Whiskey Washback Dallas Brings 100+ Whiskeys to the Empire Room
There are whiskey festivals where you quietly work your way through a tasting sheet.
Whiskey Washback isn't really going for that.
On Friday, October 23, 2026, Whiskey Washback returns to Dallas with more than 100 whiskeys, bourbons, ryes, and Scotches, craft cocktails, rare pours, cigars, food, and an atmosphere the organizers describe as closer to a rock show than a traditional tasting event.
The festival takes over The Empire Room in Dallas from 6 to 9:30 p.m., with Early Entry guests getting the first hour before General Admission begins at 7 p.m.
If your idea of whiskey education involves a Glencairn in one hand and considerably louder music than you'd find in a masterclass, this may be your kind of classroom.
More Than 100 Whiskeys Under One Roof
The biggest advantage of a whiskey festival isn't necessarily finding the most expensive bottle in the room.
It's comparison.
A $100 bottle purchased on reputation is still a $100 experiment. At Whiskey Washback, attendees can work through more than 100 expressions spanning bourbon, rye, Scotch, and other whiskey styles without committing to an entire bottle.
Admission includes unlimited tastings and craft cocktails from participating spirit vendors.
That creates an opportunity to compare styles side by side. Try a rye against a bourbon. Put a Texas whiskey next to something matured in a considerably less hostile climate. Revisit something you dismissed years ago. Find out whether that expensive bottle you've been staring at actually deserves space on your shelf.
Just because the samples are unlimited doesn't mean your liver is.
Take your time, drink water, and use the evening to explore.
Early Entry Is Where Things Get Interesting
There are two admission tiers, and serious whiskey hunters will want to pay attention to the first hour.
Early Entry begins at 6 p.m., a full hour before General Admission.
During that hour, participating brands will pour several rare and high-end expressions reserved specifically for Early Entry guests.
Announced special pours include Ardbeg 25 Year, Glenmorangie Altus 25 Year, Cazcanes XA, Spirit of Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and Bluegrass Distillers 12+ Year Elkwood Reserve, with additional bottles expected.
The inclusion of Spirit of Texas also gives Texas whiskey fans something local to hunt down among the broader collection of American and international spirits.
Early Entry guests receive a commemorative engraved Whiskey Washback Glencairn glass and unlimited tastings and cocktails throughout the event.
Current Early Bird Early Entry tickets are $109, with the next pricing tier scheduled to increase to $135.
General Admission Still Includes the Important Part
General Admission begins at 7 p.m.
GA attendees receive unlimited tastings and craft cocktails from participating spirit vendors through the remainder of the festival.
Current Early Bird General Admission tickets are $79, with the next pricing tier scheduled to increase to $105.
The major difference is that GA does not include the 6–7 p.m. rare-pour hour or the Early Entry benefits.
So if you're mainly interested in exploring the broader lineup, GA gives you access to the heart of the festival. If bottles like 25-year-old Scotch immediately caused you to sit slightly more upright while reading this, Early Entry probably deserves consideration.
Cigars, Cocktails and Food
Whiskey isn't the only thing happening at The Empire Room.
An outdoor cigar lounge will give attendees somewhere to slow down with a cigar between tastings, while local vendors will offer handcrafted products throughout the festival.
Food will also be available for purchase.
Announced dishes include barbecue, smoked brisket, pulled pork, mac and cheese, shrimp and grits, crispy pickles, sliders, oysters, pork tacos, jalapeño cornbread, and more.
In other words, nobody should be attempting 100 whiskey samples on an empty stomach.
Not that you should be attempting 100 whiskey samples under any circumstances.
Event Details
Event: Whiskey Washback Dallas 2026
Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
Time: 6:00–9:30 p.m.
Venue: The Empire Room
Address: 1225 N. Riverfront Blvd., Dallas, TX 75207
Early Entry
Entry: 6:00 p.m.
Current Early Bird Price: $109
Next Pricing Tier: $135
Includes:
One-hour priority entry
Exclusive rare and high-end pours from 6–7 p.m.
Engraved Whiskey Washback Glencairn
Unlimited spirit tastings
Craft cocktails from participating vendors
General Admission
Entry: 7:00 p.m.
Current Early Bird Price: $79
Next Pricing Tier: $105
Includes:
General festival admission
Unlimited spirit tastings
Craft cocktails from participating vendors
Food is available separately for purchase.
Ticket prices are tiered and may increase as the festival approaches, so check the official Whiskey Washback ticket page for current pricing before purchasing.
Keep Exploring Texas Whiskey
Whiskey Washback is a good opportunity to explore far beyond Texas, but keep an eye out for the Texas distilleries pouring alongside national and international producers.
You can also browse more North Texas whiskey events, explore other upcoming Texas whiskey festivals, or visit the complete Texas Whiskey Events Calendar to see what's happening across the state.
And if your whiskey-festival wardrobe could use some assistance, visit the Texas Whiskey Geek Merch Store. Purchases help support independent whiskey reviews, distillery visits, event coverage, and the increasingly questionable amount of time I spend maintaining a calendar of Texas whiskey events.
Event Disclaimer
Participating brands, individual whiskey expressions, rare pours, food vendors, ticket prices, availability, and event details may change. Rare and high-end pours are limited to the Early Entry period and may be subject to availability. Please verify current details and purchase tickets directly through Whiskey Washback before traveling.
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