Local Event

The 2018 Chicago Independent Spirits Expo

This event has ended.

View Current Events from This Host
    Tue, October 9, 2018 (5:00 PM - 9:00 PM)

The Chicago Hilton Hotel & Tower
720 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60605
view map

Cost: $65-$85

The annual gathering of independently produced spirits from around the world - vodka, gin, rum, tequila, pisco, cachaca, brandy/cognac/Armagnac, whisk(e)y (American/Scotch/Irish/Japanese/Canadian/World), liqueurs, mixers, etc.!

Join us and meet the fascinating people who are changing the landscape of backbars around the world! Last year we had over 600 spirits poured by 130 distillers, brand ambassadors, importers & distributors!!

Keep an eye on this page as we list the innovative small brands sampling at the best underground spirits event in North America.

Date: Tuesday, October 9th 2018
Press Tasting: 5:00-9:00PM
VIP Tasting: 5-6:30PM
General Admission: 6:30-9:00PM

Venue: The Chicago Hilton Hotel & Tower, 720 S. Michigan Ave.
Room: The Continental Ballroom

GA/VIP Tickets are now on sale ~
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-chicago-indie-spirits-expo-tickets-tickets-44835969592

For VIP Ticket Holders, you have access to our seminars in The Buckingham Room:
12pm-2pm ~ THE INDUSTRY ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION, an open discussion by industry professionals that addresses the topics of the day that small spirits deal with on a daily basis.
IRTD event page - https://www.facebook.com/events/1941925525818171/

Behind The Curtain of Drink Media (The Buckingham Room)
2:15pm-3:15pm ~ Writers give you the inside scoop on how to promote your distillery & brand thru the media.
BTCODM event page - https://www.facebook.com/events/362613120933323/

Steppin' Up To The Bar (The Buckingham Room)
3:30pm-4:30pm ~ Aaron Zacharias, owner of Bar On Buena & Fountainhead Taverns, will moderate a panel of bar owners as they give brands advice on how to approach bartenders, F&B managers & bar owners and what they expect from a brand.
SUTTB event page - https://www.facebook.com/events/217220868955369/?active_tab=about

Tastings.com Award Presentation (The Main Foyer)
4:00pm-4:45pm ~ Presenting the awards to the top spirits in every category of spirits from the folks at the Beverage Testing Institute.
TAP - https://www.facebook.com/events/1908154679486485/

Additional related events:
5pm-8pm, Monday, Oct. 8th - The CISE Smokin' Garden Party at Up Down Cigar
Link for details - www.updowncigar.com

LIST OF BRANDS SAMPLING AT THIS YEAR'S SHOW:
11th Orchard Bitters
123 Tequila
A.D. Laws Whiskey
Angels' Share Glass
Back Bar Project
The Baltimore Spirits Company
BC Merchants
Beppe & the Architect, LLC
Black Dog Distillery L.L.C.
Balcones Distilling
Blaum Bros. Distilling Co.
Blue Star Potables LLC
Bond and Royal
Botran Rum
BroVo Spirits
Cardinal Spirits
Catan Pisco & Co.
CH Distillery
Chicago Distilling Company
Clyde May's
Connacht Whiskey Company
Copper Fiddle Distillery
Copper Fox Distillery
Corsair Distillery
Cutwater Spirits
Davos Brands
Death's Door Distillery
DeHart Spirits
Deutch Family Wine and Spirits
Dictador Rum
Domaine Select Wine & Spirits
Domeloz
Driftless Glen Distillery
Empress 1908 Gin
Far North Spirits
Frankfort Spirits
Glendalough Distillery
GONZALEZ BYASS USA
Grand Traverse Distillery
Grander Rum
Haus Alpenz
Heavenly Spirits LLC
House Spirits Distillery
Infinium Spirts
J. Henry & Sons Bourbon
J. Rieger Distillery
John Drew Brands
Journeyman Distillery
Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.
Koloa Rum Company
Koval Distillery
La Pavia Beverage
Letherbee
M.S. Walker
Macchu Pisco
Maplewood Brewery & Distillery
Mississippi River Distilling Company
Mizu Shochu
Nelson's Green Brier Distillery
New Liberty Distillery
North American Beverage Company
North Shore Distillery, LLC
Oppidan Spirits
Phillips Distilling Co.
Prichard's Distillery, Inc.
Purple Wine + Spritis
The Real McCoy
Rhine Hall
Rolling Fork Spirits
Sagamore Spirit
Santa Fe Spirits
Shots Box
SomPriya Fine Spririts, LLC
SoulBoxer Cocktail Co.
Southwest Spirits & Wine
Spice Note LLC
Tailwinds Distilling
Tattersall
The Collective by Thoroughbred
The Collective by Thoroughbred
The Collective by Thoroughbred
Top Note Tonic
Total Beverage Solution
Treaty Oak Distilling
Turquoise Life
Two James Spirits
Union Horse Distilling Company
Vikre Distillery
Vintage Wine Estates & The Splinter Spirits Group
Virginia Distillery Company
Vision Wine & Spirits
Wahaka Mezcal
Waterloo Gin
Whiskey Acres Distilling Co
WhistlePig Rye Whiskey
Willie's Distillery
and more to come!

Big THANK YOU to our local distributors: BC Merchants, Breakthru Beverage, Burke, Compass, H2Vino, Heritage Wine Cellars/Legacy, Louis Glunz, Park Street, Romano Beverage, southern/Glazer Wine & Spirits, Tenzing, Vintage/Winebow, Windy City

All events associated with The Chicago Independent Spirits Expo are 21 and over. All attendees must have a valid photo state or federal I.D.

Admission price provides each ticket holder with 20 sample tickets, with additional tickets available for purchase.

Please do not drink & drive! Taxis & Ubers will be made available. The CTA stop is just 2 blocks away.

Please drink your Independent Spirits responsibly.

Tags

  • Event
  • wine
  • The Chicago Hilton Hotel & Tower
  • Chicago
  • Things to do in Chicago, Illinois
  • Western Wine & Food Events
  • Chicago Wine & Food Events

Hosted by
Whisk(e)y Still Life

See other listings from this host