The fact that it was quite hot that Saturday in August was fitting. This summer, Toronto Whisky Society’s special once a year non-whisky event was a voyage to Greece to sample tsipouro and brandy spirits. The tsipouro and brandy spirits in question came from Thesaloniki Greece and the family spirit makers @dourodoulispirits.

Members were greeted with Greek music and their choice of specialty cocktail. The welcome cocktails asked you, “where would you want to be right now”? Playing backgammon at a little taverna on the Plaka? Sitting on the seaside? Or at brunch in Santorini? Based on your answer, you were given a TNT (Tsipouro and Tonic), Bloody Diana orTsip and Seven. A vote was held and the winning cocktail was overwhelmingly the TNT. To compliment the mediterranean theme there were olives, feta and dates in addition to the usual pretzels, nuts and chocolates.

Dorodouli Spirits sent a generous 10 samples of brandy, marc and tsipouro for members to sample. Each expression had its own unique flavour profile thanks in part to different grape varietals and different wood aging. In addition to oak some of the other woods used in the aging process include pine, cedar and maple. Interestingly, this brand of tsipouro follows a single-cask method not blending from different barrels.

The flavour trail followed a pre-selected route from light tsipouro, pomace brandy, botanical tsipouro, aniseed tsipouro (more common in northern Greece), a gin expression (herbal tsipouro) used for the TNT, a fruit brandy, a cognac style tsipouro, whisky style, tequila style and finally a classic brandy.

#torontowhiskysociety #tsipouro #dorodoulispirits