PA Distillers April News and Notes: Sports Partnerships, New RTDs, & Whiskey Books

News and notes of interest to distillers and Pennsylvania spirits aficionados for July, 2026.

Bluebird Distilling Rolling in the Dough

After months of recipe testing, dialing in the dough and building our the space, Bluebird Distilling’s new kitchen is open in the Phoenixville distillery. It is all part of a $2.2 million investment in expanding the facility.

Rye Whiskey Bill Advances in Senate

The Pennsylvania Senate advanced Senate Bill 1248 through the State Government Committee and it been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. Reach out to your House Representatives so they can vote for it when legislators return to session in September.

Collaborate Good Times!

A collaboration between Erik Wolfe of Stoll & Wolfe and Alan Bishop, Wolfe & Wilson reimagines early Pennsylvania rye using heritage grains and colonial-era inspiration. Now available from S&W.
 
Over at Liberty Pole, the rye-centric distillery is playing nice with Kentucky’s MB Roland Bourbon. Each distillery blended its own two-barrel blend, combining one barrel of Liberty Pole Pennsylvania Rye with one barrel of MB Roland Kentucky Bourbon. The results? Liberty Pole’s “Penntucky” and MB Roland’s “Kentsylvania” whiskeys.

We’ve Got Spirit!

Lawmakers have introduced the Supporting Producers Through Incentives from Rural Ingredients and Tax Relief (SPIRIT) Act to establish a federal excise tax credit for small distillers that utilize at least 90% domestically grown agricultural ingredients. Stay tuned for more information.

Membership Has Its Privileges

Costco has acquired a liquor license for their Cranberry Township store, marking a shift in the local retail landscape for alcohol sales. Beer, wine and RTDs are now on the shelves. Costco also has liquor licenses in safekeeping for their King of Prussia and Warminster locations.

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