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Elixir is one of about a dozen S.F. bars hosting whiskey-spiked events next week.

​There's no better place to celebrate the upcoming sloshfest that is WhiskyWeek 2009 than bellied up to the bar of one of San Francisco's oldest and most passionate advocates of the hard stuff. Mission saloon Elixir (3200 16th St. at Guerrero) is hosting a series of whiskey seminars beginning this Sunday, October 11, and running through Friday, October 16, when the festivities culminate with WhiskyFest at the Marriott (55 Fourth St. at Market).

Each Elixir seminar promises to lead willing tipplers through a globe-spanning breakdown of distillation methods, with tastings to match with some of today's foremost whiskey experts. Events kick off Sunday with Glenmorangie brand ambassador David Blackmore holding forth on the aging process of one of the best-selling single-malt Scotches in the world. He will lead a tasting selection that promises "a full sensory analysis of the components found in Glenmorangie whiskies." The seminar proper runs from 6 to 8 p.m., but the, ahem, tasting portion will continue (in true Elixir form) until 2 a.m.

On Monday, October 12, the fun starts all over again at Elixir with Charbay Winery and Distillery 13th-generation master distiller Marko Karakasevic. As the name suggests, he knows his booze (the family business includes whiskey, vodka, tequila, grappa, and several wine varietals). A few fantastic cocktails will be available, as well as tastes of a rare bottle of Charbay Pilsner Whiskey II. The seminar runs from 7 to 9 p.m., with Charbay cocktail specials served all night.

The seminars are strictly limited to 25 seats each, and cost $35 per person. Tickets are available online from Elixir. Other WhiskyWeek seminars drop at Nihon Lounge, Rye, The Alembic, Broken Record, and 15 Romolo, among other taverns. For the full schedule of WhiskyWeek events, visit the organizers' Web site.