A few months ago, the founding members of the Toronto Whisky Society were discussing what we should do to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday, and eventually the discussion came around to whisky awards. When we looked at these awards, we found that they don’t always reveal the full list of whiskies evaluated, and generally don’t evaluate up-and-coming distilleries with product under 3 years old. Canada has … Continue reading TWS’s Inaugural Whisky Awards Intro
For #WorldWhiskyDay, I’m doing a trio of Forty Creek limited edition releases. Hard to believe I last reviewed a forty creek whisky back in my 20th review here, and now I’m at over 100. my opinions on Forty Creek have definitely changed over the years, going from hardcore fanboy to disappointment in the similarity of many releases, to now being a skeptic of their future … Continue reading Forty Creek Limited Editions: Port Wood, Three Grain Harmony & Founder’s Reserve
As you’ll have seen from past group reviews and our trip to Hiram Walker last month (Pt1, Pt2, Pt3), we’re pretty big fans of what Dr. Don Livermore and the team at Corby/Pernod-Ricard are doing in the Canadian whisky category. From their Union 52 blend that includes some 52yr old Highland Scotch, to Last Barrels – a sour mash bourbon-style whisky, – to the use of virgin … Continue reading Exclusive Pre-Release Group Review: J.P. Wiser’s Dissertation
Yesterday marked the annual Spirit of Toronto tasting event at the Roy Thomson Hall. An absolute must for the whisky enthusiast, Spirit of Toronto offers an all-inclusive experience with a wide range vendors and expressions. This was the second consecutive year I attended, and once again I had an amazing evening. One of the best features about Spirit of Toronto are the Masterclasses offered each … Continue reading Spirit of Toronto 2017
On April 23rd the Toronto Whisky Society hosted our most recent event, a tasting by the Victoria Caledonian Brewery & Distillery. Andrew Campbell Walls, the incredibly delightful brand ambassador of Victoria Caledonian Distillery, was gracious to lead is through a tasting of the TWA Blended malts available from the distillery, along with a sample of the currently maturing single malt spirit (Mac Na Braiche). Below … Continue reading Victoria Caledonian Distillery – TWS Event
Timberwolf Forest Products isn’t exactly a name that brings whisky to mind, but the company has been integrally involved in the whisky industry, handling the in/out processing of barrels for Hiram Walker – the largest distillery in North America – for years, as well as a small third party bottling operation for small batch runs of spirits. So it wasn’t as big a leap as one … Continue reading Wolfhead Distillery [Visit & Review]
Glenora is a distillery in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia (New Scotland), Canada, an area where many Scottish immigrants settled early in Canada’s history. Like many people on that end of the country, they don’t do things like all the other Canadians. Rather than make blended stuff like all the other distilleries, they started making single malt in the 90s, the first in North America to … Continue reading Glen Breton Multi-Review: 10, 12 Ice Wine, 15 Battle of the Glen
Occasionally one of our members will pick up a bottle and give out samples to a number of Toronto Whisky Society (TWS) members to review individually. These reviews are amalgamated into a single multi-person review like this one. This time around both Bryan Vanderkuk and Devozwhisky were lucky enough to purchase bottles of the new Wiser’s release, Union 52 from British Colombia. Originally Devozwhisky and … Continue reading Toronto Whisky Society Union 52 Group Review
Today I post this to commemorate the closing doors of a distillery. The Toronto Distillery Co has been operating out of the Junction in Toronto since 2012 and has made some really interesting stuff over the years. In past posts, I’ve covered their gin, white whiskies, beet liquor, First Barrels at bottled ABV and at cask strength, as well as their Hickory Cask whisky at … Continue reading Distillery Down… sort of; Toronto Distillery Co closes its doors but opens its R&D shelf and shares its plans for the future
Jesse and Chuck invited us back to the Toronto Distillery Co. before they shut down January 31st to try their recent Hickory cask release at bottled and cask strength. Only a few of us from TWS were able to make it, but it was a fantastic afternoon. The Hickory Cask release is 100% toasted soft winter wheat grain, aged in a hickory wood cask (with … Continue reading Reviews: Toronto Distillery Co Hickory Cask, bottled and cask strength
