It may sound cliché but end of summer heading into fall in Chicago is one of my favorite times. The air is crisp the trees are changing construction is ending and the Chicago Independent Spirits Expo is held. This was in my mind the most successful one yet having attended every year since it came to Chicago. The brain child of David Schmier owner of Redemption rye and brought to Chicago by Marty Duffy co-producer of the CISE. This is the largest small production spirits show in America. This year’s event was held at the Chicago Hilton downtown and was a marvelous spectacle of the comradery that drives the craft spirits world. The show is a place where craft producers of rum, tequila, gin, vodka and of course small batch whiskey.
Usually filled with industry professionals rubbing elbows with producers this years show had a decent amount more of the public who regularly consume these goods. “Leigh Mabry of BC merchants explains that she was impressed to see more of consumer and not just restaurant people” If you love tasting small batch whiskey, gins, vodka and tequilas this is the place to go.
One of the highlights of the show was a panel moderated by Timeout Chicago’s Amy Cavanagh concerning the role of women in the craft spirits industry. Most of the women on the panel have had similar experiences with gender discrimination given that spirits is a male dominated world. The panel discussion focused on the stories that some of Chicago’s most influential women including:
Co-owner and founder of Koval distillery Sonat Hart, Dejorn Huffman the spirits director at Tenzing Wine and Spirits Jenny, Kelly Kniewell – CIO, Fresh Coast Distributor, Raquel Leduc – Brand Ambassador/Bartender, Herbsainte, Monique Huston – Spirit Specialist, Stoller/Glazer, Anne Marineau – Bartender, Randolph Tavern, Sarah Sheperd Macfarquhar – Brand Ambassador, North Shore Distillery, Jenny Solsberg – Owner, Rhine Hall Distillery, Inna Feldman-Gerber – Co-Founder & President, Premiere Distillery. Filled with the darlings of Chicago’s craft industry the panel spoke about their unique experience dealing with the landmines of the spirits world.
Monique Huston of Stoller tells me that she “cannot wait for the day that these panels like this will not be necessary”. It does bring up an interesting question as to why we distinguish between men and women in certain jobs when we all know women work just as hard.
The Indy spirits expo is all about bringing lovers of all things craft and small batch. “Indie Spirits brought out some old favorites that were fantastic but the exciting side was to see how far American Craft Spirits has come, and to realize we are all living the rebirth of true small batch craft distillation” Drew Larson leaders beverage. Marty Duffy says “it was a success with a fantastic turnout and both the exhibitors and attendees were we’re happy, and that’s what the expo is all about”
Just some of the many producers that were there included…
Headframe
Banks Rum
Barritt’s Ginger Beer
Big Bottom Distilling
Bittercube
Blaum Bros. Distillery
Bunnahabhain single malt scotch
Caledonia Spirits
Caledonia Spirits
Caorunn Gin
Carpano Antica
Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery
Charbay Distillery
Chartreuse
Classic Imports
Compass Box scotch whisky
Cornstar
Corsair
Craft Distillers
Deanston single malt scotch
Death’s Door
Del Maguey Mezcal
Demerara Distilling (El Dorado Rum)
Dimmi Liquore
Distillerie de Biercée
Dryfly
Duncan Taylor
Edinburgh Gin
Encanto Pisco
Fernet Branca
Ferrand
FEW Spirits
Gabrielsen Cognac
Glenfarclas single malt scotch
Glenrothes single malt
Gordon & MacPhail
Grand Marnier Raspberry Peach
Grand Marnier 1880
Great Lakes Distillery
Greenbar
Haas Brothers
Haus Alpenz
Heering liqueur
Jersey Artisanal Distillery
Journeyman Distillery
Kappa Pisco
Kavalan whiskey
Koloa Rum Co.
KOVAL Distillery
Letherbee Gin
Luxardo
Lyon Distilling Co.
Marnier Lapostolle
Martin Miller’s Gin
McClary Bros. Vinegars
New Holland Brewing & Distilling
North Shore Distillery
Old Petrero Rye
Oola Distilling
Orange V
Pacific Edge
Pig’s Nose scotch
Quincy St. Distillery
Redemption Rye
Rhine Hall Distillery
Scorpion Mezcal
Sheep Dip blended malt scotch
Shrubs & Co.
Siete Leguas Tequila
Sonoma County Distilling Co.
St. George Distillery
Tail Winds Distillery
Tequila Tapatio
Teeling Irish Whiskey
Templeton Rye
Terlato
Tobermory single malt scotch
Tullibardine Single Malt Scotch
Veritas Brands
Warehouse Liquors
WhistlePig Rye
Zaya Rum
Sadly, I was under the weather and attended to take pictures and meet with vendors, I was unable to taste anything so I went the whole day without a drop.
