Distillery Spotlight

Distillery & New Release Spotlight: Kinsip House of Fine Spirits & Cooper’s Revival Rye

Kinsip House of Fine Spirits (Prince Edward County, ON) is a relative newcomer to the Canadian distilling scene – at least as a corporate entity and brand. The distillery itself has been around since 2012, and was formerly known as 66 Gilead Distillery (named for its street address), making unique, crafted white and brown spirits. When the former owners decided to sell the business, a … Continue reading Distillery & New Release Spotlight: Kinsip House of Fine Spirits & Cooper’s Revival Rye

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Event Recap

Event Recap: Macallan & Highland Park tasting with Cameron Millar

We recently had an event with Cameron Millar, the brand ambassador for Edrington in Eastern Canada and tasted some fantastic drams. We both brought a few bottles we had gathered,  leading to a great tasting including a number of limited editions and since delisted bottlings including: The Naked Grouse The Macallan Edition No. 2 The Macallan Edition No. 3 The Macallan Classic Cut Highland Park … Continue reading Event Recap: Macallan & Highland Park tasting with Cameron Millar

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Review

New Release Spotlight: J.P. Wiser’s Seasoned Oak 19 year

A couple of years ago, Corby Spirit and Wine started their Rare Cask Series of whiskies – a collection of one-off bottlings with unique characteristics, production methods and stories – highlighting the innovative potential inherent in Canadian whisky and their warehouses. The first three releases were Last Barrels (a bourbon-style mashbill whisky), Dissertation (comprised of whiskies from Dr. Don Livermore’s PhD experiments), and Union 52 … Continue reading New Release Spotlight: J.P. Wiser’s Seasoned Oak 19 year

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Event Recap

Ardbeg Day 2018 – Toronto

On June 2nd we celebrated yet another year of Ardbeg. But what is Ardbeg Day? For those of you like myself, Ardbeg Day was always something that “other whisky nerds” in “other countries” went to, drinking “otherworldly Ardbeg”. Sometimes literally, in the case of the year with Galileo (yes, the specific whisky that went into space wasn’t Galileo, I know, but that last line sounded … Continue reading Ardbeg Day 2018 – Toronto

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Review

Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel

Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel, bottled June 17, 2016, 63.65% ABV, €65. Nose: Sourdough bread, orange peel, vanilla, mud/hay, soft oak. Taste: Baking spices, nutmeg, fruit cake/christmas cake, butterscotch, mint. Finish: Very long, spicy, HOT. Thoughts: Nice and rich, but wow, this delivers a serious hit. Big, bold, and in your face. The spiciness is where it shines. It’s like drinking holiday baked goods that … Continue reading Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel

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Review

Michter’s 10 Bourbon

Michter’s 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon, Barrel No.17H1150, 47.2% ABV, $105 USD. Nose: Really nice nutty note off the top, cherries, caramel, vanilla, cream corn, spearmint, and toasted oak. Taste: Great oakiness, milk chocolate, cigar, herbal, and again that general nuttiness that is really nice. Finish: Medium/long, chocolate, spice, and oak. Thoughts: Love it! This profile is exactly what I like in bourbon. The … Continue reading Michter’s 10 Bourbon

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Event Recap

Balvenie Tasting – Event Recap

In March, we had a tasting event with Jamie Johnson (@bourbonthing), the Balvenie Brand Ambassador for Canada. Jamie blew everyone’s expectations out of the water, bringing us 9 different expressions to try, including some unicorn bottles, as well as new make and barrel-seasoning rum! The drams were tasted were: Balvenie 12 Doublewood Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask Balvenie 17 Doublewood Balvenie 21 Portwood Balvenie 12 Single … Continue reading Balvenie Tasting – Event Recap

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Event Recap

Laphroaig / Bowmore Tasting – Event Recap

On April 18, we had a tasting event with Matt Jones (@whisky_chef on instagram/twitter), the Beam-Suntory brand ambassador for the company’s Scotch and worldwhisky portfolios. Matt brought us a number of expressions from both of these Islay distilleries and regaled us with tales from that beautiful island, and the people who live and work there. He also brought some great swag for everyone to take … Continue reading Laphroaig / Bowmore Tasting – Event Recap

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Review

Linkwood 15 Gordon & MacPhail

Linkwood 15 Years Old Speyside bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, 43% ABV, $125 CAD. Nose: Honey, peach, pear, apricot, Sweetish Berries candy, citrus, chocolate, and a delicious malt note. Taste: Honeycomb, chocolate, floral, melon, a candy sweetness, and again that really nice malt. Finish: Long, spicy, light cinnamon and chocolate. Thoughts: Very impressive! The malt note that runs throughout the whisky is perfect. Really good … Continue reading Linkwood 15 Gordon & MacPhail

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Review

Glendronach Peated Port Wood

Glendronach Peated Port Wood, 46% ABV, $125 USD. Limited release, finished with Douro Valley port pipes, non chilled filtered, natural colour. Nose: Strong raspberry and strawberry hit off the top, then damp wood, bitter oak, mild peat, and peaches. Taste: Tart raspberry and strawberries continue on the palate, bitter oak and charcoal. Finish: Medium to long. Tangy sharpness, with heavy ash and charcoal, then some … Continue reading Glendronach Peated Port Wood

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Event Recap, Whisky Musing

Perfect St. Patrick’s Day Pairing – Jameson Caskmates and Beau’s Strong Patrick

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to meet with Ger Buckley, fourth generation Head Cooper at Jameson Distillery, and Steve Beauchesne of Beau’s Brewery and ask questions about their respective companies, roles and upcoming collaboration. Jameson shots are virtually synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day in North America, along with green beer and other things the Irish likely find abominable about our celebration of their holiday! … Continue reading Perfect St. Patrick’s Day Pairing – Jameson Caskmates and Beau’s Strong Patrick

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Review

Redbreast 12 Cask Strength

Redbreast 12 Cask Strength, Batch No. B1/16, 57.2% ABV, $110 CAD. Malted and unmalted barley. Triple distilled in copper pot stills. Matured in sherry casks. Non chilled filtered. Nose: Very fresh nose with apples, apricots, creme brulee, fudge, figs, raisins, and chocolate. Taste: Chocolate fudge, malt, barley grain, toasted wood, cantaloupe. Finish: Long. Chocolate, burnt wood, malt and grain notes linger. Thoughts: Everything works well … Continue reading Redbreast 12 Cask Strength

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