Barrels and Bites: An Uptown Waterloo Whisky Walk

The City of Waterloo Museum, in partnership with the Uptown Waterloo BIA, invites everyone to experience Barrels and Bites: An Uptown Waterloo Whisky Walk, an evening blending whisky tastings, culinary pairings, live music and local history in uptown Waterloo.

Taking place on April 14, 2026, this curated walking experience will guide participants through a selection of restaurants in uptown Waterloo, including Solé, Bodega Rose, Huether Hotel and LALA Social House. Guests will enjoy whisky tastings and snacks by local chefs and mixologists while strolling between venues and enjoying live music by Canadian band, No Discernible Key. Joined by whisky sommelier, Gary Bernier, they will also learn about flavour profiles, production techniques and the stories behind the spirits. 

Adding an authentic historical dimension, there will also be a brief presentation and a live reenactment to bring the political and social atmosphere of Waterloo in the early twentieth century to life. Guests will be transported to the 1914 provincial election campaign, with actors performing excerpts from a speech delivered by Charles Mills, the Conservative incumbent, alongside a portrayal of a member of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. These dramatized exchanges will highlight the passionate “Wets and Drys” debate that shaped Waterloo during the years leading up to Prohibition.

The event will take place on the evening of April 14, 2026, with two tour times available:

• 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Tickets are $85 per person and must be purchased in advance at barrels-and-bites.eventbrite.ca

“By blending whisky tastings with live interpretation, music, and a walking route through uptown, Barrels and Bites connects Waterloo’s contemporary dining scene with the stories and characters that shaped its past.” – Karen VandenBrink, City of Waterloo Museum.

“Barrels and Bites is a celebration of uptown Waterloo—its businesses, its stories, and its vibrant street life—offering guests an immersive walking experience that supports local restaurants while animating the neighbourhood in a new and engaging way.” – Jeyas Balaskanthan, Uptown Waterloo BIA.

About the City of Waterloo Museum
The City of Waterloo Museum is dedicated to fostering understanding and appreciation of local and national history through engaging exhibitions, community partnerships, and programming. The museum is committed to telling inclusive and diverse stories that reflect the many voices and experiences that have shaped Waterloo’s past and present.

Located at Conestoga Mall, the museum offers free admission and ever-changing exhibitions that explore the city’s unique heritage.

Exhibition hours are Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Extended hours in July and August. Learn more: www.waterloo.ca/museum

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Media Contact

Shirley Luu
Communications Consultant
City of Waterloo
shirley.luu@waterloo.ca