Can you believe it? Distill America XVI is
happening on Saturday, May 18th, 2024. The event runs from 1-6pm at Breese
Stevens Field in Madison, WI. This is the same venue as last year.
Maybe you’re new to Wisconsin, or perhaps you’re just
getting into distilled spirits. You may be curious about what Distill America
is about. I’ve attended for the last eight years and am friends with the folks
who make this event come to life. As such, I’ve got the rundown for everything
you need to know.
Distill America was founded 16 years ago by a small group
of spirits enthusiasts in Madison known as the Madison Malt Society.
They often traveled to Chicago for whiskey events. However, ever-increasing
expenses damaged their enjoyment and took away from the excitement of attending
year after year. Aside from travel costs, they contended with pricey entry fees
for the distillers and attendees. They were struck with the notion that they
could create an event locally that anyone could attend every year, whether they
were an exhibitor or a fan of distilled spirits. The goal was to attract
bartenders, retailers, and the general public to learn about what is on the
market and available to enjoy.
The founders wanted to create something unique rather than
simply recreating the typical whiskey event. Star Liquor on
Williams (Willy) Street got involved. The group then decided they wanted this event
to be unlike most others. They also wanted to introduce visitors to exclusively
American-made spirits, not just Bourbon, Rye, and other American whiskeys. That
opened the door for rum, brandy, gin, vodka, and other brown or clear spirits.
Behind the scenes, there was much volunteer work to get the
process going. The crazy thing is nobody involved took a salary. All proceeds
benefit the non-profit Wisconsin Distillers Guild. The Guild’s
mission is to promote Wisconsin-made spirits, agriculture, tourism, small-batch
distillation, and the safe enjoyment of alcoholic beverages. Distill America
also creates scholarships for people to take coursework and learn about the
distilling industry.
From the smallest craft distillery to the largest,
established distilleries, they all travel to Madison to entertain and educate
true spirits enthusiasts and people new to everything. There is something for
everyone to enjoy.
The Madison Malt Society's desire is and always has been
for Distill America to grow and remain sustainable for the future without
losing what makes Distill America unique. But that means change will happen.
Distill America went further by offering educational seminars about seven years
ago.
Now that you know the background of Distill America, I have
a few tips and tricks for attending. First and foremost, enjoy this event
responsibly. Make arrangements in advance to get to and from the event safely.
Bring a designated driver who can attend for a mere $23.00. Your DD will have
access to any non-alcoholic beverages and food.
If this is your first time attending a spirits festival,
please know that it is easy to get schnockered before you even realize it. Eat a
full meal before showing up. Appetizers will be available on the floor, but you
shouldn’t show up on an empty stomach. Also, it is perfectly acceptable to not
finish what’s in your glass. Most people don’t. Sip, dump the rest and move to
the next table.
Last year, a friend who was inexperienced with these events
came with me. Let’s just say he didn’t remember the ride home, didn’t remember
having dinner at a restaurant, and was extremely… happy.
VIP+ gets
you on the floor at 1:00pm before anyone else can look around. There are special
seminars to attend, and you’ll also get special glassware beyond the standard
that everyone else receives. Nicole Austin from George Dickel
promises something extraordinary (and yet undisclosed).
VIP gets
you through the door at 2:00pm, and you’ll visit booths an hour before General
Admission. Exhibitors offer special VIP-only pours. Some big legacy
distilleries served up their most sought-after limited-edition distilled
spirits in previous years. I would expect the same this year.
Now, if you don’t have your tickets yet, you should know
that both VIP+ and VIP tickets are sold out. However, General Admission and
Designated Driver tickets are still available on the venue’s website.
General Admission gains entry at 3:00pm, and there’s still plenty of
opportunity to taste awesome things that American-only distilleries have to
offer. There are over 80 vendors from across the United States, and there are
between 10 and 15 more tables this year than last.
No matter which ticket you possess, you’ll get a
complimentary Glencairn nosing glass from the event’s sponsor, Bulleit
Bourbon, and food throughout the evening. Attend the educational
seminars – one is a cocktail class presented by Dancing Goat and J.
Henry & Sons. Distill America is an outdoor event under tents. If
you’ve never been to Madison in mid-May, you know we can have all four seasons
on parade in a single day, so dress appropriately.
Finally, I’ll be walking around doing meet-and-greets with
various distillers. As always, Mrs. Whiskeyfellow will attend, as will a
very special guest this year: Mama Whiskeyfellow.
If you see me, stop me and say hello. I’m always happy to
chat and make new friends. Together, we will #DrinkCurious. Cheers!
Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you
see fit but begs you do so responsibly.
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