Whiskey in the District at EGAD Review

AmyByAmy Updated on

Last year, I experienced one of the most fun tasting events I have been to and it surprisingly wasn’t at Epcot! I’m talking about Whiskey in the District, which takes place at the Eau Gallie Arts District and offers dozens of whiskey samples to participants.

The second annual event is coming up this year on February 8th and I wanted to give attendees an idea of what to expect. We went for the first year and were very impressed by the quality of whiskey, as well as the food. This blog post will share everything you need to know before visiting!

whiskey in the district tasting

Full Disclosure: I received free tickets to Whiskey in the District in exchange for promoting the event, but all opinions expressed here are my own. 

Event Details for Whiskey in the District

For this year, Whiskey in the District is selling tickets until January 17th, so you will need to get one ASAP if you are interested! There are two different kinds of ticket options. You can do the Vault Experience for $150 per person or the VIP Experience for $90 per person.

The only difference is that the Vault ticket includes a private tasting with a guide. This will include sipping of some of the rarest, high-end whiskey. There are two seatings, one at 4 PM and one at 6 PM, so you can start the event off right!

Both tickets include unlimited whiskey tastings from 4 PM to 9 PM as well as food, dessert, and soft beverages. If you don’t snag a ticket, you can still come to the Eau Gallie Art District and enjoy the live music and order whiskey at the bar or food from the food trucks. Whether you get a ticket or not, definitely mark your calendars for February 8th!

whiskey in the district desserts

Whiskey Tasting at the Event

We were blown away by all the different whiskeys and bourbons last year! Starting when we arrived right at 4 PM, we got to try so many varieties. We went straight for some of our favorite brands like Woodford Reserve and Whistle Pig.

The event is pretty small, so we did not encounter lines for tasting. They also were giving pretty big pours, including sometimes a shot! That can add up quick with all the different kinds to try.

whiskey tasting egad

I tried to get pictures of all my favorite types, but that obviously got challenging as the night went on! Here are some of the whiskeys I really enjoyed at Whiskey in the District:

  • Woodford Reserve Double Batched
  • Michter’s Small Batch Bourbon
  • This is Stolen Rock and Rye
  • Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye
  • Whistle Pig Straight Rye
  • Heaven’s Door Tennessee Bourbon

There were many more types too! Like I said, if you love whiskey, this event is for you!

Food at Whiskey in the District

The event advertised having small bites, so we weren’t exactly sure what to expect. There ended up being plenty of delicious food included with the ticket.

Cryderman’s Barbecue was there, with the stand out dish as always. They made brisket tacos that were heavenly! 28 North Gastropub was also serving a tasty meatball with a bourbon glaze. Inside the hospitality tent, there were canapés, cheese and crackers and some pretzel bites.

crydermans whiskey in the district

The desserts were another amazing aspect. There were hundreds of mini cupcakes in all sorts of flavors! Of course the Double Chocolate Whiskey ones were delectable, but I especially loved the Brown Butter and Salted Caramel ones.

I will say, you don’t want to arrive to this event on an empty stomach because of all the drinking! Some people needed hearty food to go along with the whiskey and the FM Pizza Oven truck was selling flatbreads perfect for that. They had a bunch of different food truck options for purchase all along the street!

Our Experience

The first year did have a few hiccups, but overall we really enjoyed the event. We easily found parking and got there right at the start at 4 PM. Then we tasted samples for a couple of hours, as well as had some food. We loved chatting with the pourers as they were full of interesting facts about whiskey. The band was also a nice touch as well. However, by 7 PM we were pretty much ready to call it a night, because of all the whiskey!

One issue I had was that the only thing there was to drink at this event was straight whiskey. I know that might seem a bit silly, but they didn’t even have any on the rocks or water to drink on the side. I definitely could have used a bit of a break! It seems they have addressed that this year though with the soft beverage bar being included in the ticket. I would like if they have a few whiskey cocktail options, but maybe you can grab some soda and mix one of the samples in!

whiskey in the district egad

The other issue last year was that the Vault experience didn’t take place until late in the evening. I think that was a bit late for most people to fully experience it. This year they are doing the Vault at 4 PM and 6 PM and I think that is the perfect time for people to experience it!

One other thing to keep in mind is that a lot of other bars in the area have specials going on that night. We went to Traditionals after and enjoyed their Bourbon Barrel Beer and sangria. This is a great option if you are not getting a ticket and just looking to enjoy the night in EGAD.

traditionals egad

Know Before You Go: Whiskey in the District

There may be a lot of food and beer festivals in the Melbourne area, but this event is the one for whiskey lovers. It may be a bit niche, but I find the execution to be so well down. I can’t think of a better way to spend a cool February night then enjoying some bourbon in the Arts District! Here’s everything to keep in mind before you go.

  • Whiskey in the District will be on February 8, 2020 from 4 PM to 9 PM. Tickets will be sold until January 17th here.
  • There are two kinds of tickets. VIP Tickets cost $90 and include unlimited whiskey tastings, food and soft beverages. Vault Experience tickets cost $150 and include all that and a private whiskey tasting.
  • You can still check out the event for free, but do not have access to the samples. There will be bars serving whiskey drinks for purchase, food trucks and music though!
  • The event takes place in the Eau Gallie Arts District, and bars like Traditionals and the Salty Fox will have special offerings that night as well.
  • The only alcohol served at this event is whiskey, so make sure you enjoy it if you are purchasing a ticket!
whiskey in the district

I am always excited to see unique events like this one going on in Melbourne, Florida. For more ideas of things to do in the area, check out my travel guide to the Space Coast and my list of things to do in Cocoa Beach.