Bill Owens, founder of the American Distilling Institute in California, wanted to bring his annual trade conference to the East Coast for the first time. When it came time to find a host city, though, he didn’t like what he saw.
“We looked at several cities: Boston, New York and Washington,” Owens said. “There’s nobody who could host us without gouging us for $275 a night for hotel rooms. Baltimore had a reasonable price.”
So the 14th Annual Craft Spirits Conference & Vendo Expo will take place April 3-6 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Owens expects up to 2,000 visitors, along with 190 vendors related to the distilling industry from the United States and Europe.
The event’s purpose is to educate craft distilling business owners and those interested in entering the industry, Owens said. The weekend will feature sessions on marketing, how to open a craft distillery, tips for succeeding at retail and more. There will also be workshops on how to make vodka, whiskey and rum.
The conference announcement comes at a time when craft distilling continues to expand in Maryland. In 2015, the Maryland Distillers Guild was founded with 11 distilleries; it now has 15 members with more planned to come.
Whiskey is deeply rooted in the history of Maryland, which trailed only Kentucky and Pennsylvania in the spirit's production post-Civil War. But after Prohibition, Maryland whiskey fell out of favor, and appeared destined to remain in the past tense.
That is now far from the case. A new generation...
Whiskey is deeply rooted in the history of Maryland, which trailed only Kentucky and Pennsylvania in the spirit's production post-Civil War. But after Prohibition, Maryland whiskey fell out of favor, and appeared destined to remain in the past tense.
That is now far from the case. A new generation...
Owens said Maryland was “behind the curve for many, many years,” in terms of national craft distilling, but ADI has noticed an increase here in businesses recently. The growth in craft distilleries proves “small businesses matter,” he said.
“You go to these small towns in Maryland, and suddenly, the old fire station is a craft distillery,” Owens said. “They’re rejuvenating these downtowns by taking over an old warehouse, and you become part of the fabric of that community instantly.”
Maryland will also be represented at the conference. On April 4, Sagamore Spirit’s Brian Treacy will host a session titled “The History of Distilling in Maryland.” Later that day, members of the Maryland Distillers Guild will host a tasting.
Canton resident Joanne Barker is the first member of the beer club at Mahaffey's Pub to reach 5,000 beers. (Algerina Perna, Baltimore Sun video)
Canton resident Joanne Barker is the first member of the beer club at Mahaffey's Pub to reach 5,000 beers. (Algerina Perna, Baltimore Sun video)
LCD Soundsystem, A Tribe Called Quest and Solange will headline the Pitchfork Music Festival this summer in Chicago. (Feb. 27, 2017)
LCD Soundsystem, A Tribe Called Quest and Solange will headline the Pitchfork Music Festival this summer in Chicago. (Feb. 27, 2017)
Registration for the conference is now open at ADI’s website.
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