Fun on Tap

It's all whiskey, all the time when HTX Whiskey Weekend returns this month

Texan whiskey lovers, it’s your time to shine. The second annual HTX Whiskey Weekend is returning at the end of April for an experience full of Texas libations, delectable meals, and spotlighted seminars by industry professionals. The weekend is led by Houston’s dynamic lifestyle hub City Place.

Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect from the boozy lineup of events, happening April 28-29, 2023:

Chef’s Table Dinner
The first event kicks off on Friday with an exclusive four-course dinner in partnership with sustainability focused food group The Butcher’s Ball and Still Austin Whiskey.

Photo courtesy of City Place

There will be 11 Texas distilleries offering samples.

Expert pitmasters Robin Wong, Terry Wong, and Quy Hoang of Blood Brother’s BBQ will display their culinary skills while also showcasing a few surprises from their new concept Luloo’s Day and Night, spearheaded by chefs Arash Kharat and Alyssa Dole.

Tickets for the dinner are $185 per person and include a wine pairing. The menu will be shared closer to the event date.

The Seminar Series
Continue the libation celebration into Saturday with three talks by whiskey industry-leading professionals at the Houston City Place Marriott.

Whiskey aficionados and novices alike can enjoy an afternoon of cocktail mixology while experimenting with different flavor profiles.

The Seminar Series schedule is as follows:

11:00-11:45 am – Whiskey 101 with Rebecca Creek
1:00-2:15 pm – A Perfect Pour: Whiskey Cocktails Part I – Light and Refreshing
3:00-4:15 pm – A Perfect Pour: Whiskey Cocktails Part II – Stirred and Boozy

Tickets for each seminar are $35 per person.

A Taste of City Place
The Whiskey Weekend’s signature waterfront event, A Taste of City Place, will run from 12-6 pm on April 29. The afternoon will be chock full of whiskey tastings by 11 different distillers from around the state. An assortment of food samplings from Michelin-trained chef Dawn Sloan of Soul Taco will be provided from 12-4 pm.

If you need a break from the festivities, dip into the Take 5 Lounge at the Marriott and cool off with zero-proof cocktails and mocktails by Not Too Sweet. Live music performances will accentuate the atmosphere throughout the day.

Tickets for the premier event are $85 per person and include a whiskey tasting glass, whiskey and food samplings, and access to the Take 5 Lounge. Access to the lounge is on a first come, first serve basis due to limited seating.

Whiskey Under the Stars
The weekend wraps up with Whiskey Under the Stars, a casual sampling from Milam & Green and William Price accompanied by cigar rolling and live music. This finale event runs from 6-10 pm on April 29.

The featured distilleries
The Texan distillers that attendees can expect to see throughout the weekend include:

Blackland Distillery – Fort Worth
Clifford Distilling – Port Arthur
Devil’s River Whiskey – San Antonio
Gentle Ben – Alvin
Ironroot Republic Distillery – Denison
Milam & Greene Whiskey Distillery – Blanco
Modisett & Sons Distillery – Fredericksburg
Rebecca Creek – San Antonio
Still Austin – Austin
Texas Tail Distillery – Galveston
William Price Distillery – Houston

To check out the full schedule and grab your tickets, visit htxwhiskeyweekend.com.

htx whiskey weekend promoted drinks cocktails festivals concerts chefs

blinded with science

New York's science-themed holiday bar shakes up the Museum District

Courtesy of Drunken Lab

Conduct holiday-themed science experiments at the LIT-Mas Spectacular.

A taste of Manhattan has made its way to Houston with the immersive LIT-Mas Spectacular holiday pop-up. From now until January 12, Houstonians can discover the hype behind New York City’s The Drunken Lab that's known for its unique blend of science and cocktails.

This pop-up marks the first expansion for The Drunken Lab’s parent company, Science and Sip, a concept created to make science accessible and unforgettable. Attendees can dive into holiday-themed science experiments — including explosive endothermic reactions — while enjoying festive cocktails in a winter wonderland setting enhanced with a live DJ. Appropriately, the pop-up is located in the Museum District at 4715 Main Street.

“Houston was the perfect next step for Science and Sip,” founder Cautney Nelson said in a statement. “The city’s vibrant culture, love of celebration, and ties to science through world-famous programs like NASA aligns beautifully with our mission to blend entertainment with discovery.”

Visitors enter a world filled with larger-than-life gingerbread decor and candy-inspired installations where light bulbs and laboratory flasks have been transformed into quirky beverage containers. Admission includes one cocktail or mocktail, a lab coat and goggles, and two to three science experiments. Add-ons like cocktail-filled ornament “Booze Balls” and Grinch-inspired pouches in festive red and green add an extra dose of holiday charm.

“We’re thrilled to host guests for an immersive holiday experience that merges festive fun with curiosity,” Nelson added. “With each pop-up, we aim to create a space where a great party and exploration come together, and we’re excited to see how Houston embraces The LIT-Mas Spectacular.”

A portion of the proceeds from LIT-Mas will benefit Millennial Scnce, a nonprofit founded by Nelson that provides students with accessible STEM resources and educational opportunities.

Tickets are available for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with showtimes at 2:30 pm, 6 pm, and 9 pm. Private party and group bookings are also available.

Courtesy of Drunken Lab

Conduct holiday-themed science experiments at the LIT-Mas Spectacular.

cocktails holidays museum district nightlife