If our governor really wanted to improve the business climate in Illinois, he would focus on (1) streamlining the regulatory environment; (2) improving infrastructure; (3) supporting education at all levels, including specific skills education through community colleges and (4) get a budget that would put the state on a path of fiscal responsibility. Business-school studies of “business environment” typically find that these issues are far more important to businesses than the overall tax rate (within reason) or “right to work” laws. What businesses want is low barriers to entry and low compliance costs, excellent infrastructure, a trained workforce and government stability. In fact, the Dems could do worse than make these points their own “turnaround agenda.” I think the Dems and Rauner could find common ground on all these points if the governor would give up the union-busting.
I support these types of reforms 200% - who wouldn’t want to consume higher quality beer and spirits rather than mass market swill. I know I do.
But as a “pro-business” initiative? Nah.
Unless the goal is to increase the total consumption of alcohol (a dubious goal) these types of proposals have little to do with “business climate” since increased purchases of the good stuff will be offset by decreased purchases of swill.
1. There is no budget.
2. There is no budget.
3. There is no budget.
Making boutique whiskey in greater quantities does not bring us closer to 1, 2, or 3. I am disappointed the representative is so focused on a non-problem.
I have to stick up for a local distiller. Get past the name and the label, you’ll find a very smooth whiskey without the bourbon bite. Find it at Binny’s (if it’s not at Binny’s, it’s not worth drinking). http://wondertuckydistillery.com/
This is the type of legislation that would indeed help entrepreneurs. Kudos to Rep. Zalewski. Give the little guys a chance to enter the market and compete, for too long the Big Liquor industry had a control over the Illinois markets. Now that we have craft beer in Chicago more breweries are popping up and that in turn leads to brewery tours/crawls and all of that helps the economy. Of course there are problems with alcohol abuse but what can’t be abused? 10 years ago it was hard to find a craft beer in any liquor store in Chicago.
@VanillaMan — Yes indeed! Thus my enthusiasm for and loyalty to J.K.Williams Distillery in East Peoria. (Disclaimer: No affiliation other than as consumer.)
To those critical of “the focus”, we heard the Governor ask the GA no less than 48 hours ago to zero in on finding bipartisan ways to grow small business in Illinois. Read the editorial. This legislation is an attempt at the meaningful middle. The focus is on the very problem we’ve all been hung up on for the last 9 months.
Go for it! Illinois could use a Whiskey Trail for tourism like the Whisky Trail in Scotland!! Visited two distilleries while in Scotland and saw many others with tourists nearby. And, yes, spell-checkers, it is whiskey in Ireland and the US but it is whisky in Scotland.
“I would prefer that the mass market companies lose market share to numerous local high quality producers”
Yep. Why protect outside interests by making it harder for local biz to grow and compete? Not only does that hurt the free market, but it actually does it in a way that helps those outside the local market (unless I’m missing something).
That 30,000 number is a good industry figure allowing for ~100,000 1 liter bottles allowing for a pretty generous spillage allowance.
I would hope that when the rules for this were written, though, that they might create some level of tiers involved, because there’s a pretty huge difference between 1,000 gallons and 30,000 gallons. One’s a part time weekend activity, and the other is a full time production with employees.
This is what we have become, focused on gambling, pot and booze for job creation and revenue. How sad.
- FormerParatrooper - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 2:35 pm:
Does Illinois have the proper water for small batch spirits? I have sampled spirits over the years in many places, and the water used seems to impart uniqueness to the spirit.
- ChemicalRiverside - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 10:59 am:
State Rep. Mike Zalewski - proud to call him my representative.
- FAIRNESS AND FAIRNESS ONLY - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:00 am:
Is the link missing?
- Honeybear - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:02 am:
Oh Hell yeah we need this. If we’d had this the Metro East would not have lost Mastermind Vokda!
- jdcolombo - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:07 am:
If our governor really wanted to improve the business climate in Illinois, he would focus on (1) streamlining the regulatory environment; (2) improving infrastructure; (3) supporting education at all levels, including specific skills education through community colleges and (4) get a budget that would put the state on a path of fiscal responsibility. Business-school studies of “business environment” typically find that these issues are far more important to businesses than the overall tax rate (within reason) or “right to work” laws. What businesses want is low barriers to entry and low compliance costs, excellent infrastructure, a trained workforce and government stability. In fact, the Dems could do worse than make these points their own “turnaround agenda.” I think the Dems and Rauner could find common ground on all these points if the governor would give up the union-busting.
- Bill White - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:12 am:
I support these types of reforms 200% - who wouldn’t want to consume higher quality beer and spirits rather than mass market swill. I know I do.
But as a “pro-business” initiative? Nah.
Unless the goal is to increase the total consumption of alcohol (a dubious goal) these types of proposals have little to do with “business climate” since increased purchases of the good stuff will be offset by decreased purchases of swill.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:13 am:
===little to do with “business climate” since increased purchases of the good stuff will be offset by decreased purchases of swill===
Um, the good stuff made in Illinois vs. the swill made elsewhere.
That has a positive impact here.
- DuPage - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:14 am:
Raising or eliminating limits on production should be done right away.
- Bill White - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:16 am:
== Um, the good stuff made in Illinois vs. the swill made elsewhere. ==
Point taken and yes I would prefer that the mass market companies lose market share to numerous local high quality producers.
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:18 am:
“Um, the good stuff made in Illinois vs. the swill made elsewhere.”
Speaking of the local good stuff, I heartily endorse the alchemy taking place in Evanston: http://www.fewspirits.com/spirits/bourbonwhiskey/
– MrJM
- Chicago PR Guy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:19 am:
If it doesn’t help Rocky’s business it’s not gong to happen
- Honeybear - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:20 am:
In the Metro East it’s called Vokda not Vodka. Just FYI
- My New Handle - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:22 am:
1. There is no budget.
2. There is no budget.
3. There is no budget.
Making boutique whiskey in greater quantities does not bring us closer to 1, 2, or 3. I am disappointed the representative is so focused on a non-problem.
- Bill White - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:24 am:
1. There is no budget.
2. There is no budget.
3. There is no budget.
Something that stimulates my interest in whiskey and whisky.
- Robert the 1st - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:24 am:
Mastermind Vodka left East St Louis? They still are advertising Groupons…?
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:26 am:
I endorse Northshore Vodka, made in Lake Bluff.
- walker - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:30 am:
“Craft micro-distilleries” are all over the hills of Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Let there be lightning!
- Steve Reick - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:36 am:
I have to stick up for a local distiller. Get past the name and the label, you’ll find a very smooth whiskey without the bourbon bite. Find it at Binny’s (if it’s not at Binny’s, it’s not worth drinking).
http://wondertuckydistillery.com/
- frisbee - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:45 am:
This is the type of legislation that would indeed help entrepreneurs. Kudos to Rep. Zalewski. Give the little guys a chance to enter the market and compete, for too long the Big Liquor industry had a control over the Illinois markets. Now that we have craft beer in Chicago more breweries are popping up and that in turn leads to brewery tours/crawls and all of that helps the economy. Of course there are problems with alcohol abuse but what can’t be abused? 10 years ago it was hard to find a craft beer in any liquor store in Chicago.
- Blue dog dem - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:48 am:
….Oreos and Ritz used to taste good.
- Mama - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:19 pm:
“Is the link missing?” NO
Click on the red word “Indeed” - the link.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:31 pm:
Small-batch whiskeys are like home grown tomatoes, when you get a good one - nothing satisfies quite like it.
- OFFM - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:35 pm:
@VanillaMan — Yes indeed! Thus my enthusiasm for and loyalty to J.K.Williams Distillery in East Peoria. (Disclaimer: No affiliation other than as consumer.)
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:44 pm:
Tell Rep. Zalewshki I said thanksh.
- sal-says - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:48 pm:
== - My New Handle - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 11:22 ==
EXACTLY - Beat me to it. Tinker around at the margins, while the rest collapses.
- Z - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 12:56 pm:
To those critical of “the focus”, we heard the Governor ask the GA no less than 48 hours ago to zero in on finding bipartisan ways to grow small business in Illinois. Read the editorial. This legislation is an attempt at the meaningful middle. The focus is on the very problem we’ve all been hung up on for the last 9 months.
- mokenavince - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 1:01 pm:
We need South side Bourbon 53% Illinois corn that tastes twice as good as Kentucky corn.
- Nearly Normal - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 1:04 pm:
Go for it! Illinois could use a Whiskey Trail for tourism like the Whisky Trail in Scotland!! Visited two distilleries while in Scotland and saw many others with tourists nearby. And, yes, spell-checkers, it is whiskey in Ireland and the US but it is whisky in Scotland.
- Liandro - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 1:31 pm:
“I would prefer that the mass market companies lose market share to numerous local high quality producers”
Yep. Why protect outside interests by making it harder for local biz to grow and compete? Not only does that hurt the free market, but it actually does it in a way that helps those outside the local market (unless I’m missing something).
- Anon - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 1:32 pm:
That 30,000 number is a good industry figure allowing for ~100,000 1 liter bottles allowing for a pretty generous spillage allowance.
I would hope that when the rules for this were written, though, that they might create some level of tiers involved, because there’s a pretty huge difference between 1,000 gallons and 30,000 gallons. One’s a part time weekend activity, and the other is a full time production with employees.
- Jeff Trigg - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 2:00 pm:
Peoria used to be the whiskey capitol of the world. A craft distillery comeback would be welcome.
- pool boy - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 2:23 pm:
This is what we have become, focused on gambling, pot and booze for job creation and revenue. How sad.
- FormerParatrooper - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 2:35 pm:
Does Illinois have the proper water for small batch spirits? I have sampled spirits over the years in many places, and the water used seems to impart uniqueness to the spirit.
- OneMan - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 2:41 pm:
Have a pal who has been looking into this and started this process, lots of legal hurdles both locally and with the feds..
- frisbee - Friday, Jan 29, 16 @ 3:53 pm:
===This is what we have become, focused on gambling, pot and booze for job creation and revenue. How sad.===
Please offer a better solution because complaining about solutions is not the same as providing a solution.