by Bonnie MacPherson
The Elbows Up Whiskey Night at Singhampton Community Centre was not named in honour of Gordie Howe. Organizer Geoff Meadley says Elbows Up is in fact a reference to the act of tossing back a glass of fine Canadian whiskey. In light of the current trade war with the United States, the association with Howe, known for going into the corners, elbows raised to fend off opponents, and never backing away from a challenge, seems more appropriate than ever.
The Elbows Up Whiskey night returns to Singhampton as part of this year’s Small Halls Festival. Meadley says last year’s inaugural event drew a diverse crowd of people interested in learning more about Canadian craft whiskey.
“People traditionally think of rye as Canadian whiskey, but in fact our climate is ideal for a whole range of grains like barley and corn which makes for a lot of variety in the finished product,” said Meadley. “We have whiskeys which are similar to Irish or Scotch whiskey, and even some which are quite bourbonesque. The whole idea is to explore different types and for the novice taster, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on a bottle to sample something new.”
Only 40 tickets are sold for the whiskey night, ensuring an intimate gathering with an opportunity to ask questions of the mystery guest whiskey expert. Meadley says on average, attendees will sample five different whiskeys, selected from distillers right across the country.
“We’ll be featuring Harris Beach, which is made from wheat grown on Robert McArthur’s Clearview Township farm; Two Brewers, a peated single malt from Whitehorse; MacAloney’s from Vancouver Island; and a lot of other whiskeys that people can access here if they try them and like them,” he said. “The majority of the whiskeys we sample will retail for between $40 and $170 per bottle (26 ounces). This a chance to experiment, so you are not going to the liquor store and taking a chance on a $170 bottle without knowing what to expect.”
Meadley says many whiskey drinkers change their preferences with the weather.
“In the summer when it’s hot and humid, you might prefer something light, cool and refreshing – perhaps something you could mix with ginger ale or cola. The American equivalent would be something like a mint julep. Many Canadian distillers produce products that are intended to be enjoyed with mix. A lot of those distilleries have only been around for 25 or 30 years, so the notion of creating whiskeys that can stand on their own is relatively new,” he said. “When it gets cooler in the fall and winter, a lot of people
Ice or no ice is an ongoing debate. Meadley’s personal preference is to enjoy most things neat.
Tickets for the Elbows Up Whiskey Night on Saturday, Oct. 24 at Singhampton Community Centre are available at ticketscene. ca/events/64347 for $85. The evening begins at 7:30 p.m. and will include a cash-only silent auction. A selection of Canadian-themed snacks and mocktails will also be available.
Bonnie MacPherson photo: Geoff Meadley shows off some of the Canadian whiskeys that will be sampled at Elbows Up Whiskey Night this month. switch to something peaty and smoky. Sort of like a campfire in a glass, and Canada has some of the best peat lands available.”
