Award‑winning spirits expert and celebrated drinks journalist Noah Rothbaum will deliver the headliner address at the 14th Annual ACSA Convention & Expo, taking place February 17–18, 2027 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
“The craft spirits category is at an important crossroads, and we wanted our 2027 convention headliner to bring a perspective that challenges, inspires, and informs our attendees. Noah is one of the most respected voices covering spirits, and few people have his depth of experience and understanding of the opportunities facing independent distillers. We’re excited to have him join us in Chicago and help our members plan for where this industry goes next,” noted ACSA CEO, Emily Pennington on the selection of Rothbaum.
Rothbaum, one of the world’s leading authorities on cocktails and spirits, is a James Beard Award winner, Kentucky Colonel, and author of acclaimed books including The Whiskey Bible, The Art of American Whiskey, and The Business of Spirits. His forthcoming title, The Goto Bartender’s Guide, co‑written with Kenta Goto, will be released in October 2026.
He also serves as associate editor of the Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails, which earned the American Library Association’s Dartmouth Medal and a Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award.
Join the American Craft Spirits Association in Chicago for an unforgettable “State of Craft” townhall with a voice who, as Chicago magazine’s Jeff Ruby put it, “knows drinking like Newton knew gravity.”
