When it comes to making spirits, it’s tough to say one part of the process is most important. Grind grain poorly, and you get bad whiskey. Mistreat molasses or cane juice, and the result is subpar rum. And if you’re maturing spirits, cask type, warehousing, and aging climate all become major factors. But there’s almost always a beating heart (and visual centerpiece) at the center of any spirits…

Bootleggers may not be getting the boot much longer. In April, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans deemed a 158-year-old federal ban on home distilling unconstitutional. The legislation was first put in place in 1868 during Reconstruction and aimed to curtail liquor tax evasion. Deciding in favor of the Hobby Distillers Association (HDA), the appellate court ruled that the ban…