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 our Non-Profit Partners - The Foundation for Hope Village & Family Meal Hospitality Trust FAQs and General Rules Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025 Time: 4-7 PM (Early Entry Hour: 3-4 PM) Place: POST Houston 401 Franklin St. Houston, TX 77201 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 (formerly known VIP tickets)? Early Entry ticket holders (formerly known as VIP in years past) will receive access to the event 1 hour earlier than General Admission entry and a full meal. 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 late-March!) The big emphasis on this ticket is an extra hour in the event without large crowds and dinner. VIP Dinner meal by 2 Guys 1 Pit includes: - Smoked Beef Brisket - BBQ Chicken - Smoked Sausage - Cheesy Corn - Green Beans - Potato Salad What happened to VIP tickets? If you bought VIP tickets for previous years, you might wonder where those went. Good news! Early Entry is the new name for the previously known VIP tickets. The only thing that has changed is the name! The same things are included in the Early Entry ticket as was previously included in VIP; you'll receive access to the event 1 hour earlier than General Admission and have access to limited edition and rare whiskies that will not be available during the General Admission time. 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? Yes! 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? Scroll down for brand list! The final list will be evolving until March 2025, but we’ll 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! 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 BRAND LIST (UPDATED 1/21/25)….THIS LIST IS GROWING DAILY FIRST POUR & GLASSWARE: Hard Truth Distilling Co. featuring first pour of Hard Truth Sweet Mash OFFICIAL COCKTAIL BARS Bardstown Origin Series Bottled-in-Bond featured in “Whiskey Wedge” cocktail Green River Bourbon featured in “Stillhouse Smash” cocktail Cutty Sark cocktail TBD EARLY ENTRY POURS Milam & Greene Unabridged Cask Strength Bourbon J.T. Meleck American Rice Whiskey, Single Barrel Michter's 10 Year Bourbon St. George Lot series American Single Malt Balblair 15 Sagamore Spirit Manhattan Finish Prideful Goat 12yr Rye Balcones Cataleja Texas Single Malt Whisky Boondocks Cask Strength 11yr 10th Mountain Barrel Proof Rye Andalusia Whiskey Co. Bottled-in-Bond American Single Malt Whiskey Highland Park Whisky Cask Strength Release No. TBD UNBendt Straight Malt Bottled in Bond Hard Truth Sweet Mash Reserve Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey Old Elk Cigar Cut Penelope TBD Yellowstone TBD Blue Note Special Reserve FEW TBD Widow Jane TBD 1845 Distilling TBD STANDARD POURS Milam & Greene Triple Cask Bourbon Milam & Greene Port Cask Finished Rye Milam & Greene Bottled in Bond Bourbon Milam & Greene Very Small Batch Bourbon J.T. Meleck American Rice Whiskey, Small Batch J.T. Meleck American Rice Whiskey, High Proof Michter's US*1 Bourbon Michter's US*1 Rye Michter's US*1 Sour Mash Michter's US*1 American Horse Neck RTD Variety Pack Horse Neck Double Barrel Bourbon Horse Neck Sherry Finish Bourbon St. George Single Malt Whiskey St. George Baller Whiskey St. George Spiced Pear Liqueur Pursuit Spirits - Pours TBD Bear Fight Kentucky Reserve Bourbon Bear Fight American Single Malt Whiskey Numbskull Flavored Whiskey Creek Water American Whiskey Creek Water Cinnamon Flavored Whiskey Starlight Blackberry Whiskey Starlight Carl T Bourbon Starlight Bourbon BIB Starlight Rickhouse Rye Nikka Whisky from the Barrel Hirsch the Bivouac Writers' Tears Double Oak Old Pulteney 12 Jacob's Pardon American Whiskey Drumshanbo Irish Whiskey Dos Maderas August Distillery Old Route 8 Augusta Distillery Buckner's 10 Iron Wolf "Hotscotch" Whiskey Iron Wolf "Iron Hot" Whiskey Iron Wolf Bourbon Copper & Cask "Whiskey Riot" Single Barrel Selection Copper & Cask Small-Batch Series Wheel Horse 101 Bourbon Wheel Horse Limited Edition Redwood Empire TBD Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey Small Batch 93 Proof Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey Double Oak Busker Triple Cask Busker Single Grain Giant Bourbon 95 proof Giant Straight rye 100 proof Prideful Goat 6yr rye Prideful Goat 6yr Bourbon Bardstown Origin Series Bourbon Bardstown Origin Series Bottled-in-Bond Bardstown Origin Series Rye Bardstown Origin Series High Wheat Green River Bourbon Green River Wheated Green River Rye Green River Full Proof Balcones Lineage Texas Single Malt Whisky Balcones Texas 1 Single Malt Whisky Balcones Baby Blue Straight CornWhiskey Balcones Texas Rye Bottled in Bond Boondocks 6YR Bourbon Boondocks American Whiskey 7YR Boondocks BIB Rye Boondocks 7YR Port Finish 10th Mountain Bourbon 10th Mountain Rye American Single Malt 10th Mountain Brandy Stryker Texas Smoked Single Malt Whiskey Andalusia Whiskey Co. Triple-Distilled SIngle Malt Whiskey Stryker Smoked Old-Fashioned American Metal Whiskey - 90 Proof American Metal Whiskey The Disciple Sonic Infused Whiskey Highland Park Whisky 15 Year Old Highland Park Whisky 18 Year Old Wyoming Whiskey Double Cask Wyoming Whiskey Outryder J.P. Wiser's 10 Year Old Whisky J.P. Wiser's 18 Year Old Whisky Lot 40 Rye Whisky Templeton Whiskey - Pours TBD Bendt No. 5 Texas Blended Whiskey UNBendt Bourbon Bottled in Bond UNBendt Rye Bottled in Bond UNBendt Straight Wheat Bottled in Bond Horse Soldier Bourbon Straight Bourbon Whiskey Horse Soldier Bourbon Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey Horse Soldier Bourbon Barrel Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey James E. Pepper 'Decanter' KY Straight Bourbon James E. Pepper '1776' Straight Rye James E. Pepper '1776' Straight Bourbon Blackland Bourbon Whiskey Blackland Rye Whiskey Blackland Texas Pecan Brown Sugar Bourbon Blackland Texpresso Whiskey Natterjack Irish Whiskey Blend No. 1 Natterjack Irish Whiskey The Mistake Natterjack Cask Strength Old Humble Distilling Texas Straight Whiskey 750 ml Old Humble Distilling Special Reserve Old Humble Distilling Boomtown Bourbon 750ml Old Humble Double Oak Straight Rye Five Trail American Whiskey Blue Run High Rye Bourbon Blue Run Emerald Rye Barmen 1873 Bourbon Austin Craft Spirits Co's - Austin 85 Light Whiskey Austin Craft Spirits Co's - Austin 101 Light Whiskey Austin Craft Spirits Co's - Austin 121 Light Whiskey Big Stick Bourbon Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Hard Truth High Road Rye Hard Truth Sweet Mash Bourbon Hard Truth Sweet Mash Wheated Bourbon Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey Mark and Digger's Mountain Legacy Corn Whiskey Mark and Digger's Rye Apple Moonshine Mark Rogers' American Peach Moonshine Silver Star Spirits-Silver Star Texas Honey Whiskey Silver Star Spirits- Silver Star Texas Whiskey Silver Star Spirits-Silver Star Ranch Style Coffee Silver Star Spirits- 1849 Bourbon Seelbach's Private Reserve Toasted French Oak & Maple Seelbach's Private Reserve 10-Year Unfinished Cask Strength Seelbach's Private Reserve 10-Year Double Oaked Seelbach's Private Reserve 15-Year Unfinished Cask Strength Ole Smoky Bourbon - Pours TBD Cutty Sark Whisky Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition Cutty Sark 12 Year Cutty Sark Scotch & Ginger RTD Old Elk Bourbon Old Elk Wheated Bourbon Old Elk Wheat Whiskey Old Elk Rye Yellowstone Select Yellowstone Toasted Yellowstone Rum Cask Penelope 4 Grain Penelope Architect Penelope Toasted Penelope Wheated Blue Note Juke Joint Blue Note Crossroads Blue Note Uncut Blue Note Rye Ballotin Caramel Turtle Chocolate Whiskey Ballotin Peanut Butter Chocolate Whiskey Ballotin Chocolate Mocha Cream Ballotin Peanut Butter Whiskey Cream Brenne French Single Malt Whisky Estate Cask Brenne French Single Malt Whisky Ten FEW pours TBD Widow Jane pours TBD 1845 Distilling Preemption Reverence Texas Straight 1845 Distilling Preemption Reverence Texas Straight Four Grain 1845 Distilling Preemption Reverence Texas Straight Wheated Leiper's Fork Bottle in Bond Tennessee Whiskey Leiper's Fork Bottle in Bond Bourbon MANY MORE TBA! **Disclaimer** Please note that the list of whiskey products provided in advance is subject to change without prior notice. For a number of reasons, including last minute changes in the availability of certain products or brand-specific staff members at time of the event, substitutions of products may result. Regardless of any adjustments, we promise that the product trial experience at Whiskey Riot will be extraordinary and feature a diverse selection of whiskeys from brands that embody the spirit of craftsmanship celebrated by Whiskey Riot.