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Bourbon Flights
Calling all beasts of bourbon! Join us for our annual bourbon-tasting event on Thursday, May 9. Bourbon Flights will feature a variety of bourbons – served neat, on the rocks, and with mixers at 15 different stations throughout the Zoo.
Stroll the Zoo sampling bourbon in your complimentary souvenir glass while listening to great music and visiting the different animal habitats! Food will be available for purchase at our casual dining locations. For our non-bourbon drinkers, there will be a beer and wine station available as well!
This event is part of Toast to the Wild, sponsored by Cavalier Distributing, which benefits the Lindner Center for Conservation and Research for Endangered Wildlife (CREW). Events increase exposure for CREW locally and all funds raised go directly to support ongoing research. These unique tasting events give guests the opportunity to enjoy an adult-only evening at the Zoo, try beverage samples, experience up-close animal encounters, and more!
Bourbon Flights begins at 7:00 pm and is rain or shine. This event is for guests 21 and up, no exceptions.
We’ve gone digital with our Bourbon Flights map this year! Be sure to have the Interactive Zoo Map link ready with location services turned on prior to arrival!
Tickets
Bourbon Flights is SOLD OUT
- General admission inclusions plus:
- Early Entry
- Additional drink tickets
- Opportunity to sample all stations throughout the Zoo first
- Free rides on carousel and train are included with ticket
- Drink tickets
- Access to the entire Zoo for an adult evening!
- Commemorative Glass
- Animal Encounters
- Free rides on carousel and train are included with ticket
Entertainment
Shadwell
Collin Shadwell, lead vocalist and guitarist, is a middle school art teacher who learned to play the guitar at the age of 15. In addition to naming bands after himself, he enjoys hanging out with his Basset Hound, Winston, whose likeness can be found on some of the band merch. Matt Eckerle, guitarist and percussionist extraordinaire, teaches high school art. He has been involved in music for decades, playing in numerous bands over the years in the Tri-State area. Karen Kampschmidt, vocalist and pianist, does not teach art, but was allowed in the band anyway. She started off playing the piano in church, and enjoys the Shadwell playlist more than the hymnal.
General Info
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- Credit cards are accepted at food stations.
- Smoking is not permitted in the Zoo
- Event held rain or shine
- You will receive your lanyard with drink-sampling tickets upon presenting the event ticket at entry.
- This is an adult event; all guests must be at least 21 years old and present a valid photo ID.
- No babies or children permitted.
- Bags will be subject to search.
- Guests without valid photo ID will not be permitted to enter the event.
- If you have any accommodation requests, please contact [email protected] 3 weeks prior to event.
FAQs and Policies
For questions about the event, you can send an email to: [email protected].
The Early Entry experience includes entrance to the Zoo starting at 6:30pm, 30 minutes before the rest of the event plus additional drink tickets.
Please park in the Zoo’s main parking lot at 3427 Vine Street. Just look for the solar panels!
For taxi and driver drop-off, please direct vehicles to meet you at the Front Zoo Entrance (3325 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45220)
Your confirmation email will have an attached PDF that holds your ticket. Print out a copy of the attachment/ticket and bring it with you the evening of the event. If you did not receive an email, check your SPAM folder as well as your Trash folder. If those turn up blank, please either arrive a little early with your confirmation number or email our Visitor Experience Team at [email protected].
Your Toast to the Wild ticket is good for admission beginning at 7:00pm (6:30pm for Early Entry) on the scheduled event date. Please visit the ticketing page to learn more about planning your visit to the Zoo.
You will find a variety of food options, available for purchase, throughout the event at select concession stands.
We also have a variety of vegetarian and gluten-free options available for purchase.
Yes, there will be stations serving complimentary Pepsi products and water during the event.
Yes, the events are held rain or shine – please make sure you dress comfortably for the weather.
$35 of each ticket goes directly to support CREW’s research both here and abroad.
The Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) was the first of its kind, state-of-the-art research facility dedicated to saving endangered plants and animals from extinction. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is one of only three Zoos in the United States to have a facility dedicated to conservation and research. Read more about CREW.
Toast to the Wild events are for adults only as they feature alcoholic beverages – you must be at least 21 years old to attend.
Once we have reached capacity via pre-purchased ticket sales, we are unable to sell any additional tickets at the door. We highly recommend you pre-purchase your tickets.
Please dress comfortably for a fun evening at the Zoo – remember the events are rain/shine and feature both indoor and outdoor habitats throughout the Zoo.
$35 of each event ticket is tax-deductible. You can find this information on your receipt.
Thank you for supporting “A Toast To The Wild – Tasting Series”!
Proceeds from this event series support the Zoo’s own Lindner Center for the Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW). CREW is internationally recognized for its Signature Projects including rhinos, imperiled cats, exceptional plants and polar bears. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden was the first zoo in the nation to build a facility dedicated to endangered animal and plant conservation research.
This is a Zero Waste Event