Shortly before the pandemic, I left the company I had been with for about a decade for a new job, but a project that was underway needed to be finished before I left. Finishing that project meant accompanying a customer to our plant in Saskatchewan, one of the only provinces I had yet to visit! So of course before heading out there, I called up … Continue reading Lucky Bastard Distillery – Saskatoon
Central City Brewing has been a stalwart in the craft brewing scene in BC since 2003 with their Red Racer line, and entered the distilling game in 2013. Brewmaster Gary Lohin and Head Distiller Stuart McKinnon used their collective expertise to develop an innovative line-up of Lohin McKinnon single malts. The regular Single Malt did very well in our inaugural Great Canadian Whisky Tasting in 2017, as did their … Continue reading Distillery Spotlight: Central City’s Lohin McKinnon Single Malts
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
Thanks to /u/devoz for the sample. Why not include this in my multi-review of a bunch of Caol Ilas? Cause it came later. Also I did a lot of work between then and now and don’t want to have to change all my numbering. Also I’m lazy. Let’s not forget that. Young peated malts are an exception to a rule about young malt, I’m finding. Where… Continue reading Caol Ila 11 2005 Gordon & MacPhail bottled for Kensington Wine Market
Toronto Whisky Society were privileged enough to be sent bottles and samples of Do Good distilleries offerings. We’d like to start out by thanking Do Good for these samples, and for being patient while we waited for someone to legally bring them back from the US. Do Good Distillery is built upon the ideal of making unique, wonderful craft spirits. Their emphasis is on whisky. They use … Continue reading Toronto Whisky Society Do Good Distillery Reviews
Thanks to /u/devoz for this sample. Hey, look, it’s another BenRiach I’ve never had. Guess it’s time to write about how I’m a huge fanboy for them and that’s my bias. Glad that’s out of the way now. Maybe I should explain more for everyone who isn’t a voice in my head as I write this that can immediately get the inside jokes. I enjoy BenRiach… Continue reading BenRiach 14 1998 Single Cask Virgin American Oak Finish
Glenburgie 21yr IB (Archives 1995) – Review 21 years Bourbon hogshead 54.1% ABV Glenburgie is one of the lesser known Speyside distilleries, despite not being widely known it produces over 4 million litres/year. The profile of the Glenburgie single casks I have tried in the past have been rather bold and interesting, hoping this one continues the trend. Nose: Peaches, vanilla custard, apples, floral, … Continue reading Review: Archives Glenburgie 21 Year Single Cask
Thanks to /u/devoz for this sample. When one says “Aberlour”, what comes to mind? If you said “Sherry Casks”, you may have thought I said Glenfarclas. Or maybe not. If we look through the Aberlour line-up, it would seem that they have stocks in the Spanish fortified wine market. Or rather they’ve figured out their juice melds well with some sherry influence. And there’s nothing wrong… Continue reading Aberlour SMWS 54.38 “Confectionery and carpenters”
I’d like to start by thanking Do Good for these free samples. They were gracious and nice enough to patiently wait until we could receive them in the US, and legally bringing it back so that multiple members of the Toronto Whisky Society could try 4 of their offerings. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. A summary of our reviews will be posted on… Continue reading Do Good Distillery
Thanks to /u/theslicknick6 for this sample. I’ve had quite a few Kavalan whiskies. Sadly the one I liked the most is about as easy as finding an unopened beer at a teen’s party at 2am. But enough has been written about Vinho Barrique. Now my second favourite whisky was Concertmaster. Which I still think has a funny name. All the single casks are solist. A play… Continue reading Kavalan Port Cask Solist
Thanks to /u/theslicknick6 for this sample. If I have “oops” in my whisky reviews, it would be not getting around to some distilleries. One of which is White Oak Distillery, which I’m told is in the Hyogo prefecture. It’s too bad I’m utterly terrible at geography, or that would have significance to me. The distillery is owned by Eigashima, who makes sake and shochu. Sake is… Continue reading Akashi White Oak 5 Sherry Cask
Ledaig IB Side-by-Side Review Recently I got my hands on a bottle of Cooper’s Choice 1998 Ledaig, so I decided to compare it head to head against SMWS Ledaig 42.15. The specs of our contenders: Cooper’s Choice 1998 Ledaig 17 years old Matured in sherry butt 56.5% SMWS 42.15 19 years old Ex-bourbon refill hogshead 58.6% Cooper’s Choice 1998 Ledaig Nose: Sherry, cured meats/smoked … Continue reading Ledaig IB Side-by-Side Reviews (SMWS 42.15 vs. Cooper’s Choice 1998)
Toronto Whisky Society 