Lots of Local at Independent Spirits Expo
Annual event had a slimmed-down comeback after missing 2020
Lots of Local Brands at Independent Spirits Expo
I brought a strong interest in craft spirits with me when I moved to Chicago, and I attended the first annual Independent Spirits Expo here in 2011, not long after we arrived in our forever home. From that year through 2018, it was the only event I’d been to every year since we relocated here.
I missed the 2019 Expo because of some office shenanigans, and the 2020 event had to be cancelled because of COVID. Now that I am doing my own thing and consider craft beverages as integral participants in local food communities, I eagerly attend the Expo’s comeback that took place this past Monday (November 1) at Hilton Chicago.
There were fewer vendors overall as those in the industry (like most of the world) balance how soon they should rejoin the event circuit. Midwest distilleries, seen in the photo display below, made up a significant percentage of those who did table, but they represent only a portion of the region’s sizable craft spirits industry.
That said, I didn’t hear any of the participants complaining about having a little extra elbow room.
These aren’t my last words about the Independent Spirits Expo. One of the reasons I love to go to this event is that along with the evening sampling event, there is always a panel of experts from across the industry spectrum discussing the state of craft spirits. The conversation among this year’s panelists was heavily influenced by the pandemic’s impact on the industry, and I will be boiling that down into an article very soon.
All photos are © 2021 Bob Benenson. Please don’t use ‘em unless you ask first.
——————————
Amaro Cinpatrazzo (Chicago, Illinois)
Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. (Galena, Illinois)
CH Distillery (Chicago, Illinois)
Cody Road/Mississippi River Distilling Co. (LeClaire, Iowa)
Dancing Goat Distillery (Cambridge, Wisconsin)
FEW Spirits (Evanston, Illinois)
Letherbee Distillers (Chicago, Illinois)
Maplewood Brewery & Distillery (Chicago, Illinois)
Middle West Spirits (Columbus, Ohio)
North Shore Distillery (Green Oaks, Illinois)
Rhine Hall Distillery (Chicago, Illinois)
Note: Oops, the photo of Rhine Hall’s table didn’t turn out well, so I’m reprising this one from the 2018 Independent Spirits Expo.