Author: Bryan Vanderkruk

Review

Crown Royal Multi-Review: Deluxe, Reserve, Black, Northern Harvest Rye and Hand Selected Barrel

Given it’s the end of the year, I thought why not post some reviews of a brand that will be consumed to great excess come New Years’ Eve. I’ve had a number of Crown Royal expressions over the years and the 5 that follow are the ones I’ve had a chance to sit down and review. there’s a certain nostalgia to this brand for me, … Continue reading Crown Royal Multi-Review: Deluxe, Reserve, Black, Northern Harvest Rye and Hand Selected Barrel

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Review

A Night at Feather’s Pub (+3 reviews)

Back in August when my wife and I celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary, she gave me a gift of a night out at Feather’s the pre-eminent scotch bar in Toronto. She gave an amount I could spend on whiskies in whatever fashion I wanted, quantity/quality/both, and would drive me home at the end of the night. pretty sweet deal! So fast forward about 4 months … Continue reading A Night at Feather’s Pub (+3 reviews)

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Distillery Spotlight, Event Recap, Review

Forty Creek Deconstruction Tasting & Reviews

This post is a throwback to Forty Creek’s Whisky Weekend in 2014. I had long enjoyed Forty Creek as the better alternative to the Canadian whisky standards of Crown and CC. I’d bought a bunch of the limited editions in the past and figured why not check out the distillery and get one of the limited edition bottlings in person plus a signature? So I  pre-ordered … Continue reading Forty Creek Deconstruction Tasting & Reviews

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Review

#FroaigFriday review: Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength Batch 4

I received this sample in a reddit swap with TWS member /u/kinohead when we met up for a pint in Toronto. I’m a big fan of the Quarter Cask, enjoyed the 10 thoroughly and love the Cairdeas Origin from 2012, so I have high hopes for this dram! Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength batch 004 – 58.6% ABV Appearance: quite a deep orange, and appears thick and … Continue reading #FroaigFriday review: Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength Batch 4

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Review

#FroaigFriday Review: Laphroaig Cairdeas Origin 2012

Since we’re doing the hashtag thing here, i figured I should contribute with a Laphroaig review from a couple years ago. I got this dram in a swap with  Reddit user /u/schockwaves. This was my first limited edition from Laphroaig. Laphroaig Cairdeas 2012 Origin – 51.2% ABV Appearance: pale peach-orange Nose: lots of smoke, but sweet. Boggy peat. Some fruitines but I can’t place it. Floral … Continue reading #FroaigFriday Review: Laphroaig Cairdeas Origin 2012

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Review

Review: Macallan Cask Strength Sherry

This is an old review from a few years ago… before I cared about photo quality apparently! I was at the Manx Pub in Ottawa which has a wide selection but mostly entry level scotches. Busy place, lots of hipsters. Was one pint deep when I got the scotch list and saw this for a reasonablly priced pour. Macallan Sherry Cask Strength 60.1% ABV Appearance: Served in … Continue reading Review: Macallan Cask Strength Sherry

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Event Recap

Toronto Whisky Society goes to#WhiskyHeelParty2016

Just got back from #WhiskyHeelParty2016 hosted by Mark Bylok of http://www.whsky.buzz fame (also, he wrote the Whisky Cabinet), and thought I’d post some pictures of the night. Basically, once a year he brings a bunch of whisky aficionados together for a massive party (I counted 25 people in the room at one point), who all bring their ‘heels’ or bottles with a bit left in … Continue reading Toronto Whisky Society goes to#WhiskyHeelParty2016

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Review

Cheap Blend Reviews: Té Bheag, Islay Mist and Black Grouse Alpha

These are a few reviews from about 3 years ago of some cheap blends available at the LCBO, average price of about $30. when I was just building up my assortment, these were helpful to have on the shelf to serve to non-whisky drinking friends, or just to have a cheaper daily dram. My original scoring system back then differentiated between blends and single malts … Continue reading Cheap Blend Reviews: Té Bheag, Islay Mist and Black Grouse Alpha

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Review

Reviews: Glenmorangie Original, Lasanta, Nectar D’Or and Quinta Ruban

Glenmorangie 10 is one of the first bottles I ever bought when I was first getting into scotch. I purchased a gift set that had a 750ml bottle of original plus 3 minis of the 12-year expressions. Those have been sitting around for about 3.5 years now and i’m finally getting to them. When I first reviewed Glenmo10 way back in 2013, i scored it … Continue reading Reviews: Glenmorangie Original, Lasanta, Nectar D’Or and Quinta Ruban

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Review

Reviews: Glenkinchie 10 & 12. A lesson in disappointment

I’ve had two Glenkinchie’s to date, and it’s my lowest average scoring distillery. Here are my reviews:   Glenkinchie 10 yr – 43% ABV I was somewhat excited to try this one as I understand it’s discontinued, and has been for some time, (replaced by the 12yr). I haven’t had a lot of lowlands, but thought this could be an interesting dram. also noticed no … Continue reading Reviews: Glenkinchie 10 & 12. A lesson in disappointment

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