A scotch whisky fundraiser in Nanaimo has aged well over the past 20 years.
The Wee Tipple Party, presented by and benefiting Crimson Coast Dance Society, will have its 20th iteration Friday, May 3, at the Grand Hotel.
The event will feature single malts, wine and other spirits with a prohibition-era “speakeasy” theme, said Holly Bright, Crimson Coast founder and artistic director.
Inspired by an event in Victoria, the inaugural Wee Tipple took place at Longwood Brew Pub, with five whisky reps. There will be 32 distillers represented this year and blends will include Glen Saanich single malt whisky, GlenAllachie 15 year and Elements of Islay Cask Edition.
“Once we moved it to the Grand, we started to realize that there really is an exclusivity to the product and that people really wanted to focus on that … We’ve always had Longwood Brew Pub, with their beers, Gina’s Mexican Café always brings a tequila table and then usually there’s a rep or two who have some wine to share,” said Bright. “So there’s a little bit of something for everyone.”
Paid pre- and post-Wee Tipple events are also planned. A gender-inclusive master class for whisky novices, aimed at women and the LGBTQ community, takes place 5-7 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at the Nanaimo Bar.
A Scotch Malt Whisky Society master class takes place Saturday, May 4, from 2-4 p.m. at Chester Fields Modern Furniture and earlier that day, the Wee Tipple will come full circle with a Longwood Brew Pub whisky brunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
“We’re super thrilled to have them back on our 20th anniversary,” Bright said.
Tickets are $160 each and organizers hope that at least $16,000 is raised to benefit the dance society’s programming.
“We have a youth program that supports teens to find their place and find their voice as they’re moving from adolescence to adulthood and then we also have a mixed abilities dance program where we offer free classes to those with disabilities and the entire community,” said Bright.
The Wee Tipple Party takes place 7-10 p.m. on May 3. Attendees who don’t want to drive home can call the hotel and take advantage of an ‘elevator ride home’ $20 room discount.
For more information, visit http://crimsoncoastdance.com.
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