SMOKED! VIP/Early: A Whiskey, Wine & Global Smoked Cuisine Experience

An Indulgent Whiskey, Wine & Global Smoked Cuisine Experience

Take a smoky walk around the country and the world with this uniquely crafted signature event showcasing a robust selection of top-shelf whiskeys and other spirits primarily from Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee, premier wines from Italy, Virginia, and Oregon, and scratch-made, expertly prepared global smoked cuisine representing an array of regional American and international cuisines. 

Kick off the Expo's biggest weekend with this unforgettable night of indulgence and laid-back luxury, which also includes an incredible silent auction, gaming table, and live music.

We're devoted to properly educating you about the drinks you taste, which is why we insist that every beverage at SMOKED! is poured by knowledgeable representatives - whether they be distillers, winemakers, distributor representatives, proprietors, or experienced volunteers - capable of explaining about the drinks they are serving you. 

Foodies, wine lovers, and whiskey enthusiasts will love this event.

Participating Restaurants & Caterers

We're excited to share that Richmond's premier restaurant group, Eat Restaurant Partners, with its 14 acclaimed artisan establishments, has agreed to participate in SMOKED!   We will announce additional restaurants soon.

Regions of Emphasis

Whiskey:  The 100+ whiskeys available for sampling come primarily from Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Scotland, and several other U.S. states.

Wine:  While Virginia wine is always emphasized at SMOKED!, premium wines from our 2024 Regions of Emphasis, Italy and Oregon, will also be available in abundance.  

NOTE:  There will be more wine stations in 2024 spread out over a larger area of the event space to ensure there is ample room for our wine drinking attendees.

Ticket Package Availability and Build Your Own Package

This event can be purchased a la carte or as part of four ticket packages, ‘VIP Friday’, ‘VIP Weekend’, ‘VIP Trio’, and ‘SUPER PASS', which you can check out on the Ticket Packages page.  Alternatively, to curate your own experience, you can buy tickets to this event using our “build your own package” and save 15% on 3 events or save 20% on 4.

With Your Ticket, You Will:

• Gain entry one hour early, taste 100+ whiskeys, additional spirits, and wines, and enjoy exclusive access to VIP whiskeys and wines throughout the four hour session*.  For timely entry, arrive 30 minutes early for ID and ticket check-in.
   
• Savor an expanded menu of smoked and some non-smoked cuisine from various regions of the U.S. and around the world.  Food selections will satisfy both meat lovers and vegetarians.
   
• Enjoy the opportunity to buy virtually all Virginia whiskeys to take home.
   
• Enjoy an extraordinary silent and live Auction and bid on items quickly and easily with your mobile phone.
   
• Enjoy choosing either a Stolzle crystal whiskey glass or a Stolzle crystal wine glass to use at the event and take home.
   
• Enjoy complimentary spirit-check, which will hold bottles of whiskey you purchase until you leave the event, and coat check services.
   
• Enjoy complimentary artisan water throughout the event.
   
• Enjoy using seating at tables and cocktail rounds located throughout the event space.
   
• Enjoy a covered, designated smoking area conveniently located just outside the event space.

Example Menu to Whet Your Appetite, Based on Past SMOKED! Events

• Deep Run Roadhouse: award-winning smoked brisket, ribs, rope sausage, smoked Cuban sandwich, pulled pork, portobello, local sweet potatoes, smokehouse collard greens, Cole slaw, and slider rolls
• River City Woodfired Pizza: pizzas and appetizers (some with meat and some vegetarian) cooked onsite in a wood-fire oven
• Empanada.com (3 types): mesquite smoked pork loin, smoked chicken, and spinach
• Redemption BBQ: smoked shrimp and grits, smoked trout dip, vegan smoked jackfruit sandwich, southern poutine, traditional brunswick stew
• Rappahannock Oyster: bourbon butter roasted oysters
• Smohk: smoked ribeye sandwich, onsite-smoked quail, onsite-smoked salmon, Kentucky boiled custard with praline wafers
• Stumps Pig and Pint: smokehouse mac n cheese, smoked wings, smoked mushrooms, pineapple basil slaw
• Cardinal State Butchers: signature chili
• Peter Chang: smoked duck rolls, smoked tofu skin and smoked cucumber, mala noodles, smoked bamboo fish, smoked cumin brussel sprouts, cilantro fish rolls, and kung pao chicken buns
• Publix Aprons Cooking School: duck confit, smoked sausage cassoulet
• Edible Education: Quinoa cupcakes and toffee pudding cakes
• J. Sargent Reynolds Community College Culinary School: Cherry Smoked Skirt Steak, Bleu Cheese Scalloped Potato, Tarragon Chimichurri, Fried Pickled Fresno Chiles, Smoked s'more using housemade spiced marshmellow, smoked hazelnuts, bourbon caramel, cracker crumble, and spiced chocolate
• Local Virginia mesclun greens, radish, celery, with Virginia apple, smoked gouda and smoked, candied walnut 

Important Information

• *All spirits and wine tables will end tastings at 9:45 p.m., fifteen minutes before the end of the event.  However, some of those tables will still remain open only for closed bottle sales if they are a Virginia distillery.
• Only 21 years or older are permitted to enter the event.
• Smart casual or smart chic attire recommended.
• All inclusive.
• Cost of admission is $5.  The remaining costs cover the privilege to consume sampled food and drinks (excluding complimentary water) and the crystal wine glass.