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Raise a Glass

More than 200 whiskeys headed for San Antonio in traveling tasting fest

Whiskey Riot attendees
Whiskey Riot is coming to San Antonio in May. Photo by Kathy Tran

On Saturday, May 17, whiskey nerds in San Antonio will have a chance to taste and compare more than 200 products at Whiskey Riot, a traveling whiskey festival. This will be the festival's second year in San Antonio, so most guests probably haven't even gotten close to exhausting the lineup.

A press release invites both whiskey lovers and the "whiskey curious"; it sounds like past events have appealed to both, because the 2024 debut sold out.

Attendees will learn about whiskey from representatives of brands from near and very far, including some local to San Antonio and the surrounding area: San Antonio's own Maverick Whiskey, Still Austin from the capital city, Garrison Brothers from Hye, and Milam & Greene from Blanco, to name a few.

For a $90 ticket, attendees will get samples of all the whiskeys on the lineup, a commemorative tasting glass to take home, and some whiskey cocktails to break up the flavors. If guests also want to get there early for a more leisurely experience (and to pace out the alcohol consumption a bit), they can get a $120 early entry ticket; that gets them in an hour ahead and gives premium access to each brand and the cocktail bar.

Since more than 200 whiskeys is a lot to keep track of, the Whiskey Riot website also offers a free downloadable tasting worksheet. Using the notes section and a tasting wheel with descriptors like "botanical" and tasting notes like "coffee" and "honey," attendees can keep track of which discoveries were their favorites and why. The wheel might also help identify patterns of personal taste, so it becomes easier to find new favorites beyond the festival.

Whiskey Riot will be held May 17 from 4-7 pm (or 3-7 pm for early access) at Freeman Expo Hall, Hall 2 (3201 E. Houston St.). Guests must be at least 21 years old.

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