MSA Pure Spirits 2017 Q4 - 4

MSA
WELCOME
Michigan Spirits Association President
Tony Mitchell is pleased to present, on
behalf of the MSA board and members, a
new spirits magazine.

W

elcome to the premier issue of Pure Spirits, a
publication brought to you free of charge, by
the Michigan Spirits Association. The Michigan
Spirits Association (MSA) was formed in 1967 and is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. Originally formed to
fight tax increases on spirits in the state, the MSA has evolved
over those 50 years to support, advocate, and educate both
consumers and policy makers in Michigan about the production of, sales and marketing of, and the responsible consumption of spirits.
In recent years, the MSA has opined on many issues
regarding spirits and has led changes in the state that
resulted in the following benefits for consumers in Michigan:
* The delivery of spirits from a retailer to a home or
business
* Instant redeemable coupons
* Carbonated beverages (sodas) are packed with spirits
as value-added items
* Sampling of spirits at retail outlets
Today, you may take these for granted, but it was only a
few years ago that none of these were allowed. While these
are just a few of the items that we have been working on,
there are others on our agenda to provide more ways to enjoy
spirits responsibly in our great state of Michigan.
Spirits have enjoyed a colorful history checkered with
its medicinal benefits, the consequences of overindulgence,
prohibition and repeal, and a history that is filled with true
stories of moonshiners, bootleggers, speakeasys, and gangsters. However, the spirits industry has also provided millions of men and women legitimate jobs earning a fair and
decent living, and for a lucky few the fame and fortune that
legends are made of. From the farmers that grow the
grains, to the jimador that harvests the agave, to the coo-

4 PURE SPIRITS

Tony Mitchell, President of Michigan Spirits Association

pers that raise barrels and the distillers that craft the spirit,
to the folks on the bottling lines, to the distributors that
sell and deliver to stores, bars and restaurants, to your
favorite beverage steward who suggests a brand and your
favorite bartender who makes your cocktail-the spirits
industry is an important part of the economy, and in
Michigan it contributes over $300 million a year in tax
revenues to the state.
We hope that you enjoy reading the interviews and articles about spirits, and enjoy sampling many of the recipes
throughout the magazine. The MSA also takes the responsible consumption of spirits very seriously and asks that
you do also-so please read the articles that we will include
in every issue about incorporating responsibility into your
plans, starting with the one in this issue titled: "Keeping the
Holidays Safe: Be the Responsible Host."
On behalf of the Michigan Spirits Association, enjoy
responsibly, and if you have any suggestions or comments, please share them with us on Facebook at www.
facebook.com/mispiritsassoc or by emailing us at: info@
msaspirits.org
Sincerely,

T. Mitchell
Tony Mitchell
President, Michigan Spirits Association
http://www.facebook.com/mispiritsassoc http://www.facebook.com/mispiritsassoc
MSA Pure Spirits 2017 Q4

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MSA Pure Spirits 2017 Q4
