![\"More](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/TOS-L-orlando-whiskey-riot-festival-02.jpg\")
More than 150 whiskeys will be available at this, Orlando’s inaugural Whiskey Riot, where guests can meet the makers of these unique brands. (Photo courtesy Lee Rivers\/Whiskey Riot)<\/p>\nWhiskey Riot launched in 2018 in Buffalo, N.Y. and has since expanded to nearly 10 other cities across the United States.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, May 9, it makes its debut in Orlando.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt stood out as a natural fit this year because of the culture,\u201d says Whiskey Riot Director of Operations Lexi Osher.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a city that thrives on bringing people together \u2026 with a reputation for being vibrant, social and open to new experiences. People here don\u2019t just attend events, they engage with them!\u201d<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s just what its organizers believe will happen this weekend, when locals file into the Central Florida Fair \u2013 Expo Hall to sample from more than 150 varieties of whiskey.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the most common questions we get is how to make the most of three or four hours of tasting with so many whiskies available,\u201d says Osher. \u201cWhile that number can seem intimidating, it represents the full range of expressions \u2014 not an expectation to try everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even so, Uber is solid idea for an event of this nature, one designed to allow guests to curate their own experience.<\/p>\n
More than 150 whiskeys will be available at this, Orlando’s inaugural Whiskey Riot, where guests can meet the makers of these unique brands. (Photo courtesy Lee Rivers\/Whiskey Riot)<\/p>\n
For true enthusiasts or even beginners, Osher encourages folks to review the list of participating brands and select a handful of pours they find of particular interest.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce on site, balance these with a few new discoveries \u2014 exploring brands or styles that may be unfamiliar or outside their usual preferences. That spirit of exploration is part of the experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whiskey, she notes, is deeply rooted in storytelling. The Whiskey Riot\u2019s planners strive to create opportunities for guests to engage and connect with the brands and their representatives, who will guide them through pours, explain production methods, flavor profiles and what distinguishes each expression.<\/p>\n
![\"Guests](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/TOS-L-orlando-whiskey-riot-festival-01.jpg\")
Guests of the Whiskey Riot can curate the experience they want, but whatever it is: make it fun! (Photo courtesy Whisky Riot)<\/p>\n
\u201cEach brand will have it\u2019s own experience to present,\u201d she says, \u201cbut Penelope Bourbon will have a standout \u2018Garden Experience\u2019 where attendees can step into a garden lounge complete with a bar, umbrellas and Adirondack chairs and enjoy Penelope pours and special cocktail samples.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Cutty Sark-branded bar with its ginger ale cocktail cans will make for another immersive experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhiskey Riot does not feature formal, seated seminars \u2026 the event is designed around experiential learning,\u201d she said. \u201cThis approach allows attendees to gain a deeper understanding of whiskey in a hands-on, interactive environment while they taste, creating a layered experience that appeals to both enthusiasts and those newer to the category.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Both](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/TOS-L-orlando-whiskey-riot-festival-04.jpg\")
Both general admission and early entry experiences are available for Orlando’s first-ever Whiskey Riot, slated for Saturday, May 9, at the Central Florida Fair – Expo Hall. (Photo courtesy Whiskey Riot)
\nIf you go<\/p>\n
Orlando Whiskey Riot: Saturday, May 9 at the Central Florida Fair \u2013 Expo Hall (4803 W. Colonial Drive in Orlando), 4-7 p.m. for general admission. Early-entry admission begins at 3 p.m. General admission tickets: $90 per person, $75 per person for 4-packs. Early-entry admission tickets: $120 per person. Must be 21+ to attend. Prices listed here exclude taxes and fees.<\/p>\n
General admission includes samples of 150+ whiskies, official Whiskey Riot tasting glass to take home, whiskey cocktails from various brands. Early admission includes exclusive one-hour tasting\/access to all whiskey brands ahead of the crowds, special access to select limited and rare whiskies available on a first-come, first-served basis, official Whiskey Riot tasting glass to take home, whiskey cocktails from various brands.<\/p>\n