OCNews

Ward off the winter weather while learning to pick up the finer flavours of scotch as part of an upcoming whisky tasting to benefit Okanagan College students.

Held by the Rotary Club of Kelowna Ogopogo, the 11th annual charity whisky tasting will test participants’ noses and taste buds as they learn to pick up notes of crème brulee or ripple bananas from seven mystery scotches. Tasty appetizers and buttery short bread will cap off the event, which typically sells out each year.

“What people enjoy about this event is the opportunity to taste a variety of different scotches that they wouldn’t normally get to drink,” explains Mark Dixon, Rotary member and malt whisky expert, who will be leading the event.

“We have people who come every year and first-timers, the event is not formal, and it’s fun to try these warming drinks when it’s cold outside.”

Each year, Ogopogo Rotary chooses a charity to donate the event proceeds to. This year, the funds will go to the Okanagan College Foundation’s Our Students, Your Health campaign, which has a fundraising goal of $5 million to build a new Health Sciences Centre on the Kelowna campus.

“Our Rotary Club is a big supporter of youth and encouraging people to reach their potential,” says Trish McLeod, who sits on the fundraising committee for the Kelowna Ogopogo club.

“We feel this new addition of a Health Sciences Centre at the College will be an invaluable asset to the enhancement of our community.”

The charity whisky tasting is the second largest fundraising event held by the Ogopogo Rotary with 100 per cent of the proceeds benefiting charity.

Since its inception, the charity whisky tasting has raised more than $100,000 for diverse charities throughout Kelowna.

To learn more about the event or to purchase tickets, click here.