Whiskey Fest Pro Tips

This guide will give you hints and tips for your best Omaha Whiskey Fest experience! 

 

Safety First

Your safety is our top priority. Make sure you have a plan for getting home safely from Omaha Whiskey Fest. A few ideas and options:

  • Designated Driver Ticket – recruit a friend who doesn’t like whiskey (why are we friends again?). Designated Driver tickets are only $25 and include a swag bag, lunch, and they get to experience all the magic of Omaha Whiskey Fest, just without the whiskey. 

  • Hauptman O’Brien Safe Ride Home - Omaha Whiskey Fest partners with Hauptman, O’Brien Law Firm every year to ensure our ticket holders have a safe ride home. Use the QR Code on your badge or find them throughout the venue for a sponsored ride home. If you have trouble locating the QR code, please find one of our many Volunteers to help you.  

  • Hydrate! We have free water bottles provided by ABEs available to all attendees, located at the water stations throughout the event. Sip of whiskey, sip of water. Stay hydrated and stay safe!  

Check in at Omaha Whiskey Fest

Check-in begins at 11:00 am, giving you plenty of time to beat the crowds and explore Downtown Omaha. We recommend grabbing lunch at one of the local favorites, then mapping out your must-see booths for the day. While you’re at it, take a stroll through the Old Market, NoDo, or the Capital District to soak in the city’s charm. For more details, check out our friends at Visit Omaha! https://www.visitomaha.com/ 

During Omaha Whiskey Fest

For Everyone

When the Pipers Pipe & the Drummers Drum, you know the time has come! 

Omaha Whiskey Fest is a great place to meet and talk with like-minded Whiskey drinkers. Some will be more experienced, some less, either way it is an opportunity to share your personal experiences and preferences.  

Come in with a plan! There are a lot of booths and it goes by fast! But one of the best parts of Omaha Whiskey Fest is discovering new whiskeys you didn’t know you’d love. Try to map out a path that takes you by all the booths you want to visit, but don’t forget to stop by others along the way. Who knows, you might find a hidden gem that becomes your new favorite! 

For VIPs

Our VIP ticket gives you access to the event a full hour earlier than General Admission. What do you do with that time?! Your first instinct might be to rush to the Spirit World/Brickway VIP Lounge for a cocktail. We encourage you to rethink that approach.  

The VIP hour is your opportunity to walk around and enjoy the vendor tables with reduced crowds, maximizing your time with more one on one interactions with Distillers, Brand Ambassadors & Vendors that are available to talk about our favorite subject, Whiskey! Save the Lounge for when General Admission attendees are allowed entry, then hit the VIP lounge for a whiskey break, while you grab a bite to eat (while supplies last), or a Cocktail. Food in the VIP room will be refreshed during the event. 

Boxed Lunches 

Every ticket comes with a boxed lunch! A little whiskey, a little food… everyone’s happy. Choose from turkey, roast beef, or veggie with chips and a cookie, provided by Hilton Omaha.  

Cigar Lounge 

When you’re ready for a break from sampling, visit the Havana Garage Cigar Lounge on the North patio to enjoy a cocktail and a cigar alongside live music by The Mojito Brothers!   

Speaker

One of the biggest perks of attending Omaha Whiskey Fest is the opportunity to interact with and learn from experts in the whiskey industry. Our Speaker Series this year will feature Johnnie Walker Brand Ambassador Yan Agaev.  

NEW this year! Our Experience Rooms offer you a little something beyond whiskey.  

  • Holladay Distillery  

  • Bespoke Custom Clothing and Suits  

  • 1620 The Zone’s Big Red Over Reaction LIVE  

Experience Rooms 

Every dollar of our auction proceeds goes to our non-profit partner, Breakthrough T1D. Bid on auction items and help the community. It’s a win-win!

Silent Auction 

If you need a quiet break from whiskey and crowds, we invite you to take a moment to relax in the Buzz Kill Lounge. Have a cup of coffee, a glass of water, and let the whiskey wear off for a bit. 

Buzz Kill Lounge 

Always Hydrate & Pace Yourself!  

Hydration is key to responsible drinking. We have two water stations full of bottled Water, generously donated by ABEs! Know when to take a break. Grab your boxed lunch located in the North atrium, walk through our non-whiskey booths, check out our C & C Customs Merch table, and please stop by our Charity Partners, Breakthrough T1D of Nebraska’s table to learn more about Type 1 Diabetes as well as bid on our Silent Auction Packages. Most importantly, have fun, be respectful, and enjoy. 

The End of Omaha Whiskey Fest 

As the event winds down, the fun doesn’t have to! Following Omaha Whiskey Fest, our partners at the Hilton will be hosting live music in the lobby featuring Nate Paul and Harmonica. Grab a bite to eat, explore downtown, or schedule your free ride home courtesy of Hauptman O’Brien. And don’t forget to give a big thanks to our amazing volunteers! 

Message from the Board 

Thank You!  

This event would not happen without our Sponsors, the city of Omaha, our wonderful Volunteers and YOU. We truly hope you enjoy Omaha Whiskey Fest and will help spread the word for next year! It is our goal to put the Omaha market on the Map for the Whiskey industry and to continue to offer the best experience we can for you. Omaha Whiskey Fest is a Not-for-Profit Festival & will continue to strive to make a positive difference to our community. 

Cheers! 

Phil Bauersachs 

Rachel McClanahan 

Jeff Peterson 

Chaz Kline 

Laurie Hellbusch, Executive Director 

Zac Triemert, Board President