Audio By Carbonatix
Are your dreams filled with slow amber swirls in the bottom of a tumbler and wiffs of caramel, char, oak and smoke? Well, then, clear the schedule for the middle of March. While we’ve plenty of great bars around Dallas, Whiskey Riot is a more on-point celebration of local, regional and national whiskey that gives connoisseurs (or just curious tag-alongs) an opportunity to not only sample many brands, but also to meet master distillers and rub elbows with like-minded imbibers.
This is Whisky Riot’s ninth year (sixth in Dallas) and it has earned a reputation as a well-run event.
Whiskey Details
Whiskey Riot is Saturday, March 14, inside The Tower Building at Fair Park (3809 Grand Ave.).
There are several options for tickets:
- General admission is $90 per person
- General admission 4-packs are $75 per person
- Early admission (one hour early) is $120
Early admission gets you an hour jump on the crowds as well as a dozen exclusive pours that includes Texas-based Balcones (Cataleja and Mirador).
Here’s the full list of brands available for sampling.
How it Works and Party Tips
Once inside, you can try as many as 150 varieties of whiskey, if you’re so inclined and like a swollen tongue. But pace yourself.
This year, the first pour and glassware are courtesy of Bother’s Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
Of course, they have bottles of water and there’s food available for purchase at the event, but it’s recommended you eat a full meal before arriving. And this is not an event to “pre-game.”
In addition to samples, you’ll also receive a ticket for one cocktail and a branded sample bar, which allows for 3 to 5 predetermined cocktail samples.
Spit buckets are located around the facility. The festival website encourages spitting and promises there’s no pressure to drink everything you try. From the website:
“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.”
Be sure to rinse out your glass between samples. You might not realize it, but even a little bit matters (learned that when they didn’t rinse the mezcal from the shaker before making my gin cocktail).
There will be a rush when the doors open, but calmate. There’s plenty of booze and time for everyone to get their fill.
Lastly, designated drivers don’t get free tickets due to high demand, but rideshares are a no-brainer here.
