Scotch and whisky lovers can spend an evening sampling flavours from around the world during the upcoming Wee Tipple Party.
The Wee Tipple Party: Nanaimo's Scotch Whisk(e)y Festival is the annual fundraiser for Crimson Coast Dance Society. The event is an evening full of tastings, live music, hors d'oeuvres and other fundraising activities. Besides scotch and whisky there is also a selection of local wines and beers.
"We try to amp it up every year and do something unique," said Holly Bright, artistic director of Crimson Coast Dance Society, adding the event is for people who are passionate about scotch whisky products and about supporting the society.
This year, Bright said there are three unique products for people to taste. There is an Indian whisky called Amrut Spectrum that was released in a limited 1,000-bottle run last year. The whisky was bottled without being blended with water, is a single malt and aged for three years in a former bourbon barrels and then transferred to a barrel crafted out of various types of wood.
Bright said whisky distilled in India doesn't need to age as long as scotch and whisky created in Scotland because of the heat and humidity in the country.
There is also a product from the Kilchoman Distillery. The distillery was founded in 2005 and is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland, according to its website.The distillery grows its own grain on the farm, uses in-house floor-malting and ages the product on the farm.
There will also be a selection of products chosen by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, which is a society that originally formed in Scotland, but now connects people around the world. The Grand Hotel is a member of the society.
The society works with 129 distilleries and purchases one barrel from each distillery each year, ages the product and then bottles it unfiltered and unblended.
Bright said the fundraiser is important for the society to not only raise money but it also shows that the society is supported by its community, which is important for grant applications.
"It's vital for the funders to see that our community supports us," she said. "It really reflects that the community values what we do here."
Bright said it is important for people to consider what they are spending their money on "in our small city."
"Live performance is the thing for me. If I go out I am going to see a live show," she said. "The connection is so deeply personal and I get to feel the art happening in front of me."
The 14th annual Wee Tipple Party is Friday (March 3) from 7-10 p.m. at the Grand Hotel.
Tickets are $95 per person available from www.crimsoncoast.org.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com