Whiskey Riot: A Festival of Whiskeys The world of whiskey is vast;
diving in can be daunting. Our festival offers samplings of hundreds
of whiskeys, seminars and fantastic conversations with whiskey lovers,
distillers, brand founders and more to arm you with the tools you need
to become a whiskey expert. And, oh, yeah... you'll have one hell of a
time. WHO IS WHISKEY RIOT FOR? The Whiskey Lover, the Whiskey Curious,
the Whiskey Enthusiast, the Whiskey Aficionado, the Whiskey Rookie.
All are welcome! WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND? Discovering new whiskeys can
be an expensive exploration. Signage in a liquor store and the details
on a bottle’s label will only tell you so much. How do you know
you’re going to take home something you love? There’s no better
way to find your new favorite drink than side-by-side comparison
tasting. Whiskey Riot is a large format tasting event complete with
brand representatives who can answer questions, explain the nuances of
what your tasting and leave you feeling armed with more whiskey
knowledge. Taste hundreds of bottles without buying hundreds of
bottles. Estimated Cost of 200 Bottles of Whiskey: $45/bottle x 200
bottles = $9,000 Cost of Trying 200 Whiskeys at Whiskey Riot = 1
Ticket Benefiting the Family Meal Hospitality Trust, a 501(c)(3)
organization FAQs and General Rules Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025 Time:
4-7 PM (Early Entry Hour: 3-4 PM) Place: The Expo Center at
Jacksonville Fairgrounds 510 Fairground Pl Jacksonville, FL 32202 How
many whiskeys will be available to try? Over 200 varieties! What’s
included in a General Admission (GA) Ticket? General Admission ticket
holders will receive a branded rocks tasting glass and be given full
range of the venue to taste whichever whiskeys they desire. Sorting
through this many whiskeys would require a prohibitively expensive
investment in bottles were a whiskey explorer to pursue a tasting this
vast on their own. The GA ticket provides a pathway to finding your
new favorite whiskey without breaking the bank. What’s included in
an Early Entry Ticket? Early Entry ticket holders (formerly known as
VIP in years past) will receive access to the event 1 hour earlier
than General Admission entry. They’ll receive all of the same
benefits of the General Admission ticket, which include a branded
tasting glass, full range of the venue to taste whichever whiskeys
they desire and access to limited edition and rare whiskies that will
not be available during the General Admission time (list to be added
in February!) The big emphasis on this ticket is an extra hour in the
event without large crowds. Will there be Designated Driver (DD)
Tickets available? Due to limited capacity, there are no DD tickets
offered for the event. Please be responsible and coordinate a ride
using a ride share service or friend/family member. Can I trade up to
an Early Entry Ticket within the event? Unfortunately, no. We have
limited supplies for the ticket tiers and don’t have the flexibility
to add the necessary resources during the event. If you've purchased a
GA ticket and wish to upgrade to Early Entry before the event, please
reach out to TIXR customer support who may be able to assist.
Purchasing an upgrade will be dependent on Early Entry ticket
availability. Are samples free? Once you have your ticket for
admission and enter the venue, you will not be charged for any whiskey
tasting. Are cocktails free? Each guest will receive 1 ticket for each
of the specialty cocktail branded sample bars (3-5 cocktail samples
per event). Don’t think of a traditional bar where you walk up and
tell the bartender what you’d like. The cocktail bars are hosted by
showcasing brands and typically offer just one specialty cocktail per
bar. Each attendee will have one redemption ticket for each of the
cocktail bars. This redemption method is only used for the cocktail
bars and not for the general sampling of whiskeys (it’s rooted in an
effort to make sure that showcasing brands have enough inventory for
everyone). What brands will be attending? The final list will be
evolving until April 2025. Scroll down to find a sneak peek of
participating brands (UPDATED WEEKLY - STAY TUNED FOR MANY MORE!).
We’ll also be posting updates on our website, the TIXR page and
social media regularly as new brands hop on board. In the meantime,
check out our list of historic participating brands on our website. Is
the event for people 21 and over? Yes. If a person is under 21 years
old and tries to enter the event with a ticket they purchased online
or one that was provided to them, they will not be granted entry and
the purchaser will not receive a refund for the ticket. You must be 21
years of age or older to enter this event and no exceptions to the
rule will be made. Do I have to buy anything when I’m in the event?
No! All whiskey samples are included with purchase of admission.
Complimentary water bottles will be available in the event! Can I
purchase merchandise or food at the event? Yes! There will be food and
merchandise on site for purchase. Is there security? There will be
security present at the event and they are tasked with keeping the
evening civilized and safe. Please be courteous, respectful and kind
to others and keep in mind that everyone is coming together to have
fun and positive experience. Strong Suggestions for a Safe and
Enjoyable Time: -Eat a hearty meal beforehand! There's nothing worse
than being hungry, and while we'll have snacks on hand and food for
purchase, we encourage you to eat before the event. -Use the spit
buckets. Seriously. You’re doing a tasting and should pace yourself!
There’s no pressure to drink everything you’re trying. The brand
representatives who will be present expect you to spit out their
products after trying and won’t be offended if you do! It may seem
silly or impolite, but it’s how the whiskey world works. This is
sage advice. -Rinse out your glass between whiskeys! You don’t want
a new bourbon to taste like the last smokey Islay scotch you tried!
-Do not pre-game the event. Fight any social temptation you may have
to do so. Your evening will be so much more enjoyable if you just wait
for the event to start imbibing. -There’s going to be a rush at the
beginning of the event as people get in and spread throughout the
venue. It may seem like you won’t have enough time to try everything
you want, but we promise that you will. No need to rush, be pushy or
drink quickly. You will have time to explore everything! -Please
coordinate a ride home from a ride share service or friend/family
member. Hard Rules (Break them and you’re out): -No violence or
aggressive behavior -No firearms or weapons, regardless of personal
permits -No smoking in the venue Brands & Pours - To Be Announced!
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10/07/2025 Last update