Drams for Fams

There’s a version of whisky events where everything feels a little too serious. This wasn’t that. @drams4fams is an annual charity fundraiser that brings together over 125 people to raise tens of thousands of dollars (each year) for the Edmonton Food Bank, and what stood out this year was the tone. There was an ease to it. A bit of comedy woven into the presentations. High-end whiskies, poured and talked about in a way that felt genuinely approachable. A lot of that comes down to @traviswatt9 and the Edmonton Scotch Club, who have spent years building this into something that feels equal parts community and celebration. You could feel that in the room. This year’s lineup brought a great mix of people and pours: * Jamie Johnson @bourbonthing — Glenfiddich 15 Year * Reece Sims (me!) — Shinobu Kihei Japanese Single Malt * Dave Robert @beardeddavewhisky — Aberargie Distillery Inaugural Single Malt * Igor Kossov @headsandtailsspirits — Decadent Drams Blended Scotch 12 Year * Caitlin Quinn @caitlinquinn91 — Alberta Premium Rare Batch No. 2 * Matt Widmer @wldmatt — @wldspirits King of the North Rye Whisky * Andrew Ferguson @thescotch_guy — G&M Glenburgie 2003 * Gurpreet Ranu @gurwhisky — @anohkadistillery Top Secret Single Malt Release (a first taste) A big congratulations to Pamela Dobbin @pammydobs who received the J Wheelock Memorial Award for her service to the whisky community. Great whisky, great people, and a reminder that the best events don’t just showcase what’s in the glass, they shape how it’s experienced. Also… has anyone else been thinking about Donairs ever since? Hold the tzatziki. 🙃 #whisky #whiskycommunity #womenwhowhiskey #whiskey #drams4fams

Last night, an anonymous whisky club somewhere in Canada got together virtually and raised $2,600 for the @drams4fams initiative. They chose a local charity and donated every penny. . . This wasn’t some huge event that took months to plan. It was 2-3 people that picked bottles from their cabinets, poured them for some friends, and charged an entrance fee. It is that simple! . . @singlemaltmack did something similar a few weeks back with samples and raised nearly $1,000 for his local food bank. Again…not hard to do but he made a big difference in someone’s life. . . With those two events, Drams for Fams has passed $200,000 raised across North America since 2016. The premise is simple…if you can afford to drink expensive whisky, you can probably afford to support a local charity. Every single dollar counts. Since 2016, over 2,000 people have participated in Drams for Fams events. Thank you to every single person who has been part of this grassroots initiative. It means the world to me and it makes a world of difference in the communities we live. . . .

Edmonton!! This is going to be awesome. Come join the @dramfinepodcast ladies, myself, and many more Edmonton Whisky Peeps for this Water of Life movie screening and after party!! Let’s make this a huge event! *Tickets include 4 drams, a glencairn and access to the after party! *Please feel free to share!

Have you signed up for the @drams4fams Irish Invasion Tasting yet? If you were one of the first 44 tickets sold, you might just get one of these little beauties graciously donated by @twostackswhiskey . . . Dram in a Can will be available in Canada soon and the possibilities are endless on where you could bring one for a quick wee dram. . . 📷: @parkwhiskeysociety

Last chance to sign up!! . . The Irish Whisky Invasion has a few spots left and every penny raised from this event goes to @drams4fams and @yegfoodbank ! . . Heaps of new releases that no one in Canada has tried. Guest speakers from Ireland, a literal BOAT LOAD of prizes. . . Message @yegwhiskynights to get one of the last spots! @seankincaid

I’m back baby!!! My 2nd appearance on the PWS Lost In Dramslation Podcast! . . Join @parkwhiskeysociety , @seankincaid , and myself as we sit down and talk whiskey for an hour. We mostly talk about what is coming down the PWS Imports Whisky Pipeline but we cover a bunch of other stuff as well. And of course…there was a “What Grinds My Malts” appearance. . . Topics besides gin, beer, golf, whiskies that aren’t super dark, and #peacocking: @singlecaskclan @taconic_distillery @boulderspirits @woodycreekdistillers @singlecasknation @drammorgroup @bimberdistillery @jeadiewhisky @twostackswhiskey @rogerswhisky @killowendistillery @whiskydadio @wicked_bourbon_kid . . Enjoy!!

I have not met @scotch_trooper but we have chatted a few times via Instagram. There aren’t many people who have tied together the whisky community the way he has. He combined his love of Star Wars, photography, and whisky and turned it into something that brought smiles to people’s faces and that brought the whisky community together in the process. Mr. Trooper rarely showed his face in pictures. He didn’t do this to get famous. He did this because it was a passion and he saw how happy it made people. My thoughts are with @scotch_trooper and his family during this difficult time. Thank you for being a pillar in a whisky community that has brought so much positivity to my life. Thank you for keeping whisky light and fun. Sláinte mhath!

Another blend. Another winner. This @whiskyfassle blended malt had everything I want in an older sherry cask blend. Absolutely delicious. Picked it up at @kensingtonwm a while back. What is your favourite blended scotch whisky?

@drams4fams has raised $21,000 for the @yegfoodbank this year. This helps them make 63,000 meals for families in need. Please consider donating to this amazing charity over the Christmas season. Literally every single dollar counts!! #yeg 🥃🥃 The donation link is in my bio.

Happy advent season everyone!!

The Drams for Fams whisky community initiative has surpassed $100,000 raised for food banks and other local charities across North America!! Thank you SO MUCH to all the participating whisky clubs in Canada and the USA. One dram at a time. One donation at a time. Whisky clubs are making a difference...