Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal adjustments) which, in the opinion of the Company’s management, are necessary to fairly present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company.  All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the year to date period ended March 31, 2015 should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in the Company’s Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").  The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Inventory

Inventory

Inventory includes finished goods, barreled distillate, raw materials in the form of agricultural commodities used in the production process, work in process, and certain maintenance and repair items.  Whiskey and bourbon must be aged in barrels for several years, following industry practice; all barreled whiskey and bourbon is classified as a current asset. The Company includes warehousing, insurance, and other carrying charges applicable to barreled whiskey in inventory costs.

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market on the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method.

Equity Method Investments

Equity Method Investments

The Company accounts for its investment in non-consolidated subsidiaries under the equity method of accounting when the Company has significant influence, but does not have more than 50 percent voting control, and is not considered the primary beneficiary.  Under the equity method of accounting, the Company reflects its investment in non-consolidated subsidiaries within the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as Equity method investments; the Company’s share of the earnings or losses of the non-consolidated subsidiaries are reflected as Equity method investment earnings in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

The Company reviews its investments in non-consolidated subsidiaries for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investments may not be fully recoverable. Evidence of a loss in value that is other than temporary include, but are not limited to, the absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment, the inability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity which would justify the carrying amount of the investment, or, where applicable, estimated sales proceeds which are insufficient to recover the carrying amount of the investment. If the fair value of the investment is determined to be less than the carrying value and the decline in value is considered to be other than temporary, an appropriate write-down is recorded based on the excess of the carrying value over the best estimate of fair value of the investment.  

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Except as discussed below, revenue from the sale of the Company’s products is recognized as products are delivered to customers according to shipping terms and when title and risk of loss have transferred. Income from various government incentive programs is recognized as it is earned.

The Company’s distillery segment produces unaged distillate and this product is frequently barreled and warehoused at a Company location for an extended period of time in accordance with directions received from the Company’s customers.  This product must meet customer acceptance specifications, the risks of ownership and title for these goods must be passed to the Company’s customers, and requirements for bill and hold revenue recognition must be met prior to the Company recognizing revenue for this product.  Separate warehousing agreements are maintained for customers who store their product with the Company, and warehouse revenues are recognized as the service is provided.

Recognition of Insurance Recoveries

Recognition of Insurance Recoveries

Estimated loss contingencies are recognized as charges to income when they are probable and reasonably estimable.  Insurance recoveries are not recognized until all contingencies related to the insurance claim have been resolved and settlement has been reached with the insurer.  Insurance recoveries, to the extent of costs and losses, are reported as a reduction to Cost of sales on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.  Insurance recoveries, in excess of costs and losses, if any, are included in Insurance recoveries on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using an asset and liability method which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis.  A valuation allowance is recognized if it is more likely than not that at least some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.  

Evaluating the need for, and amount of, a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets often requires significant judgment and extensive analysis of all available evidence on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis. Such judgments require the Company to interpret existing tax law and other published guidance as applied to our circumstances. As part of this assessment, the Company considers both positive and negative evidence about its profitability and tax situation. A valuation allowance is provided if, based on available positive and negative evidence, it is more likely than not that all or some portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

Accounting for uncertainty in income tax positions requires management judgment and the use of estimates in determining whether the impact of a tax position is "more likely than not" of being sustained. The Company considers many factors when evaluating and estimating its tax positions, which may require periodic adjustment and which may not accurately anticipate actual outcomes. It is reasonably possible that amounts reserved for potential exposure could change significantly as a result of the conclusion of tax examinations and, accordingly, materially affect the Company’s reported net income after tax.

Earnings per Share

Earnings per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share are computed using the two-class method, which is an earnings allocation formula that determines net income per share for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends and dividend equivalents declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings.  Per share amounts are computed by dividing net income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average shares outstanding during the period.  

Impairment

Impairment

The Company tests its long-lived assets and instruments for impairment whenever events or conditions and circumstances indicate a carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.  No events or conditions occurred during the quarter or year to date periods ended March 31, 2015 that required the Company to test its long-lived assets for impairment.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

The fair value of an asset is considered to be the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Accounting guidance also establishes a three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted market prices (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:

• Level 1 - quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities accessible by the reporting entity.

• Level 2 - observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

• Level 3 - unobservable inputs for an asset or liability. Unobservable inputs should only be used to the extent observable inputs are not available.

The Company’s short-term financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable.  The carrying value of the short term financial instruments approximates the fair value due to their short-term nature. These financial instruments have no stated maturities or the financial instruments have short-term maturities that approximate market.

New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) which simplifies the presentation of debt issuance costs. ASU 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. ASU 2015-03 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015 (and interim periods within those fiscal years) with early adoption permitted and retrospective application required. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2015-03 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The impact to consolidated financial statements is not anticipated to be significant.

On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for the Company on January 1, 2017. Early application is not permitted. The FASB has received multiple requests to delay the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 and expects to decide in the second quarter of 2015 whether postponing the implementation date is necessary. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.