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 150 Bottles of Whiskey: $45/bottle x 150 bottles = $6,750 Cost of Trying 150 Whiskeys at Whiskey Riot = 1 Ticket Benefiting the Family Meal Hospitality Trust, a 501(c)(3) organization FAQs and General Rules Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026 Time: 4-7 PM (Early Entry Hour: 3-4 PM) Place: Central Florida Fair - Expo Hall 4603 W Colonial Dr Orlando, FL 32808 How many whiskeys will be available to try? Over 150 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 2026. 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 BRAND LIST (UPDATED 2/10/26)….THIS LIST IS GROWING DAILY FIRST POUR & GLASSWARE: Boondocks 6 Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey OFFICIAL COCKTAIL BARS: Penelope Bourbon Bungalow Cutty Sark - Scotch & Ginger EARLY ENTRY POURS: James E. Pepper 'Decanter' Rye Barrel Proof Four Branches " The Continental" Limited Release Castle & Key Experimental Series Straight Rye Finish in Old Haitian Rhum Casks (LTO) Starlight Honey Reserve Fiddler Encore Bourbon Seelbach's 15 Year Forward/Slash - New Unnamed Project Johnnie Walker Blue Label Bulleit 10 YR Bourbon Bulleit 10 YR Rye Crown Royal Golden Apple Old Dominick Original Toddy Blue Note - Limited Product TBD Sagamore Spirit - Limited Time Product Buckner's 13 Dark Arts Sweet n Sour Mash Honey Cask Finished Bourbon Ole Smoky TN Straight Bourbon Whiskey RD1 Limited Release Kentucky Straight Whiskey Finished With Japanese Mizunara and French Oak, 102 proof LUXCO - Penelope TBD Caribbean Moonshine 1650 Premium Aged Rum STANDARD POURS Four Branches Founders Blend Bourbon Dunamis Interstellar Bourbon Dunamis Small Batch Bourbon 80 Proof Castle & Key Small Batch Bourbon 6 YR Castle & Key Restoration Rye Castle & Key Wheated Small Batch Bourbon Castle & Key Wheated Cask Strength Bourbon (LTO) Tomatin Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey - Dualchas American Oak Tomatin Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey - 12YO Triple Cask Tomatin Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey - 12YO Sherry Cask Nikka Coffey Grain Nikka From The Barrel Nikka Coffey Malt Nikka Single Malts Nikka Pure Malt Starlight Blackberry Whiskey Starlight Peach Whiskey Starlight Carl T Bourbon Starlight Rickhouse Rye Truitt's Old Fashioned Barrell Craft Spirits - Foundation 5 Year Bourbon Barrell Craft Spirits - Batch Series (Batch 037) Barrell Craft Spirits - Seagrass Barrell Craft Spirits - Black Label Triple Rum Cask Boondocks 6 Year Straight 750ml Boondocks 6 Year Port 750ml Tomintoul Caribbean Rum Cask 750ml Tomintoul Cigar Malt 750ml Glencadam American Oak Highlands 750ml Glencadam 10 YR Highlands 750ml Fiddler Wheated Bourbon Fiddler Toasted Bourbon Seelbachs #1 Seelbachs #2 Seelbach's Private Reserve - 10 Year Seelbach's Private Reserve - Wheated 107 Seelbach's Private Reserve - The Bee Keeper Seelbach's Private Reserve Humidor Blend - Cigar Batch Forward/Slash - Quintessium Straight Bourbon Forward/Slash - Patience Malt Whiskey Forward/Slash - Thornhurst Rye Forward/Slash - New Unnamed Product El Dorado 8 Year Old Rum El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum El Dorado 15 Year Old Rum El Dorado 21 Year Old Rum Glengoyne (12/15/18) Tamdhu (12/15/18) Smokehead (Original/Terminado/15) Isle of Skye (21/25/30) Caribbean Moonshine 1650 Premium Spiced Rum Caribbean Moonshine Cat 5 Coconut Caribbean Moonshine PB&C Cannonball Caribbean Moonshine Banana Breeze & Marmalade Mayhem Crown Royal 12 Year Crown Royal XO Crown Royal Marquis Crown Royal 18 Year Johnnie Walker Black Label Johnnie Walker Gold Label Johnnie Walker Green Label Bulleit Bottled in Bond Bulleit Mesquite Smoke Malt Bourbon Bulleit American Single Malt Bulleit Bottled in Bond Old Dominick Tennessee Whiskey - 85 Proof Old Dominick Bonded Tennessee Whiskey - 100 Proof Old Dominick Straight Bourbon - 90.1 Proof Old Dominick Cask Strength Bourbon Blue Note Juke Joint Blue Note Crossroads Blue Note Rye Whiskey Blue Note Uncut Two Stacks The First Cut Signature Blend Irish Whiskey Two Stacks Double Barrel Single Grain Irish Whiskey Two Stacks Double Irish Cream Liqueur Sagamore Small Batch Sagamore Double Oak Sagamore Cask Strength Augusta Distillery - Old Route 8 Augusta Distillery - Buckner's 10 Augusta Distillery - Augusta Small Batch Augusta Distillery - Augusta Wheated Single Barrel Cream of Kentucky Small Batch Cream of Kentucky Cask Strength Double A - Ambition & Achievements Double A - Affirmation & Accountability Double A - Appreciation & Atonement Dark Arts Toasted Mizunara Bourbon Dark Arts French Oak Stave Finished Bourbon Dark Arts Barely Legal Bourbon Dark Arts Amburana Oak Stave Finished Rye Natterjack Irish Whiskey Blend No. 1 Natterjack Irish Whiskey The Mistake Natterjack Irish Whiskey Cask Strength Ole Smoky Salty Caramel Whiskey Ole Smoky Blackberry Whiskey Ole Smoky TN Straight Bourbon Whiskey Ole Smoky Salty Watermelon Whiskey RD1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 98 proof RD1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished With French Oak, 101 proof RD1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished With Brazilian Amburana Wood, 110 proof RD1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Double Finished In Oak and Maple Barrels, 99.9 proof Horse Soldier Straight Bourbon Horse Soldier Small Batch Bourbon Horse Soldier Barrel Strength Bourbon Glen Moray Portfolio American Metal Whiskey (V8) American Metal The Knuckle American Metal The Disciple LUXCO - Penelope Four Grain LUXCO - Penelope Wheated LUXCO - Penelope Architect LUXCO - Penelope Toasted Company Distilling Bourbon Whiskey w Maple Wood Finish Company Distilling TN Whiskey w Apple Wood Finish Company Distilling Rye Whiskey w Cherry Wood Finish James E. Pepper 'Decanter' Bourbon Barrel Proof James E. Pepper '1776' Bourbon 100pf James E. Pepper '1776' Rye 100pf Old Pepper Bottled in Bond Bourbon Tanteo Jalapeno Tequila Tanteo Blanco Tequila Tanteo Espero Tanteo Habanero Tequila