Tips On Surviving a Whiskey Festival

These days, whiskey festivals are everywhere – and that’s great news for people who love tasting new spirits. As the number of whiskey brands has proliferated, so too have events celebrating America’s favorite brown spirit, from Los Angeles and New York to Tennessee, Portland, and everywhere in between.

Most whiskey festivals offer visitors the chance to sample a bunch of different whiskeys in a fun, festive atmosphere – think food carts, live music, and even mechanical bulls (hey, enough whiskey samples, and anything’s possible). If you’re headed to a whiskey festival for the first time, here are a few pointers for making sure you have a great experience:

1. Hydration, hydration, hydration. It’s the one thing professional drinkers and medical doctors can agree on: water is key. Those dinky little plastic sample cups might seem like they don’t hold anything at all, but tiny sips add up fast. The combination of hot weather and abundant whiskey can be brutal. Staying hydrated keeps the hangover away and helps avoid that dull, desiccated feeling you get at the end of a long whiskey festival.
2. Eat! For the same reasons it’s good to stay hydrated, get some food in your belly before too many samples. Fortunately, most whiskey festivals do a great job offering food options, often skewing towards cuisines that seem specially designed to soak up the booze. If you’ve ever wanted to sample fried pickles, whiskey-glazed barbecue ribs, or bourbon ice cream, this might be your chance.
3. Dress for the occasion. If your event is in the lobby of a swanky hotel, feel free to fish out those patent-leather dress shoes. If you’re headed to a city park or outdoor event space, opt for something more relaxed. Remember, comfort is longevity.
4. Take pictures. You might think you’ll remember exactly what you tasted and what you thought of it, but you’re wrong. Photographing bottles with your smartphone is a great way to keep track of the whiskeys you particularly enjoyed.
5. Find a buddy. A whiskey festival is way more fun with a friend, especially one with slightly different tastes so you can introduce one another to new favorites.

Now, get out there and get sampling!