Announcing the Inaugural American Craft Spirits Festival

Dear Craft Spirits Producer:

Building a brand is hard. We know.

This is your opportunity to try something different and get your products in front of consumers in a city known for its love of craft: Chicago!

As ASCA continues to celebrate our 10th anniversary year, we are thrilled to announce our first-ever consumer tasting event, The American Craft Spirits Festival, October 26, 2023 at Binny’s Beverage Depot, the Midwest’s largest wine, spirits, and beer superstore and a BIG friend of craft. 

Be a charter distillery for this inaugural celebration of the unparalleled array of styles, flavors, personalities and innovation that our dynamic community of small spirits producers offers. Showcase your best juice!

Festival at a Glance

The first-ever American Craft Spirits Festival will feature: 

• The country’s top craft spirits producers pouring for consumers and select members of the trade (we expect an audience of hundreds)
• A full education program where participating producers will get a further opportunity to highlight their brands and tell their stories 
• Market access to Chicago, America’s third-largest city, home to more than 1 million households, with a legendary nightlife culture and nearly 7,500 restaurants (not to mention 200+ theaters and 250+ live music venues)
• Exclusive ACSA-published Cocktail Booklet featuring recipes from participating distilleries  

Availability is Limited

There is a limited number of sampling tables available and we expect them to sell out quickly. To ensure fairness in selecting the widest cross-section of producers, with a diverse array of spirits from all geographic regions of the U.S., we are employing a lottery system to determine the final roster.

Note: Once you are on the approved roster of distilleries, you must register with a wholesaler and register your product(s) for distribution in the state of Illinois. We’ve made this step super easy and will provide details upon confirmation of your participation.

Registration Fee

If you are selected and confirm your availability, we will invoice you for the table fee of $250 for ACSA members and $325 for non-members.  

For this fee you will get:

• Opportunity to pour selections of your portfolio and build your brand with a new audience

• Inclusion, with company branding, in the event’s exclusive Cocktail Booklet

• Marketing of your brand around the Chicago metropolitan area 

• Opportunity to participate in consumer-focused panel presentations during the event

• Inclusion in CRAFT SPIRITS magazine and other ACSA communications

• Craft Distiller Tasting permit for up to three sample pours

• Possible one-on-one meetings with buyers for Binny’s Beverage Depot   

Let Us Know ASAP

Please complete this form by July 28, 2023. You will be notified on confirmation of your table and sent an invoice to participate no later than August 7. We will ask that you confirm your participation no later than August 10. Please note that you will be required to send a representative of your distillery to pour at this event.

We look forward to having you join us in making the inaugural American Craft Spirits Festival a tremendous success.

Cheers,

10th Anniversary Team at ACSA