COLLEGE PARK, Maryland — Over the weekend, crowds gathered at The Showroom DC, an event space in Washington, to indulge in what some may consider to be life’s greatest pleasures—chocolate, wine, and whiskey.
According to the official Chocolate, Wine & Whiskey event website, attendees were granted unlimited chocolate samples, a wine glass, unlimited pours of premium wines, whiskies, beers, and ciders, access to a chocolate fondue bar, and tastes of various other sweet and savory options including cookies, cakes and cheeses. Tickets were sold out in December according to the event’s Facebook page.
The event attracted vendors from across the globe—from The Glenrothes Distillery in northeastern Scotland, to local businesses based in the Washington region.
One Maryland-based vendor at the event was DMVPopcorn Heaven, a family-owned popcorn shop with over 50 flavors. Their store is located in Camp Springs, Md.
Their specialty popcorn was a hit.
@dmvpopcorn We are enjoying the jalepeno and ranch flavored popcorn we got from you guys yesterday at the chocolate wine and whiskey festival.
— AskMaurice (@MauriceEvans71) February 24, 2019
The popcorn company wasn’t the only business from Maryland. The state was well-represented, with other local vendors including Chocolibrium (Annapolis), MFG Toffee Co. (Baltimore), Mason’s Lobster Rolls (Annapolis, Belvedere Square, National Harbor), and Myra’s New Orleans Cuisine (Lusby).
Vendors were eager to spread the word online that they would be participating in the festival.
We’re at the Chocolate, Wine & Whiskey Show, 1099 14th St NW, Washington, DC. 1-8pm today. We’re featuring some of our specialty chocolate cakes. You don’t want to miss our new Strawberry Hennessy cake! pic.twitter.com/vtKuYVOpS8
— HoneyBunCake Factory (@hbcakefactory) February 23, 2019
ALSO! Catch @ShowroomJuan and @Naj_thetruckDC at @TasteUSA Chocolate, Wine & Whiskey festival! Come to the The Showroom in DC to satisfy your sweet tooth and pick up some great deals! #NERULES #TruckLife #MagentaPrime #BeMagenta #AreYouWithUS pic.twitter.com/OTBr2eVIAL
— #MagentaPrime (@TMobileTruckDC) February 23, 2019
We hope to see you this weekend in #DC for the #Chocolate, #Wine, and #Whiskey festival – some of our favorite things! https://t.co/f0hEJDfGmn pic.twitter.com/axXKRB15OP
— KO Distilling (@KOdistillery) February 21, 2019
And in true social media fashion, many attendees documented their festival experience, too. Apparently, some enjoyed the experience more than others.
Loot from the Chocolate, Wine, & Whiskey festival! Several jerkies, a white choc. raspberry mini bundt cake, several chocolate bars of various flavors, truffles, sipping chocolate, chocolate soap, toffee… pic.twitter.com/5ZpyH6emPm
— Heather Grove (@ErrantDreams) February 23, 2019
The Chocolate, Wine, and Whiskey festival was a great Saturday date and rainy day outing. I don’t drink liquor, but I ate more different types of delicious and unique chocolate than I’ve had in my lifetime!
— Pam Bowman (@pamigiel) February 23, 2019
I may have overdone it at the Chocolate, Wine & Whiskey festival. Time to sober up at the Lincoln memorial. pic.twitter.com/TfdkdZM02Q
— James Maddox @ ECCC-OO6 / C2E2-M2 (@jamescmaddox) February 24, 2019
#chocolatewinewhiskey Absolutely terrible. I feel like I’ve been robbed. Shitty wine, and the best whiseky (of only two whiskey vendors) is an $80 bottle of Macallan. Oversold and overcrowded. Absolutely shameful thay the organizers put this shit show together.
— Dana (@ddosik) February 23, 2019
While it’s impossible to please everyone, it seems that the festival was a hit overall. Up next, the Baltimore Mac and Cheese Festival in May.