Conference attendees and exhibitors streamed into St. Louis, Missouri, during the week of September 19, eager for the excitement of the ADI 2022 Craft Spirits Conference and Expo. Some found themselves in the historic city for the first time. Others were returning home after decades away. Then, of course, there were the locals who graciously welcomed us into their hometown and showed us that St. Louis’ budding spirits scene is innovative not only in its craft, but also in its community engagement.

Wednesday

On Wednesday, ADI offered various separately-ticketed classes and workshops, many of which filled up quickly. Crowd favorites included the vodka workshop by Altar Spirits co-founder and master distiller Caley Shoemaker, the Advanced Botanicals class by StilL 630 founder David Weglarz and international gin author and consultant David T. Smith, and a legendary 9-hour-long St. Louis distillery tour.

Pro tip: Register for the ADI Conference & Expo early! Workshops and classes have limited space and often fill up quickly

StilL 630 was the first stop on the tour. Its botanical library was indeed impressive. Walls were lined to the ceiling with meticulously labeled bottles containing numerous ingredients and spirits in various stages of testing. You may imagine that a distillery so organized would gather a group of sophisticated gin-sippers to taste and critique their award-winning experiments. In a way, it does. Every Friday, StilL 630 opens its doors and offers free samples of its experimental spirits of the month to the public. Then, the brand asks its community for feedback, which it uses to decide what to do next. This has led to great success, according to Weglarz.

StilL630 St. Louis

The tour group also stopped by Switchgrass Spirits, whose ingredients (including barrels) are all sourced locally from Missouri; Square One Brewery & Distillery, which serves as a community gathering place that makes spirits accessible to all; Edelbrand Pure Distilling, whose small-batch fruit distillations bring a taste of Switzerland to the St. Louis area; and Nobleton Distilling House, which moved into its new tasting room just in time to host the tour group for a tasting of spirits featuring ingredients grown on family farms.

That evening, these distilleries joined over 20 others at the Missouri Craft Distillers Guild Welcome Tasting, where hundreds of attendees had the opportunity to interact with passionate distillers from across the Show Me State. Long-distance friends saw each other for the first time in years while laughing, nibbling on appetizers, and sampling the evening away. As the tasting came to a close, some wandered back to their rooms, knowing a good night’s rest would be critical for the big days ahead. Others — the bravest among us — hunted down the few downtown spots open late and experienced St. Louis after dark.

Pro tip: Scan the QR code on people’s name tags to quickly access their contact information. Then, schedule a reminder to follow up after the conference ends.

Thursday

The next morning, the 8:45 AM keynote launched with warm welcomes from ADI President Erik Owens, Missouri Craft Distillers Guild President Lynn Weber, and Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe. Chris Swonger, president and CEO of DISCUS, shared exciting news about Destination Distillery, a new campaign highlighting distilleries’ key role in regional tourism, and encouraged attendees to reach out to their local legislators to shift the laws around spirits for the industry’s future health. Consultant Bump Williams spoke on the future of the three-tier system, focusing primarily on the importance and role of RTDs.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Anne Brock, Bombay Sapphire’s Master Distiller

As the much-anticipated keynote speaker, Dr. Anne Brock, took the stage, a hush fell over the room. Bombay Sapphire’s master distiller chose to humbly focus her attention on the significance of her community throughout her distilling career. She mentioned that ADI 2014 in Seattle was an incredibly encouraging event for her. She was specifically inspired by the passion, relationships, and mentorship opportunities throughout the distilling community. She encouraged listeners to be inspired by those around them, reminding them that there is always more to learn, always room to improve, and that it’s vital to educate and empower each other whenever possible. She ended on the note that all distilleries — no matter their size — must put sustainability at the forefront of their efforts in the coming months and years. Dr. Brock noted that Bombay Sapphire is transparent about its sustainability practices and happy to share its tips. Interested parties can head to www.bombaysapphire.com to learn more.

As the keynote ended, the Expo floor opened, alive with 195 colorful and creative booths, including domestic and international ingredients, equipment, labels, suppliers, and manufacturers. You need it? You’d find it — or a way to get it — all right here. Vendors don’t bite, so walking a full circuit is worth it, even if you’re not actively hunting for that new tank or GNS supplier.

Pro tip: Leave space in your suitcase. You’re going home with conference swag and probably a bottle or two from a local distillery.

Friday

Over the next two days, attendees had opportunities to learn and connect with industry experts at 40 classes, workshops, panels, and discussions covering topics from distillery finance and business ownership to whiskey proofing and finishing. One of the most anticipated workshops of the conference is the annual Nosing for Faults, a separately ticketed event that sells out fast. Expert “noses” Nancy Fraley and Julia Nourney have blended with brands worldwide. This year, there was so much demand that Fraley and Nourney held two four-hour sessions to share their expertise on the factors at every part of the process that influence the development of off flavors and taints in distillates, including nosing samples of spirits with flaws ranging from common to extremely unusual.

There were also three book signing sessions with White Mule Press authors: ADI founder Bill Owens, The Craft of Whiskey Distilling; Maria Pearman, Distillery Finance; and Ian Smiley, The Distiller’s Guide to Rum.

The Expo floor closed down temporarily on Friday afternoon to allow all to attend the 2022 ADI International Spirits Competition Award Luncheon. ADI’s international panels of expert judges blind-tasted the host of spirits entered earlier this year to give out 876 awards, including Best of Class, Gold, Double Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Best of Category.

Heritage Distilling Company stole the show with 61 awards, making them the most-award-winning distillery for the ninth year running — hardly a surprise from the largest independent distillery in the Pacific Northwest. Cutwater Spirits from San Diego, California, took home an impressive 30 medals in various categories, including RTDs, mezcal, and others. St. Louis’ own StilL 630 added 19 awards to their collection, and E. & J. Gallo Winery, the largest family-owned winery in the U.S., brought home 16.

Pro tip: February 3, 2023, is next year’s Early Bird Registration Deadline. Put it on your calendar now so you don’t miss it. Bonus — you don’t have to be an ADI member to enter!

Friday’s sessions closed out with the Women’s Summit, featuring keynote speaker Alyssa Dver, CEO and co-founder of the American Confidence Institute, who gave an engaging and interactive talk on confidence. She then interviewed the spirited and delightful founder and master distiller of Black Momma Vodka, Vanessa Braxton. Braxton was a civil engineer for 20 years before launching her business and being awarded a New York State Proclamation as the first African American Woman Master Distiller and Master Blender in the United States. (If you don’t know her, you should!)

Casino Night in St. Louis

On Friday evening, new and old friends had drinks, played games, and shared laughs at the celebratory closing Casino Night party. For some, that was the last hoorah, but others stuck around Saturday for the annual Gin Summit. This year, the much-anticipated daylong event featured gin experts Natasha Bahrami, founder of The Gin Room and GinWorld in St. Louis; Alexandre Gabriel, creator of Citadelle Gin; Henric Molin, founder of Spirit of Hven Distillery; hospitality veteran and gin cocktail expert extraordinaire Keli Rivers; and our own writer and in-house gin buff, David T. Smith. Sessions covered topics like gin brands that shaped the industry, the chemical analysis of gin, and how gin became popular in the USA. The Summit also featured three tastings and a gin cocktail networking hour.

Pro tip: Distillers, bartenders, writers, and gin superfans — the Gin Summit is for you. Make sure you plan to attend next year.

Thanks to your persistence, passion, and continued support, next year is ADI’s 20th Annual Conference and Expo. Put August 23–24, 2023, on your calendar, and get ready to celebrate with us in Las Vegas!