20 Oct 7th Annual Whiskey & Fine Spirits Expo Brings Class, Craft Spirits to Indy
The 7th Annual Indy’s Whisky & Fine Spirits Expo was held at The Montage in Indianapolis and put on by Vine & Table, and with over 350 different wines and spirits, there were plenty of old favorites and new libations to try.
Whisky may have dominated the event, but there were also a great variety of vodkas, gins, scotches, bourbons, and even some beers.
Atmosphere
When you attend a beer festival, you typically see beards and funny/branded t-shirts. At the Expo there were a couple people dressed casually, but most dressed like they had just come from an executive meeting. To say I felt out of my comfort zone would be an understatement. However, being a bit of a whisky snob, I also felt right at home.
With that said, the entire event felt like a masterpiece. Everyone was enjoying themselves, the alcohol, and the buffet. There was even a Catholic Priest, in full garb, taking in and enjoying his surroundings.
Whisky and Spirits…and Beer
350 different bottles of alcohol at your fingertips is a site to behold. Each one was made differently than the next and they all had a special story behind it.
The stories were actually my favorite part of the Expo. It’s one thing to taste alcohol and be able to pick out the different notes, but knowing how those flavors were parted into the alcohol adds yet another dimension to the tasting.
Jameson Caskmates is a unique whisky that was forged after an Irish craft brewery, Franciscan Wells, asked to use Jameson Whisky barrels to age their stout. When Jameson got the barrels back, they decided to refill them with whisky and Caskmates was born. Jameson describes Caskmates as, “Triple distilled, once stouted.” The flavors of regular Jameson mixed with the chocolate and coffee flavors of the stout made for a very unique finish.
Few Spirits had their Malört on hand and it was easily the strangest spirit available. Malört’s are not common here in the United States, but Jeppson’s in Chicago makes the most famous version. Malört is a bitter liquor, similar to absinthe. So what makes Few’s version special? After creating their version, Jeppson’s trademarked Malört which meant Few’s had to change the liquor name. But instead of changing the name, they continue to make labels that say “Malört” and simply cross it out with a sharpie.
Honey Vanilla Vodka by Bloomington’s own Cardinal Spirits was another unique take on an old classic. Alison Zook – Cardinal Spirit’s Event Director – explained they used honey from a beehive on the distillery’s roof to create the first batch. It’s a very smooth vodka, with the honey and vanilla flavors very noticeable.
Books and Brews and Alltech Brewery brought some beers to the party. While Books and Brews had a typical lineup, Alltech brought their Kentucky Bourbon Barrel beer varieties, along with their bourbons and whiskey.
Those were the liquors and spirits that really stood out to me, but there were plenty to honorably mention: Tap 357 Sherry Whiskey, Appleton Estate 12-year Rum, St. George’s Green Chile Vodka, Hibiki Whisky, and Journeyman’s Snaggle Tooth.
Food
You can’t go wrong with a little drinking mixed with great, catered food. The Whisky & Fine Spirits Expo was catered by Kahn’s Catering, and it was delicious. A simple buffet of fine dining, which went perfect with the fine spirits. And for dessert they had macaroons.
Verdict
This was my first expo involving any kind of alcoholic beverages, but it was a great time. VIP tickets set you back $150 a piece and general admissions tickets were $80, however the prices are actually well worth it. If you are a fan of whisky and spirits, then attending next year’s event would be worth checking into
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