Another fantastic year for the Toronto Whisky Society (TWS) has finally wrapped up! We hosted some wonderful masterclasses and tastings for our members, went to some more distilleries and tried a ton of excellent whisky. So now that 2019 has come and gone we reached out to our fantastic TWS members to ask them what their favourite whiskies were in 2019!

Read below to see what whiskies were the highlights for a number of the more active TWS members (listed in alphabetical order):

Bryan Vanderkruk:

• Scotch: Tie between Caol Ila 11 Year Howard Cai Selected Cask HG016 and Tomatin 36 Year Old Batch #4
• American Whiskey: George T. Stagg 2017
• World Whisky: Tie between Alberta Premium Cask Strength and Shelter Point Double Barrel

Devin Krebs:

• Scotch: Longrow 11 Year Re-Charred Sherry Butt for Springbank Society
• American Whiskey: Thomas H. Handy 2012
• World Whisky: Kavalan Solist Oloroso

Devoz:

• Scotch: Ledaig 42 Year Old
• American Whiskey: George T. Stagg 2018
• World Whisky: Amrut Greedy Angels 10 Year Cask Strength

Sammyc

• Scotch: Brora 30 Year Old 5th Release
• American Whisky: Thomas H. Handy 2013
• World Whisky: Wiser’s 18 Year Old (Bottled in 1945)

Smoked_Herring:

• Scotch: Caol Ila 32 Year 1982 Cadenhead’s Small Batch
• American Whiskey: Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye (55.0% ABV)
• World Whisky: Paul John 2011 Cadenhead’s Small Batch

Shepso:

• Scotch: Ardbeg 14 Year Oloroso Single Cask
• American Whiskey: Barrell Bourbon Batch #16
• World Whisky: Whistlepig 10 Year Cask Strength Vermont Distillery Exclusive

TOModera:

• Scotch: Port Charlotte 17 Year Maltbarn
• American Whiskey: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof (ZYN.ca Pick)
• World Whisky: Paul John 2011 Cadenhead’s Small Batch

Throzen:

• Scotch: Glenury Royal 29 Year 1970 Rare Malts
• American Whiskey: Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2013 125th Anniversary
• World Whisky: Paul John 2011 Cadenhead’s Small Batch

Vertigo88:

• Scotch: Macallan Edition No. 2
• American Whiskey: High West Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 4,
• World Whisky: Nikka Coffey Grain

A really all-around range of whiskies hit people’s best-of lists this year in every category with a really solid showing from a wonderful 6 year old Paul John bottled by Cadenhead’s and a few back-to-back Thomas H. Handy releases! It was a very fun 2019 for all with some exceptional drams being tried and I’m sure the start of the 2020s will bring even more fun whiskies to the table!