The Plymouth Select Board mandated an immediate and indefinite suspension of pouring permits for Dirty Water Distillery LLC during a Friday morning public hearing, citing a failure to finalize a liquor license transfer that has languished since October 2025. The decision effectively shutters the public-facing bar operations of the local establishment at 26 Court Street until the state and local approval process is fully reconciled. While the distillery retains its state manufacturing licenses to produce spirits and beer for wholesale, it can no longer legally sell glasses to the public or offer samples during the suspension.

Licensing and Insurance Assistant Lisa Johnson informed the board that despite at least 10 emails requesting documentation over the last six months, the file remained incomplete. The situation grew more urgent after the previous owner, who was originally slated to remain as the manager of record, formally withdrew from the business. The owner is pretty desperate because he can't pour without that license, Johnson said, noting that the applicant only initiated the necessary zoning process the day before the hearing. Owner Jim Bandera appeared before the board to take full responsibility for the administrative lapse. I want to apologize for dragging you all here today for my incompetence, Bandera said, explaining that a shifting agreement with the previous owner and a misunderstanding of the required timeline led to the crisis. There was no malice intended. I was shocked when the officer came in the other day to notify me of this.

The board expressed a desire to see the business succeed—noting the distillery's local roots—but Town Counsel Kate McKay warned that allowing the establishment to operate without a valid manager of record would expose Plymouth to significant legal risk. If the town chose to say 'that's okay, keep doing business,' and something happened, I think we would incur liability for not suspending that license, McKay explained. Motion Made by R. Quintal to indefinitely suspend the liquor licenses for Dirty Water Distillery LLC until the town has the proper paperwork to move forward. Motion Passed (5-0-0). Member Richard Quintal noted that the board would be willing to call a special meeting to expedite the return of the license once the paperwork is finalized.

Board members questioned the possibility of a grace period, but learned that the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) required an immediate halt. Vice Chair David Golden asked, What remains to be done and what sort of a timeframe is realistic for that being done to transfer it and make everything copacetic? Bandera indicated he hoped to have the issues resolved within a week. Member Deborah Iaquinto, who has been advocating for stricter accountability and code of conduct policies within town government, sought clarification on the town's exposure, asking, I'm just curious if there's any liability to the town at this point. Does this situation create any risk?

The board remains supportive of the distillery's place in the community. Member William Keohan highlighted the business's local legacy, telling Bandera, We want to see you succeed. Just to give you an FYI, we have a time capsule in Town Hall and in there is a bottle of Dirty Water Distillery. Chair Kevin Canty clarified the legal standing of the business during the interim, stating, The license will remain suspended until such a time as the transfer process is completed and approved. To ensure the legal requirements were met, the board refined their initial action. Motion Made by D. Golden to amend the motion previously adopted to read: an indefinite suspension of this liquor license until the transfer process is completed. Motion Passed (5-0-0).