The Florida Crafts Spirits Association Do?

Advocacy

The FCSA advocates for policies that support the growth of the craft spirits industry in Florida, such as reducing taxes and regulations on small distilleries, and increasing access to locally-grown ingredients.

Education

The FCSA is also known for its dedication to educating consumers and policymakers about the value of locally-produced, small-batch spirits, and works to raise awareness about the unique flavors and quality of Florida-made spirits.

Networking

One particularly helpful resource that the FCSA offers for its members is the opportunity to network with other industry professionals, share knowledge and resources, and collaborate on projects and events, which can lead to attention for each member and their business.

Marketing and Promotion

As well as networking, the FCSA also follows up on this by helping its member distilleries to promote their products and reach new customers through marketing and promotional support, such as social media campaigns, event sponsorships, and media outreach. This is another crucial element when it comes to attracting customers to the business.

State Fees

Membership fees for the FCSA can range from between around $1,000 and $2,000, with benefits including the aforementioned features such as mutual support on a national level, industry-tailored training, and education programs, federal and state levels of unified lobbying across the industry and media, and public relations to name a few.

Distillery Restrictions/Laws

Some of the current restrictions/laws of the FCSA includes the following:

Production

Craft distillers were limited to producing no more than 75,000 gallons of spirits per year under Florida law. The FCSA was advocating for an increase in this limit to 250,000 gallons per year to allow for greater expansion and growth, and they achieved this in 2021.

Ownership

Following this expansion, new laws surrounding ownership were created, including limits to how many craft distilleries one can have under common ownership and who can own one, as well as restrictions on transferring licenses.

Sales

Florida law used to limit the number of spirits that craft distilleries can sell directly to consumers to no more than six individual containers of each branded item per year and per person, but this restriction has since been lifted.

Licensing Requirements

The specific licensing requirements for craft distillers in Florida were as follows:

Federal Distilled Spirits Permit

Craft distillers in Florida must first obtain a Federal Distilled Spirits Permit from the Alcohol (and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) before applying for a Florida state license.

Florida Distilled Spirits License

Once a distiller has obtained a Federal Distilled Spirits Permit, they can apply for a Florida Distilled Spirits License from the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT). This license allows the distiller to legally produce and sell distilled spirits in the state of Florida.

Other Licenses and Permits

In addition to the Federal and Florida licenses, craft distillers may need to obtain other licenses and permits, depending on the specifics of their operation.

For example, if a distiller wants to operate a tasting room on their premises, they will need to obtain a separate license for that. They may also need to obtain a food service license if they plan to offer food to customers.

Final Thoughts

The FCSA is truly a nonprofit organization that represents the interests of craft distillers in Florida thanks to actively working to promote the growth and success of the craft distilling