Success for inaugural festival
 
27 August, 2008
           
Page 11 
The first Independent Spirits Festival was held in the US in October and  sponsors have already announced plans for a second  next year.
The aisles at Hotel W in San Francisco were crowded with  dedicated spirits  enthusiasts, eager to  taste  exotics such as Black Truffle Vodka from Modern Spirits Distillery, Blood Orange Vodka from Charbay Distillers  and Desert Juniper Gin from Bend Distillers.
Allison Evanow, the founder and  chief executive of Square One Organic Vodka, who was there offering samples of her trendy spirit, said : "What was most striking  was the  level of genuine interest from the consumers. They were  there to learn about the spirits,  not just  have fun . 
"We were one of the few tables  serving  cocktails. We enjoyed being able to showcase the vodka  the way  most people drink it. It was  a hugely engaging upscale consumer event."  
The 2008 Festival will also be held in San Francisco and sponsored by CelticMalts (celticmalts.com).  
CelticMalts also sponsors the Whiskies of the World  Expo which is  scheduled for  San Francisco in April.