Our AGM in 2021 was virtual once again due to COVID and whichever wave was hitting us at that time. Aside from the usual business, we did a pair of mystery drams like in 2020 and had the group guess on a variety of attributes: Out of a total possible points of 8 (4Qs x 2 samples), our big winner was Adam who got 6pts, … Continue reading AGM & Social 2021
In September 2021 we had a very fun event we called the ‘Battle of India’ where we pitted the two big single malt producers from India against one another: Amrut and Paul John. We had 3 pairs of spirits that were similar in nature to one another from each distillery, and one mystery dram at the end. Each pair was tasted blind and members guessed … Continue reading Battle of India Tasting: Amrut vs Paul John
In summer 2021, we had an event fall through fairly last minute, but fortunately, The Whisky Explorer came to the rescue! Mike Brisebois used to be the brand ambassador for the Distell Group of scotch brands (Bunnahabhain, Ledaig, Tobermory, Deanston, Black Bottle) before branching out on his own endeavour which includes: Needless to say, we’re big fan’s of Mike’s and had done some events with … Continue reading Bunnahabhain Instagram Live Tasting – June 2021
While Covid changed a lot of things, one thing it didn’t change was our annual Oddballs tradition! in 2021, we had a great Oddballs line-up tasted over Zoom including the following drams, all of which were single cask and cask strength Opinions and favourites were mixed, but everyone agreed there were some massive surprises in the line-up, with the speyside’s sulphury palate being the most … Continue reading Oddballs 2021
Our last in-person tasting before Covid hit…. the before times. Crazy that it would be a full 2.33yrs before we would be in person again – could almost age a whisky to legal maturity in that time! This tasting was pulled together over time through a combination of members bringing in bottles and the brand ambassador providing a bunch as well. The writer was travelling … Continue reading Tomintoul Tasting – Mar 2020
The writer was travelling in Japan at the time, but long-time TWS member, frequent website contributor and former exec Mike O’Leary travelled to Scotland and brought back some real treats from his distillery visits and tours. He was kind enough to host an event and pour some of these for members! which would you want to drink first? Continue reading Distillery Exclusives Tasting with Mike
Over the past few years, we’ve tried to include one non-whisky event in our annual line-up, to help introduce folks to different spirits, and to keep things interesting! In 2021, the event was Rum & Cachaça. While we could have done a full rum event, the opportunity to get some cachaça direct from Brazil presented itself via a co-worker who was going back to visit … Continue reading Rum & Cachaça Tasting – March 2021
In feb 2021 we held a tasting with Waterford Whiskey from Ireland, virtually connecting with the team at the distillery while tasting some of their wares. Waterford’s raison d’etre is to evaluate and demonstrate the effect of terroir on whiskey, much like with the wine industry. They closely monitor the climate and soil conditions at their various farms, creating single farm whiskeys and blends thereof. … Continue reading Waterford Whiskey tasting – Feb 2021
Our AGM looked a little different this year, but we still had a good time online drinking for the last time together in 2020, and did a blind tasting of two Carn More Strictly Limited Bottlings and had people guess their identity and specs. The closest to the mark got to keep the leftovers! Here’s to a better 2021! Continue reading Virtual AGM & Social 2020
COVID sure did change a lot about whisky tastings in 2020, but it didn’t slow them down! In September we managed to work with Sagamore Spirit on a tasting event that included a virtual distillery tour, a history of Maryland Rye, a fantastic giveaway and if course 4 very neat expressions of their Maryland style rye: Sagamore Straight Rye Sagamore Double Oak Rye Sagamore Cask … Continue reading Sagamore Rye Tasting Event
In July 2020 we had a virtual tasting with Bernard Walsh of the Walsh Whisky Distillery in Ireland, presented by Woodman Wines and Spirits. Bernard gave us an overview of the history of Walsh Whiskey, and the ins and outs of their two brands, Writer’s Tears and The Irishman. We had a chance to try 5 expressions from those brands, and the group consensus was … Continue reading Walsh Whiskey Distillery tasting with Bernard Walsh
We love a good wine-finished whisky, whether it’s the Red Series from Longrow, an Octomore X.2 release, a double-barreled single malt from Shelter Point and so on and so forth. So when Corby announced they were collaborating with their recently acquired Foreign Affair Winery for a new whisky release we were VERY interested in the results. Foreign Affair wine club members got a preview of this … Continue reading New Release Spotlight: Pike Creek 15 Foreign Affair Cab Sauv Finish
Toronto Whisky Society 