Sip and Stay: Spring & Summer at Hotel Emma
Hotel Emma at Pearl, the legendary AAA Five-Diamond, Two-Michelin-Key brewhouse turned luxury hotel, is heating up for the 2026 season. From rare whiskey verticals to high-profile bar takeovers, the San Antonio landmark has curated an exceptional lineup of programming you won’t want to miss. (Hotel Emma,/Pearl, 2026)
Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection Tasting
Date: April 25 | Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Sternewirth
Experience a rare piece of spirits history. This guided tasting features the Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection, a meticulously recreated set of “medicinal” whiskeys honoring the brands that survived the 1920s. Collectors will have the chance to sample highly sought-after, limited-release vintage expressions in the industrial-chic atmosphere of Sternewirth.
Goodjuice Visits San Antonio: Tequila Weekend
Dates: May 1–3
San Antonio’s spirit scene is getting a fresh infusion as Goodjuice brings its vibrant, community-focused energy to the Pearl for the city’s first-ever Tequila Weekend. Scheduled to be one of the biggest spirits events in Texas, this weekend is a must-attend for agave lovers.
Special Offer: Hotel Emma is offering attendees 35% off guest rooms and 20% off suites with code AGAVE26.
Featured Events:
- Taste of Pearl (Cocktail Competition): Friday, May 1 | 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Distiller’s Dinner: Friday, May 1 | 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
- Goodjuice Agave Spirits Festival: Saturday, May 2 | 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Los Lobos Concert: Saturday, May 2 | Doors at 6:30 p.m. | Show at 7:30 p.m.
Derby Day & Old Forester Rare Release Tasting
Date: May 2 | Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Sternewirth
Celebrate the “Run for the Roses” with a high-stakes tasting of the Old Forester Whiskey Row Series. While awaiting the 2026 Derby results, guests will explore the history of Louisville’s first bottled bourbon with exclusive pours of rare releases curated specifically for the occasion.
Sternewirth x Bar Colette Takeover
Date: May 14
In a highly anticipated cross-Texas collaboration, the team from Dallas-based Bar Colette, a 2025 James Beard “Best New Bar” nominee, will take over Sternewirth for one night only. Experience avant-garde cocktail builds and meticulous techniques that blend Dallas’s high-design mixology with Hotel Emma’s storied industrial elegance.
Date: May 19 | Time: 6:30 p.m.
Take a deep dive into one of the world’s most awarded bourbon labels. This multi-course dinner features a vertical tasting of 10, 11, 12, and 17-year expressions.
The Highlight: Attendees will have a rare opportunity to purchase a pour of the elusive 20-year or 25-year Eagle Rare, vintages rarely seen outside of private collections.
Sternewirth Hits NYC: Bar Convent Brooklyn
Dates: June 9–10
The Sternewirth team is taking San Antonio style to the Big Apple for Bar Convent Brooklyn (BCB). Beyond the convention at Industry City, keep an eye out for the team popping up at several NYC mainstays throughout the week, where they’ll be serving San Antonio-inspired classics to the global bar community.
Ready to join the fun? Book your stay at Hotel Emma and secure your tickets for these exclusive events before they sell out.
SA Examiner 