PLAYING IT SAFE ESSENTIAL SAFETY RULES FOR DISTILLERIES
WRITTEN BY RICH MANNING
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ccording to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, roughly 2.7 million people hit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 2024. On the one hand, that’s a lot of whiskey fans. On the other hand, that’s a lot of potential liability for a distillery that doesn’t provide a safe environment for its visitors. A single mishap with a guest could have devastating consequences. To wit: A single fall incident could result in a settlement ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 according to most law firms’ blog posts. With so much potentially at stake, it’s imperative for craft distilleries great and small to develop a comprehensive safety strategy to keep visitors — and their bottom line — safe. This goal may seem obvious, but building the strategy to achieve a safe environment may be challenging, particularly for new craft brands. “A new craft distillery may not have a lot of industry experience when they open,” explained Casey Scamporino, senior director of legal and regulatory policy at the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS). “They may be focused on preparing to make vodka or eventually their own bourbon, but their eyes may not be as open on preparing the visitor experience. When this happens, they may get caught off-guard by visitors and their behaviors.” With that in mind, DISCUS’ Safety & Risk Management Committee created the Visitor Safety & Site Security Best Practices guide. The manual, which expanded from DISCUS’ existing fire protection guide in 2020, provides distilleries of all shapes and sizes with guardrails to mitigate the threat of mishaps among thirsty patrons. The committee members behind the guide hail from all corners of the industry, from craft distillers to big brand portfolios like Bacardi and Beam Suntory. They’ve pretty much seen it all when it comes to safety, and the guide provides ample insights from their collective experience.
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“A lot of these guidelines are based on what we do at our own facilities and what we’ve seen others do,” explained Jessica Turner, committee member and maintenance manager for Louisville, Kentucky, distillery Angel’s Envy. “This makes a lot of sense. If there’s anything I’ve learned about the distilling industry, it’s that we’re all willing to share our best practices. When it comes to safety, nobody is hiding any dirty laundry.”
A SENSE OF PLACE One of the first things the visitors’ guide establishes is a reminder that a distillery is technically a manufacturing plant. This may not always be top of mind for a craft distillery since they’re in the business of making spirits and creating conduits for good times. This is also likely to slip the minds of guests, even as they’re wandering past pot stills and peering into mash tuns. “It is sometimes tough for us to remember that we’re manufacturing a craft product, but it’s important,” said Blake Huber, committee member and director of beverage operations for Borden, Indiana’s Starlight Distillery. “As a craft brand, we want to be transparent about our manufacturing process when we’re showing our craft to visitors. To properly do that, we have to keep guest safety a top priority." Focusing on a safe visitor environment for guests has obvious immediate dividends for a distillery (read: it can protect them from lawsuits). It can also enhance the visitor experience in a way that could potentially boost brand reputation. “Keeping a safe environment is consistent with maintaining the highest level of quality,” Huber stated. “This leaves guests with a positive overall impression of the brand. If your guests see a clean, safe space during their visit, they’re going to leave with the impression that your brand is committed to quality.” W W W . ARTISANSPIRITMAG . C O M