Distillery Partner Application
An Invitation to a True Distillery Partnership
The Spirit of Independence Fest invites you to be a founding partner in a premier whiskey showcase that extends far beyond a single day. This festival is a larger format of the “choose your own adventure” experience cultivated in our Sentinel Room.
Our core philosophy during the festival and in the Sentinel Room is to create a journey of discovery, focusing on what makes each whiskey unique and learn about the stories that go with them.
We will connect you with 300+ dedicated enthusiasts who share this passion for exploration. Our “Sentinel Tasting Tokens” are designed to encourage this thoughtful approach.
Our festival is unique. We offer more than just access to customers; we offer an ongoing sales partnership. Our direct connection with The Marinello enables seamless on-site bottle sales, and we are proud to offer our top-tier partners an exclusive, ongoing presence after the festival concludes.
We have two partnership tiers designed to meet your brand’s specific goals. We would be honored to have you join us on this journey.
Spirit of Independence Fest
Event Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Event Time: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM (VIP Hour 4-5 PM, Load In from 2:30-3:30 PM)
Location: Independence Uptown Market, 211 W Truman Rd, Independence, MO 64050
Website: spiritofIndependenceFest.com
Rules & Regulations
- Booth Fee: All booth fees are non-refundable. Payment constitutes acceptance of all terms.
- Token System: Each distillery must offer at least one “standard pour” for a single (1) event token. Optional “premium pours” for 2+ tokens are highly encouraged.
- Licensing & Insurance: All partners must be in full compliance with all laws and provide copies of applicable licenses. A Certificate of Insurance (COI) may be required.
- Retail Sales & Product Availability: The sale of sealed bottles for off-site consumption is a core feature of this event.
- a. Exclusive Retailer: All sales transactions must be processed through our exclusive retail partner, The Marinello. No direct-to-consumer cash or credit sales are permitted from your booth.
- b. Tastings Must Be For Sale: To ensure a seamless guest experience, all spirits poured for tasting at your booth must also be available for purchase through The Marinello bottle shop. It is the distillery’s responsibility to coordinate with their distribution channels to ensure product availability to The Marinello / Sentinel Room.
- Staffing: All booth staff must be 21+.
- Setup: Load-in is 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM on Sept. 27. Booths must be ready by 4:00 PM.
Event Partner
$400
Includes:
• One 16′ indoor or 16′ covered outdoor booth space.
• The opportunity for on-site bottle sales through The Marinello on event day.
• A standard listing in the event passport and on the spiritofIndependenceFest.com website.
Sentinel Partner
$600
Includes Everything in the Exhibitor package Plus:
• Premium Digital Placement: A premium, featured listing in the Distillery Directory on sentinelroom.com.
• First Choice of booth location at the festival.