PASSIONATE SPIRITS

By Akosua Dufie Adasi

Cover Photo: Alberta Spirits & Cocktails Festival

ALBERTA’S NEWEST FESTIVAL

Ever wanted to make your own signature cocktail? Or learn more about the world of Alberta distilleries? In its inaugural year, Alberta Spirits and Cocktail Festival hopes to ignite passions and highlight the gems of Alberta’s distilleries while providing unique cocktail and spirits experiences.

Alberta Spirits and Cocktail Festival is the newest and freshly exciting festival in Edmonton. It was founded by Robert Pellerin, the festival president, as a way to showcase the many distilleries in the province while providing spirits and cocktail lovers with a uniquely Albertan experience. “There's about close to 80 distilleries in Alberta, which a lot of people aren’t aware of even if they’re into whiskeys, gins, and vodkas,” says Robert. “This festival is here to showcase the products produced in Alberta.”

Robert went into this passion project with the goal of exposing more people to the world of Alberta spirits, giving them opportunities that otherwise would not be available. “There are festivals for food and spirits in Alberta, but there really isn’t a festival for Alberta-produced spirits,” says Robert. “So the passion came from discovering all the distilleries in Alberta and all the unique products that are made right here in Alberta, but realizing there was not a space to showcase them.”

In addition to enjoying locally sourced food, drinks, and live entertainment at the festival, attendees will have the chance to engage in a fireside chat with master distillers and distillery owners in the “Meet the Distillers Fireside Chats.” Designed to be an interactive exchange between the audience and creative Alberta distillers, attendees can ask distillers questions about the business and what makes their work and products unique, while getting to know more about the ever-growing industry.

The day-long sampling festival, which will take place at the Edmonton Convention Centre, will be a space where people can go and not only try the many varieties of gins, whiskeys, liqueurs, and more, but also interact with local eateries, chat with distillers, learn from professional mixologists, and enjoy live music. People will also be able to purchase products that may not be in stores yet, or hard-to-find whiskeys, gins, and vodkas. Cheers to Festival City!

Alberta Spirits & Cocktail Festival: April 27 at Edmonton Convention Centre | 9797 Jasper Ave.