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 7, 2026

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 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 (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 select limited edition and rare whiskies, available on a first come, first served basis (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?
Yes! All cocktails are sample sized. 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 sample per bar. Cocktail bars to be announced close to event, keep checking the brand list updates below!

What brands will be attending?
Scroll down for brand list! The final list will be evolving until January 2026. 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 1/29/26)….THIS LIST IS GROWING DAILY

**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.

FIRST POUR & GLASSWARE:

Boondocks 6 Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey

OFFICIAL COCKTAIL BARS

Glenfiddich Scottish Mule
Bardstown Bourbon Co. - Whiskey Wedge (featuring Origin Series Bottled in Bond)
Green River - Still House Smash (featuring Green River Kentucky Bourbon)
St. Petersburg Distillery - Tippler's Old Fashioned and Tippler's Espresso Martini
Cutty Sark

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
Crown Royal Golden Apple
Balcones Cataleja
Balcones Mirador
Old Dominick Original Toddy
Blue Note - Limited Product TBD
Caribbean Moonshine 1650 Premium Aged Rum
Heaven Hill Specialty Pour (Either Parkers Heritage or HH 90th Anniversary Bottle, TBD)
LUXCO - Penelope TBD
LUXCO - Rebel Bourbon 10 YR
Bardstown Bourbon Co. - Plantation Rum Cask Finish
Green River - Army 250th Anniversary
Dark Arts Sweet n Sour Mash Honey Cask Finished Bourbon
RD1 Limited Release Kentucky Straight Whiskey Finished With Japanese Mizunara and French Oak, 102 proof
St. Petersburg Distillery Artisan Whiskey
Tippler's Reserve
Seelbach's 15 Year
Johnnie Walker Blue Label
Bulleit 10 YR Bourbon
Bulleit 10 YR Rye
Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Triple Toasted Bourbon

STANDARD POUR

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

Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Rye
Redwood Empire Lost Monarch Small Batch
Redwood Empire Grizzly Beast Bourbon Batch:005

Hooten Young Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
Hooten Young Rye Whiskey
Hooten Young x Jack Carr Warrior Proof American Whiskey
Hooten Young Barrel Proof American Whiskey – 15 YR

Dark Arts Toasted Mizunara Bourbon
Dark Arts French Oak Stave Finished Bourbon
Dark Arts Barely Legal Bourbon
Dark Arts Amburana Oak Stave Finished Rye

Castle & Key Small Batch Bourbon 6 YR
Castle & Key Restoration Rye
Castle & Key Wheated Small Batch Bourbon
Castle & Key Wheated Cask Strength Bourbon (LTO)

Balcones Baby Blue
Balcones Lineage
Balcones Texas "1" Single Malt
Balcones Rye Bottled-in-Bond

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

Horse Soldier Straight Bourbon
Horse Soldier Small Batch Bourbon
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength Bourbon

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

Ole Smoky Salty Caramel Whiskey
Ole Smoky Blackberry Whiskey
Ole Smoky TN Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Ole Smoky Salty Watermelon Whiskey

Nikka Coffey Grain
Nikka Coffey Grain
Nikka From The Barrel
Nikka Coffey Malt
Nikka Single Malts
Nikka Pure Malt

Tullamore D.E.W.
Tullamore D.E.W. Honey
The Balvenie 12-Year DoubleWood
Glenfiddich Aston Martin F1 16 Year Old
Glenfiddich 12

Company Distilling Bourbon Whiskey w Maple Wood Finish
Company Distilling TN Whiskey w Apple Wood Finish
Company Distilling Rye Whiskey w Cherry Wood Finish

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

LUXCO - Penelope Four Grain
LUXCO - Penelope Wheated
LUXCO - Penelope Architect
LUXCO - Penelope Toasted

LUXCO - Rebel Bourbon Root Beer Flavored Whiskey
LUXCO - Rebel 100

Heaven Hill - Old Fitzgerald 7 YR BIB
Heaven Hill - Widow Jane Paradigm Rye
Heaven Hill - Larceny Bourbon
Heaven Hill - Elijah Craig Toasted Rye
Heaven Hill - Tequila Ocho
Heaven Hill - Lunazul

Bardstown Bourbon Co. - Kentucky Straight
Bardstown Bourbon Co. - High Wheat
Bardstown Bourbon Co. - Bottled in Bond
Bardstown Bourbon Co. - Rye

Green River - Kentucky Straight
Green River - Wheated
Green River - Full Proof
Green River - Rye

Barrel Craft Spirits - Foundation 5 Year Bourbon
Barrel Craft Spirits - Batch Series
Barrel Craft Spirits - Seagrass
Barrel Craft Spirits - Black or Red Label TDB

Starlight Blackberry Whiskey
Starlight Peach Whiskey
Starlight Carl T Bourbon
Starlight Rickhouse Rye

Blue Note Juke Joint
Blue Note Crossroads
Blue Note Rye Whiskey
Blue Note Uncut

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

Brother's Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Brother's Bond American Rye Whiskey
Brother's Bond Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey
Brother's Bond Bottled in Bond Bourbon Whiskey
Brother's Bond Regenerative Grain

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

Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Chicken Cock Wheated Kentucky Straight Rye
Chicken Cock Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Chicken Cock Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Old St. Pete Sunshine Whiskey
St. Petersburg Distillery Freedom 250 Florida Independent Whiskey

Tippler's Orange Liqueur
Old St. Pete Righteous Rum & Spice
Old St. Pete Sunshine City Coconut

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

Cream of Kentucky Small Batch
Cream of Kentucky Cask Strength

Two Stacks The First Cut Signature Blend Irish Whiskey
Two Stacks Double Barrel Single Grain Irish Whiskey
Two Stacks Double Irish Cream Liqueur

Four Branches Founders Blend Bourbon

Dunamis Interstellar Bourbon
Dunamis Small Batch Bourbon 80 Proof

Grander Rum Antrim
Grander Rum Cane Harvest
Gander Rum Toasted Oak
Grander Rum Trophy Release

Fiddler Wheated Bourbon
Fiddler Toasted Bourbon
Seelbachs #1
Seelbachs #2

El Dorado 8 Year Old Rum
El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum
El Dorado 15 Year Old Rum
El Dorado 21 Year Old Rum

Crown Royal 12 Year
Crown Royal XO
Crown Royal Marquis
Crown Royal 18 Year

Nomad Sherry Whisky
Mezcal Alipus San Baltazar
Los Danzantes Anejo

Tanteo Jalapeno Tequila
Tanteo Blanco Tequila
Tanteo Espero
Tanteo Habanero Tequila