Hosting Tasting for a charity event

I'm chairing a fundraising event for my Temple Sisterhood, and was hoping to do some tastings as part of our entertainment/value added for the event (which is actually a used book sale on a Sunday but on Saturday night we are having this "first look" thing with some food, drinks, music etc.).

I have confirmed a Root Beer teasing, with a supplier of at least a dozen brands of craft root beers(not all local on this one).. I'm hoping for a local craft brewer and/or distillery that would be willing to come and offer sampling of their stuff, explain nuances, etc., and do so either as a donation or for a very very low cost. We would want a percentage of any orders taken/sales made.

Is this a doable thing? Anyone have a suggestion for a brewer and or someone else (a brand rep??) who might be receptive to this sort of arrangement? I was hoping to add a chocolate tasting station as well, not sure how I Want to do that yet (one brand or multiple brands of similar cocoa percentages, or sme thing else).

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

I have no idea whether they do this, but Koval certainly has the expertise. They have an on-site tasting room and also a stand at the Green City Market. The only thing is that I'm not sure whether it is legal to give tastes of hard alcohol in an unlicensed facility. Koval couldn't offer tastes at the distillery itself until they went through some hoops. I have a feeling that beer, and perhaps wine, are much easier in this regard. I'd call Acre and perhaps some other local breweries to see if they can do this.

You might also call a good wine/spirit shop to see if they have specific recommendations. i.e. In Fine Spirits, West Lakeview Liquors, Perman. Many of these places have distributors come to the store to do tastings.

I think your best bet for something like this (speaking from having done them) is to tap into contacts within your membership--you may have luck with blind requests or referrals from this site but when you are doing something that has a fairly speculative rate of return to the vendor (PR to a fairly small group, maybe some sales, etc.), finding someone with a personal connection to the cause will usually get you farther. If you have a committee, maybe suggest that everyone post what you're looking for to their FB pages or ask for recommendations from them for those places or people from whom they buy the items on your list (off the top of my head, I thought that a member's favorite wine/liquor shop would likely be a good resource for something like this).

good luck with your event!!

An organization I work with has had a lot of success contacting the local craft distilleries in/around Chicago for tastings. I just pulled out the Green City Market BBQ program, and see the following distilleries where there:

Wirtz-distributed liquors:
Templeton Rye
Death's Door Vodka and Gin
Casa Noble Tequila

Koval
North Shore

You might also want to try FEW.

All of the local craft distilleries might be willing to participate in such events. The only issue is a legal one concerning under whose aegis the service is done. A craft distillery can only provide tastings under their own license at the distillery. For them to do it at an event, the event operators or the venue must have the necessary permits to serve alcohol.