Sage, an herb typically relegated to the Thanksgiving dinner table, finds new appreciation at this weekendB次元官网网址檚 Art of the Cocktail.

B次元官网网址淚 decided to go with sage because itB次元官网网址檚 an under-appreciated herb,B次元官网网址� said Janice Mansfield, who is participating in the home bartendersB次元官网网址� challenge. The competition joins the professional bartenders challenge for the first time this year.

B次元官网网址淚t is called Healthy, Wealthy and Wise,B次元官网网址� Mansfield said. In the old herbalist manuals, sage is associated with wisdom. A gin made with green tea brings longevity and ginger brings health, as well as B次元官网网址渁 nice bright note,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a therapeutic cocktail.B次元官网网址�

Along with five other cocktail enthusiasts (excluding professional bartenders), sheB次元官网网址檒l mix her own concoction for the judges on the Saturday of the three-day event, running Oct. 1 to 3 at various locations.

The Art of the Cocktail include an evening of tasting and a series of workshops.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got the best minds in the cocktail world that are coming here to share their knowledge,B次元官网网址� said Scott Amos, communications co-ordinator.

New this year is a wine-cocktail and cured-meats pairing, as well as a type of cocktail pub crawl where participants who hit up at least five of the participating cocktail lounges gain entry to a midnight buffet.

The whole event is a fundraiser for the Victoria Film Festival. Last yearB次元官网网址檚 event raised $11,000 for the festival.

As well as participating in the home bartender challenge, Mansfield is also hosting a workshop on how to set up a home bar.

Mansfield got into classic cocktails before the culture started catching on in Victoria.

B次元官网网址淚t was hard to find a good drink,B次元官网网址� she recalled.

Her house bears testament to her passion. A large home bar sprawls across her living room and kitchen.

These days, she said, there is a growing list of bars offering a creative list of cocktails, a step above the slushy drinks that sometimes pass for them.

Buy tickets or find out more at www.artofthecocktail.ca.