US Shutdown Puts New Seasonal-Themed Spirits, Beer in Jeopardy

Oct. 17, 2025, 2:26 PM UTC

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.

The consequences extend from delays in availability of some craft breweries’ Christmas beers and new California wines to the forced postponement of new herb-flavored hard seltzers.

“It’s huge,” said Rob Pinson, who provides counsel to Tennessee distillers as well as other ...

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