The government shutdown has halted Treasury Department approvals for new alcoholic beverages, delaying Christmas beers, California wines, and new spirits launches.
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau furloughed 86% of employees, creating a backlog that could last months.
Small distilleries face hundreds of thousands in lost sales during the industry’s busiest quarter amid already declining alcohol consumption.
America will have to wait for the new creamy version of Magic Rabbit chocolate and peanut butter-flavored whiskey.
The liquor’s planned January debut is another casualty of the government shutdown, which has ground to a halt Treasury Department approvals alcoholic beverage makers must obtain before introducing a new product or making changes to their recipes or labels.

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