Supreme Court Agrees to Hear HDA’s Home Distilling Case

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear McNutt, the home distilling case involving the Hobby Distillers Association.

We have been waiting for this announcement, and now we know that our case will go before the highest court in the country.

There is still a lot of work ahead, but this is a major step for HDA, our members, and everyone who has supported the effort to change federal home distilling laws.

What happened today?

The Supreme Court granted certiorari in McNutt, meaning it agreed to review the case.

The separate Ream petition was neither granted nor denied in today’s orders. We will continue following that case as well, and bring you updates as they become available.

For those who have followed our updates, this comes after our win in the Fifth Circuit and the federal government’s request for Supreme Court review.

What does this mean?

The Court has agreed to hear the case. It has not issued a final ruling on the merits.

That distinction matters. Today’s announcement should not be taken as permission to begin distilling spirits at home without the required permits.

What it does mean is that the legal challenge we have been working on so hard will receive Supreme Court review. We will now have to make our case through the next stages of that process.

We want to see this end with a favorable decision, but we cannot promise an outcome.

A long road to this point

When Brewhaus founded HDA in 2014, we knew changing home distilling laws would take time. I don’t think any of us knew exactly how long—or all the turns the effort would take.

Over the years, members have joined, renewed, contacted lawmakers, shared our updates, and helped keep this effort moving. Some have been with us from the beginning. Others have only recently found HDA.

I want to thank all of you. I also want to thank The Buckeye Institute, our legal team, and everyone involved in bringing the case this far. An announcement like today’s reflects a great deal of work behind the scenes that most people never see.

What comes next?

We will share updates as the briefing and argument schedule becomes available, along with explanations of what each development means.

I have also recorded a short video about today’s announcement, which you can watch below.

 

We have opened a discussion on the HDA forum for questions and updates as the case moves forward.

Supreme Court Agrees to Hear HDA’s Home Distilling Case

Today is a milestone worth recognizing. Then it is back to work.

Thank you for standing with us.

Rick Morris
Hobby Distillers Association