140+ spirits under one roof

Colin Joliat Staff Writer

WhipperSnapper Whiskey 135x95 140+ spirits under one roofIf you’re like me, you’ve been dragged to quite a few wine tastings in your day. I have no qualms with these events, they are great places to get drunk without spending a fortune, but listening to the vendors blather grows tiring very quickly. The problem isn’t that I don’t enjoy wine, because I do. My issue is that the people on the other side of the table are typically just sales(wo)men. They may be incredibly knowledgeable, but they have no hand in the process. There are no fun stories to tell or in depth detail about how “their” product came to be. Anything they say could have been learned by sitting home and Yahoo!ing that particular wine.

If you are looking for something 100x better than that experience, and happen to be near Chicago, I have just the event for you. The Independent Spirits Expo is taking place Sept 28th at The Bottom Lounge in Chicago, and it should be an evening to forget. With more than 140 different independent distillers in attendance, there will be no shortage of new things to try. Unlike Whiskeyfest, which is one of my favorite events, this features the full spectrum of spirits for you to sample, so there will be definitely be something for everyone. Independent liquors also tend to cost a premium, so this is an excellent opportunity to find a few new options without having to pony up the money for a bottle without knowing if you’ll like it.

ISE 140+ spirits under one roof

What really sets events like this apart are the distilleries’ representation. Instead of sending a sales staff to try to swing you in their favor, the master distillers themselves come to represent their brand. The man who developed the recipe and oversaw the process from start to finish is typically the one pouring you your shot, so you know what he says has merit. They take a lot of pride in their product and truly want to know what you think about it. They love chatting with people, and more importantly, love educating consumers. If you’ve ever wanted to know more than just how much that fifth of vodka costs, this is a great place to find out.

Get your tickets, and I’ll see you there.

http://www.indiespiritsexpo.com/

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