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.

Benefiting the Family Meal Hospitality Trust, a 501(c)(3) organization

FAQs and General Rules

Date: Saturday, February 1, 2025

Time: 4-7 PM (Early Entry Hour: 3-4 PM)

Place:
The Coliseum
535 4th Ave. N
St. Petersburgh, FL 33701

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. 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-December!) The big emphasis on this ticket is an extra hour in the event without large crowds.

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?
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?
Scroll down for brand list! The final list will be evolving until January 2025. 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 1/17/25) FULL LIST

FIRST POUR & GLASSWARE:
Ghostwood Blended Bourbon

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
Glenglassaugh Distillery, Sandend Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey
Jefferson's Tropics
Keeper's Heart 10 Year Old Irish Single Malt
Heaven Hill TBD
Balblair 15
Sui Generis Split Charisma
Iron Smoke Double Oaked
Forward/Slash Distillery Patience
Balcones Cataleja Texas Single Malt Whisky
Cooperstown Select Straight American Single Malt Whiskey
RD1 10-year Limited Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished With Brazilian Amburana Wood
McTavish Spirits Legacy Series 1 - Hope & Honor
Sagamore Manhattan Finish
Five Trail Blended American Whiskey Barrel Proof Blend #003
Stranahan's Mountain Angel 10yr
Hard Truth Sweet Mash Reserve
Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey
Three Chord Bourbon Honey Toasted Limited release
Glenglassaugh Distillery, Sandend Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey
Buffalo Chip Panther Bourbon Select Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Blue Note Uncut
1st Ave Liquors - Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey Port Finished
Widow Jane Vaults
FEW Immortal Rye
Old Elk Cigar Cut Island Blend
Yellowstone TBD
Penelope TBD

STANDARD POUR

Milam & Greene Triple Cask Bourbon
Milam & Greene Port Cask Finished Rye
Milam & Greene Bottled in Bond Bourbon
Milam & Greene Very Small Batch Bourbon

Jefferson's Bourbon
Jefferson's Reserve
Jefferson's Ocean
Jefferson's Rye

Von Payne Black Whiskey

Powers Gold Label Irish Whiskey
Powers Irish Rye Whiskey
Shanky's Whip

Keeper's Heart Irish + American Whiskey
Keeper's Heart Irish + Bourbon Whiskey
Keeper's Heart Irish + American 110 Proof Whiskey
Keeper's Heart Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength Whiskey

St. George Single Malt Whiskey
St. George Baller Whiskey
St. George Spiced Pear Liqueur
St. George NOLA Coffee

Lost Irish
Abasolo Ancestral Corn Whisky

Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Bourbon
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheat
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Rye
Baby Jane

Bear Fight Kentucky Reserve Bourbon
Bear Fight American Single Malt Whiskey

Numbskull Flavored Whiskey
Creek Water American Whiskey
Creek Water Cinnamon Flavored Whiskey

Nikka Whisky from the Barrel
Hirsch The Horizon
Writers’ Tears Double Oak
Arran 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

August Distillery Old Route 8
Augusta Distillery Buckner's 10

Tomintoul Caribbean Rum Cask Finish
Tomintoul Cigar Malt
Glencadam 10 Yr
Glencadam 13 Yr

Sui Generis Siren Song
Sui Generis Squanto's Secret
Sui Generis Conquistador
Sui Generis Orchard Buzz

Oak & Iron Bourbon Whiskey
Oak & Iron Rye Whiskey
Florida Cane Red Drum Bourbon Whiskey

Iron Smoke Straight Bourbon
Iron Smoke Casket Strength
Rattlesnake Rosie's Apple Pie Whiskey
Rattlesnake Rosie's Maple Bacon Bourbon

Redwood Empire TBD

Burnt Church Distillery Anita's Choice Bourbon
Burnt Church Distillery Palmer's Stretch Rye Whiskey
Burnt Church Distillery Bluffton Whiskey
Burnt Church Distillery Johnny Fever Bourbon

Rhapsody Straight Bourbon
Vanguard Straight Bourbon
Thornhurst Rye
Krampus Rye

Company Distilling Bourbon Whiskey Finished w Maple Wood
Company Distilling Tennessee Whiskey Finished w Apple Wood
Company Distilling Rye Whiskey Finished w Cherry Wood

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

Nomad Outland Sherry Cask
Nomad Outland Single Malt(Irish)
Nomad 10yr Reserve

Cooperstown Select Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Cooperstown Select Straight Rye Whiskey
Doubleday Bourbon Whiskey
Canton Distillery (Brand) Bourbon Whiskey

RD1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
RD1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished With French Oak
RD1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished With Brazilian Amburana Wood
RD1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Double Finished In Oak and Maple Barrels

J.P. Wiser's 10 Year Old Whisky
J.P. Wiser's 18 Year Old Whisky
Lot 40 Rye Whisky

Caribbean Moonshine Cat 5 Coconut
Caribbean Moonshine PB&C Cannonball
Caribbean Moonshine Banana Breeze
Caribbean Moonshine Marmalade Mayhem
1650 Premium Spiced Rum

McTavish The Warchief

Sagamore Small Batch Rye
Sagamore Double Oak Rye
Sagamore Cask Strength Rye
Busker Single Pot

Copper Collar Bourbon

Ghostwood Blended Bourbon
Ghostwood "Black" Barrel Proof
Ghostwood Blended Bourbon Finished in Chardonnay Cask

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

Four Branches Founders Blend Bourbon

Barmen 1873 Bourbon
Blue Run High Rye Bourbon
Blue Run Bourbon (limited time offering) TBD
Blue Run Emerald Rye Whiskey

Natterjack Irish Whiskey Blend No. 1
Natterjack Irish Whiskey The Mistake
Natterjack Cask Strength

Stranahan's American Single Malt
Stranahan's Blue Peak
Stranahan's Diamond Peak
Stranahan's Sherry Cask

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

Three Chord Bourbon Blended Bourbon
Three Chord Bourbon Strange Collaboration
Three Chord Bourbon Amplify Rye
Three Chord Bourbon Bourbon Cream

Duke & Dame Whiskey

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

Dunamis Interstellar Bourbon 5 Year

Ole Smoky Bourbon - Pours TBD

BenRiach, 12 Years Old The Twelve Three Cask Matured Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
BenRiach, 12 Years Old The Smoky Twelve Three Cask Matured Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The GlenDronach, 12 Years Old Original Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Glenglassaugh Distillery, 12 Years Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey

Pardi Batch Premium Tennessee Whiskey
4547 American Whiskey
Buffalo Chip Woody's Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Pardi Batch 112 Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Blue Note Juke Joint
Blue Note Crossroads
Blue Note Rye

1st Ave Liquors - Peerless Rye Barrel Pick
1st Ave Liquors - Maker's Mark Barrel Pick
1st Ave Liquors - Ezra Brooks Distiller's Collection Barrel Pick
1st Ave Liquors - Jack Daniel's Single Barrel

Cutty Sark Whisky
Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition
Cutty Sark 12 Year
Cutty Sark Scotch & Ginger RTD

Widow Jane - Baby Jane Bourbon
Widow Jane - Ten Year Bourbon
Widow Jane - Lucky 13 Bourbon
Widow Jane Vaults

So many brands we ran out of room! List continued HERE