A great spirit can tell you a lot about where it comes from. In Nova Scotia, that might mean local ingredients in the bottle, but it also means the choices of the person who made it: what to distill, how to shape it, and when it’s ready to share.
On Oct 10, The Scotian Distillery Fest presented by Eat Drink Halifax, The First Pour and the Craft Distillers of Nova Scotia (CDANS) gives Halifax a chance to meet those people. The event at Richmond Yards will bring together distillers from across the province for two tasting sessions featuring locally made spirits and liqueurs, curated mini-cocktails, small bites and live music. It’s an opportunity to find a new favourite, ask how it was made and discover just how varied Nova Scotia’s distilling scene has become.
For Graham Collins, president of the Craft Distillers Association of Nova Scotia and Compass Distillers, the festival is a chance to show what local producers can do beyond the province.
“The Scotian Spirit Fest is important to us as a distillery as it gives us an opportunity to showcase how a Nova Scotian distillery can make spirits with Nova Scotian ingredients that compete and win on the world stage,” Collins says.
The festival will also mark the launch of the Spirit Guide, a way to keep exploring after the tasting is over. As Collins puts it, the guide “illustrates the depth of distilling in this province, with distilleries offering different specialties including gin, rum, whisky, liqueurs, and other unique spirits. Made here, wanted everywhere.”
That depth is easier to appreciate when you can talk directly with the makers. Ask someone that works at one of Nova Scotia’s craft distilleries what inspired a recipe and you may hear about an ingredient, a place, a family connection or an experiment that finally worked. Those conversations can make the next sip taste a little different.
For festival co-ordinator Rick Weldon, Scotian Distillery Fest is more than just a place to taste it’s a place to connect.
“This event is more than just an opportunity to sample great local products, it is a chance to meet the people behind the bottles,” says festival co-ordinator Rick Weldon. “We believe that our great local spirits are showcases of the individuals behind them, their personalities, and their passions.”
It’s also a place to relax and simply enjoy a great afternoon and evening as in addition to the local distillers, local bartenders will be crafting mini-cocktails featuring spirits from the local distillers, a selection of complimentary curated small bites, and live music.
Weldon elaborates, “even if you come with a favourite spirit in mind, we anticipate you leaving with a new appreciation of the quality and diversity of locally made products.”
Scotian Spirit Fest takes place Saturday, Oct 10, at Richmond Yards in Halifax, with afternoon and evening tasting sessions. Tickets are available at eatdrinkhalifax.ca. This is a 19+ event.
Mark DeWolf is The Coast’s food and beverage critic. He is also the owner of Eat Drink Halifax.
