ScotchBlog: Events Archives

Recap: Forty Creek Tasting at Quinn's Steakhouse - March 2013

By Robin on March 18, 2013 9:00 AM | 2 Comments

On March 7th, 2013 ScotchBlog.ca along with Forty Creek Distillery hosted a tasting at Quinn's Steakhouse and Irish Bar.

Guests were treated to some of Canada's finest whiskies created by local distiller, John Hall, at Forty Creek Distillery in Grimsby, Ontario.

The tasting started with three single-grain whiskies: 100% rye paired with spiced fruit, 100% barley with sharp Guinness cheddar, and 100% corn with spicy corn dip and tortillas. None of these whiskies are available for sale as John insists of selling only blends.

The tasting moved on to Forty Creek's bottles: Barrel Select paired with a sweet and sour beef meatball, Copper Pot with chili orange toffee and figs, Confederation Oak Reserve with smoked pork belly and raspberry bbq sauce, and finally the very limited Port Wood Reserve with a custom R&R dark chocolate ganache with rum-soaked raisins.

John led nothing less than a masterclass on how he makes his whisky, his motivations for establishing the distillery, and ruminations about the industry in general.

A very special thanks to Kelly and Quinn's for the expertly prepared food pairings!

Thanks very much to all who attended. Please enjoy this photo gallery of the evening.

And Now for Something Completely Different...

By Matt on February 28, 2013 9:00 AM | 0 Comments

Almost.

It has been over a month since our last guest tasting and reader meet-up, so the time has come to break this streak. On Thursday, March 7th we will be hosting another special evening of whisky and food frivolity, and this time we're going home.

A week from today, we and our guests will have the privilege of getting to know Canada's premier independent distillery in much greater detail as the one and only John Hall takes us on a deep dive into all that is Forty Creek. Now many of you may be thinking: this is ScotchBlog and that's not Scotch whisky. You're right, and that's the point. Over the past few years this distillery has been one of the leaders of the resurgence of Canadian whisky at home and abroad, so we felt it was only fair that if we were going to see what all the hype was about, that we should share it with as many people as we can.

So next Thursday 40 people will be treated to 7 whiskies including the raw components that John uses in creating his signature expressions. As always, each whisky will be paired with food selected to accentuate the flavours in the glass and the cost will include the whisky and the food.

Just what is the cost? Merely $42.

How do you secure your spot? Well, to your right you'll see how to "Contact Us" to let us know that you want to attend.

If you end up on the waiting list, don't panic. There are always a few last minute shuffles as life often tends to throw a few plans askew, and for those of you that don't happen to make it, but want to be added to our "advance notice list" for future events, that would also be the way to get on that list. Our advance notice list always receives the first right of refusal for seats prior to these posts, and I promise you: we don't send spam emails.

On behalf of everyone at ScotchBlog, we look forward to sharing a memorable night of Canadian whisky wonder with you.

Recap: Gordon & MacPhail Tasting at Quinn's Steakhouse - January 2013

By Robin on February 13, 2013 9:00 AM | 0 Comments

On January 24th, 2013, ScotchBlog.ca along with Gordon & MacPhail hosted a tasting at Quinn's Steakhouse and Irish Bar.

Guests were treated to five single-malts casked and matured by Gordon & MacPhail, two made by the company's distillery, Benromach, and finally their whisky liqueur, Dunkeld Atholl Brose.

Single malts included Bladnoch '93 with a spicy chocolate, Allt-A-Bhainne '96 with an orange BBQ pulled pork slider, Craigellachie '93 with a Thai vegetable rice wrap and chili dipping sauce, Mortlach 15YO with oxtail truffled mash sheppard's pie, Benromach 30YO with a coconut shrimp and spicy dipping sauce, Aultmore '00 with a vanilla poached pear, and Benromach 10YO with a raisin and cashew butter tart.

The tasting was led by Gordon & MacPhail's managing director, Michael Urquhart, who provided some of the most in-depth distillery and expression discussion we've ever experienced. The evening could only be described as a master class.

Thanks very much to all who attended. Please enjoy this photo gallery of the evening.

Recap: Buichladdich Tasting at Quinn's Steakhouse - November 2012

By Robin on November 11, 2012 5:40 PM | 0 Comments

Wednesday November 7th, 2012, ScotchBlog.ca along with the Bruichladdich distillery hosted a tasting at Quinn's Steakhouse and Irish Bar.

Guests were treated to six single malt whiskies made by Bruichladdich including the Octomore Comus 4.2, the worlds most heavily peated whisky, and the Black Art 2. Each whisky was paired with a dish including a lamb and Ermite blue cheese poutine, and a Mincemeat tart.

Thanks to everyone who attended and made it such a pleasure. We hope you enjoy this photo gallery of the evening.

Alberta Premium Dark Horse Launch at Turf Lounge

By Jeff on October 10, 2012 10:15 AM | 3 Comments

On October 3rd, ScotchBlog was invited to celebrate Alberta Premium's launch of their new Dark Horse whisky. The location for the event was the appropriately selected off-track wagering restaurant Turf Lounge in downtown Toronto. Mingling with the crowd after arriving, we were treated to cocktails of Alberta Premium with fruit juice and orange bitters. A seemingly unending parade of hors d'oeuvres followed, and a waiter was even so kind as to make an extra cocktail for one of our members who felt that one just wasn't enough. We also had a few minutes prior to the tasting to have a brief chat with our tasting guide for the evening as well as author, Davin de Kergommeaux. Davin has recently released a book titled Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert which provides a detailed, authoritative, and well-written resource on all things Canadian Whisky.

Once seated, we had the opportunity to sample the standard Alberta Premium expression quickly followed by the star of the evening: Dark Horse. Visually, the Dark Horse is extremely interesting: A dark brown with a reddish hue. This sparked a discussion as to whether colouring had been added. While we didn't find out the answer to that specific question, we did find out that an extremely small percentage of the make-up of this whisky is actual sherry, allowed due to a little-known regulation that permits Canadian whisky to have up to 9.09% of its content composed of non-whisky additives. There is also a small amount of bourbon-style corn whisky added, but the bulk of this heavy hitting drink is rye - a staggering 91% rye in fact. While it's rare to see a Canadian Whisky with a rye content that high, it also gives the taster a unique insight into the rich, bold flavours that the grain can impart.

Continue reading Alberta Premium Dark Horse Launch at Turf Lounge.

Recap: Habits Gastropub Whisky Tasting - July 2012

By Robin on July 22, 2012 5:05 PM | 0 Comments

On Thursday July 12th, 2012 Habits Gastropub, in association with ScotchBlog.ca, hosted a whisky tasting. Five whiskies from four countries were paired with a delicious assortment of gourmet dishes. The menu can be seen here.

See the College St. Whisky Strip in Action this Thursday

By Matt on July 9, 2012 11:30 PM | 1 Comment

This Thursday Habits Gastropub will be offering up a chance to experience their culinary prowess in the form of an updated take on the classic 5-course dinner featuring modern spins on classic pub dishes, each paired with a whisky for a mere $35 after tax.

Having appeared in our recent feature on the area, they invited us to coordinate the whisky portion of the evening and provided 2 free tickets to see the whole affair in action.

Enough rambling, here are the details:

Where: Habits Gastropub 928 College St., Toronto, ON

When: This Thursday, July 12th at 7pm

The Menu:

Pear and tellegio cheese soup paired with a Speyside single malt
An updated take on mushrooms on toast using king oyster mushrooms on brioche paired with a Canadian whisky
A mini Scotch egg using a quail egg wrapped in in-house smoked trout paired with an Irish whiskey
Sweet braised pork belly paired with an Islay whisky
Apple bread pudding in a whisky caramel sauce paired with a Lowland whisky

How to get your seat:

By calling them directly at 416-533-7272 and using your credit card over the phone.
By going to the venue and paying in person.

I recommend going with the advance ticket option so that everything is paid for before you arrive.

For the 2 free seats, we'll give one away to each of the first two people to email us at the "contact us" address to the right, and then we will notify the team at Habits who you are.

On behalf of the team at ScotchBlog.ca and Habits Gastropub, we look forward to seeing you this Thursday!

Recap: Glenfiddich's Cask of Dreams Canadian Debut at Allen's - June 2012

By Robin on June 25, 2012 10:24 PM | 0 Comments

On Saturday June 23rd, 2012 ScotchBlog.ca hosted a whisky tasting featuring Glenfiddich's Cask of Dreams, its Canadian debut, at Allen's on the Danforth.

Guests were treated to five expressions of Glenfiddich including the 15 year-old Distiller's Edition as well as the Cask of Dreams bottling, drawn directly from the cask in Scotland not two weeks before. The whiskies were paired with smoked salmon, lamb, beef, grilled cheese, and lobster. The tasting was guided by Beth Havers of William Grant and Sons.

Day Dream with Glenfiddich at Allen's Restaurant

By Matt on June 15, 2012 2:00 PM | 2 Comments

On Saturday, June 23rd at 3pm we will be hosting an exclusive event with the world's most awarded single malt Scotch whisky, on the patio of one of Canada's finest whisky-focused restaurants.

A few months ago some of you may have had a chance to roll the Glenfiddich Cask of Dreams through your respective city. Some may have even had the opportunity to write a dream or a goal on that cask, but nobody had the opportunity to taste a Cask of Dreams bottling in Canada.

Until now.

40 very lucky people will have the opportunity to be the first in Canada to taste this limited edition bottling months before it hits the shelves. But why stop at one limited edition whisky?

The tasting will also include the Glenfiddich 15 year old Distillery Edition, which will not be available in Ontario until autumn. In fact, the event will feature 5 whiskies from Glenfiddich, paired with 5 carefully crafted selections from the fantastic kitchen at Allen's Restaurant for just $35 all-in.

How do you secure your seat? Well, to your right you will see the email address to contact us. You will need to send an email to that address stating your desire to attend.

Please note that this will fill up very fast, and seats are only available on a first-emailed, first-confirmed basis. I will personally email you with a confirmation of whether you responded in time, or are on the waiting list.

On behalf of everyone at ScotchBlog.ca, Glenfiddich, and Allen's, we look forward to spending this very special afternoon with you.

Recap: Tullibardine Tasting at Quinn's Steakhouse - March 2012

By Robin on March 24, 2012 6:17 PM | 0 Comments

On Thursday March 22, 2012 ScotchBlog.ca hosted a whisky tasting featuring Tullibardine Distillery at Quinn's Steakhouse & Irish Bar.

Guests were treated to six expressions of Tullibardine, including a 1964 cask strength, along with food pairings and a fascinating miscellany of anecdotes, digressions, and factual tidbits about the distillery from Tullibardine's International Sales Manager, James Robertson.

Get Vertical with Tullibardine

By Matt on March 15, 2012 12:00 PM | 0 Comments

On Thursday, March 22nd (yes, that is next Thursday) at 7pm we are inviting people to join us somewhere in Toronto as we welcome James Robertson from Tullibardine to guide 40 of us through a tasting of 6 whiskies from a distillery that is a personal favourite of mine.

The evening will feature various vintages and cask finishes from Tullibardine as well as food pairings designed to accentuate the flavours of the whiskies, and as always there is a nominal fee required for entry to offset some of the cost of putting the whole thing together.

How much? $20.

Yes. You read that correctly. The whole event will only cost twenty dollars per person.

Now, as is often the case with such a unique and special event, we have to cap the number of attendees. This time the cap is due to the available quantity of a few of the whiskies. Therefore it is a very hard cap for which there can be no exceptions.

With that in mind we'll be accepting requests from those who email us on a first-come, first-served basis. After all the seats are filled, we will then be keeping a waiting list. For everyone who fits into the first 40, you will receive an email next week, from me personally, with the exact location of the tasting. For those who need to hang tight on the waiting list, I will also email you so that you can be on guard should a last minute spot open up.

So how do you confirm your desire to attend? Well, if you look to your right, you will see how to "Contact Us". So please do send an email, otherwise it makes it very difficult for me to email you back with the details.

On behalf of everyone at ScotchBlog.ca, we are truly looking forward to sharing this special evening with you.

6 Whiskies Paired with Food for Less Than $25

By Matt on January 23, 2012 8:37 PM | 0 Comments

No. It's not a typo. What you're seeing is what's on offer at the next ScotchBlog reader meet-up.

Similar to last time, we've worked with our fantastic hosts to put together two flights of 3 whiskies each, and once again the chef has paired each whisky with a nibble to highlight the fact that whisky and food do indeed go together. Exactly like last time, there will be full food and whisky menus for a la carte ordering, and no cover. Just pay for what you eat and drink.

This month's edition will focus on the smokier side of the whisky spectrum. Some will be a combination of smoky and sweet, while others will display the classic peat, and all will be delicious. After the flights are finished, feel free to stick around to mix and mingle, as many of us will be going deeper into the whisky list.

The tasting will be held in downtown Toronto this Saturday, January 28th with a start time as close to 3pm as we can manage, as we'll do our best to ensure that we get rolling once everyone is there. So how do you find out where? Well just to your right is the "Contact Us" option that we'd like you to use to email us with your name and the number of guests that will be joining you (we'd love to know their names too!). The reason for this is to provide the chef with a reasonable estimate of the number of flights to prepare. After we receive that email, I will personally get back to you with all of the details.

On behalf of all of us at ScotchBlog.ca, we look forward to seeing everyone this Saturday.

Robbie Burns Day Planner

By Matt on January 14, 2012 3:10 PM | 0 Comments

As always, January 25th is Robbie Burns Day, and as usual many restaurants and pubs will be offering up specials on food and drink, poetry, dancing, and more. But what about us whisky fanatics in Toronto? What are we to do?

In years past I would hum and haw, mulling my options until it was too late to get a ticket anywhere, and ultimately end up at home or a friend's with a bottle from my own collection. Surely there must be a better way right? A short list of venues with extensive whisky lists and their menus, offerings, and prices perhaps? Well, there is now.

This is your Toronto Robbie Burns Day shortlist.

Continue reading Robbie Burns Day Planner.

Join Us for a Dram or Two This Saturday

By Matt on December 5, 2011 8:46 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

Over past few months we've received many requests to join our readers for a drink and some good old fashioned whisky geeking. Well, you asked for it, so who are we to ignore peer pressure?

This Saturday, December 10th we'll be gathering with those whisky lovers willing to join us in downtown Toronto. There will be a couple whisky and food pairing flights available for those looking to indulge, a la carte ordering for all (including a full food menu), and most importantly absolutely no cover or any other charge for entry. So simply put it, it's pay for what you consume.

The start time will be 3pm to ensure that your Saturday night will not be disrupted, and the venue will be very close to both the TTC and GO Transit lines to leave you no reason to imbibe and drive.

Yes, I know, I haven't told you where it is. That's because we're limiting it to 20 to 30 people. So please use the Contact Us option just up and to the right of this on the main page and send us an email with your name and the name of anyone joining you so we can ensure that your seat is ready and waiting for you.

On behalf of all of us at Scotchblog.ca I can sincerely say that we truly look forward to meeting as many of you as possible.

The Balvenie and The Canadian Opera Company Celebrate Craftsmanship

By Sean on November 30, 2011 3:40 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

Recently, the Balvenie held a unique tasting event showcasing the 21 year old Portwood expression which is due in LCBO stores this week. Joining forces with the Canadian Opera Company, the Balvenie invited guests to sample a range of their fine malts while learning about the craftsmanship, attention to detail, and authentic materials that go into the production of both a fine single malt, and a stunning opera production.

Within the COC space, various stations were arranged where guests were invited to see, feel and learn about the individual crafts that contribute to the creation of Balvenie's malts. Miniature malting floors, covered in raw, de-husked barley stood in for the traditional malting floors which the Belvenie still uses to malt their barley at the distillery--a time honored and increasingly rare practice which is the first step in transforming the golden farmed grain into Scotch whisky.

Continue reading The Balvenie and The Canadian Opera Company Celebrate Craftsmanship.

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