New “Flights & Light Bites” Series at the Hotel Grand Pacific

September 27, 2011; Victoria, B.C. – Starting this October, The Pacific Lounge at the Hotel Grand Pacific will offer Victorians the chance to learn a little more about their favourite tipple with a series of hour-long Saturday afternoon tasting sessions called “Flights and Light Bites.” Covering everything from tea cocktails, through to Scotch whisky and eau de vie, each session in the series will be led by an expert in the field who will take guests through a flight of four different samples, along with the tasting plate that the drinks have been paired with.

“The Flights & Light Bites sessions are a fun, low-commitment alternative to full wine dinners or seminars,” said Janis Goard, director of Food and Beverage at the Hotel Grand Pacific. “If you haven’t tasted mead before, you’re probably not going to go out and buy four different bottles to compare them. These sessions are a great way to try something new, reward yourself after an afternoon of shopping downtown, or maybe just learn a little something.”

Each Flights & Light Bites session will start at 4pm, running for approximately one hour. For just $20, each guest will receive at least four tasting pours of the featured beverages, along with a tasting plate with items such as charcuterie, cheese, olives and nuts, depending on the pairings. Dates and themes for the first six Flights & Light Bites are as follows:

October 15: Tea Cocktails
Participants will taste through four of the hotel’s signature tea cocktails, as well as learning how to make tea infusions to make their own cocktails at home.

October 29: Mead
Tugwell Creek’s Bob Liptrot will lead guests through a tasting of five of their meads, including flavoured and sparkling varieties.

November 12: Seasonal Beer
Guests will be led through four different winter and holiday brews, including seasonal offerings from Driftwood and Phillips Brewing, and two international specialty beers.

January 14: Scotch/Whiskey/Bourbon
A special preview before the Whisky Festival, guests will taste a range of whiskies from the delicate and floral, through to the big “Peat Monsters.”

January 28: Eaux de Vie
Participants will taste their way through some of the world’s most famous eaux de vie, including Calvados, Pineau des Charentes, grappa and Poire William.

February 11: Dessert Wines
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, this session will focus on different styles of dessert wines from around the world.

Tickets are available in advance through calling the restaurant at 250-380-4478. While tickets will be available at the door, advance purchase is recommended as space is limited.

The Hotel Grand Pacific is a four-Diamond property conveniently located on the Inner Harbour in downtown Victoria. With 304 spacious guestrooms and suites, the Hotel Grand Pacific is renowned for delivering an exceptional and personalized guest service experience. With a focus on health and wellness, the hotel offers complimentary access to the Victoria Athletic Club, located on-site. Relax at the spa or dine at the all-day Pacific Restaurant or The Mark, an award-winning fine dining restaurant. The Hotel Grand Pacific is a proud member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.