The Victoria Highland Games Association is once again pleased to present “The Whisky Tasting School” on May 18th and 19th, 2024 at the 161st Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival at Topaz Park.

All sessions will feature single malt whiskies presented by ambassadors representing a variety of Scotch, American, Japanese and Canadian whiskies.

The registration fee is $49.00 (Sunday Food and Whisky pairing sessions $69.00 ) and includes a one-day field entry (value $20).

Guests must be aged 19 years or older to attend!

Each session has limited seating; in previous years all sessions have sold out prior to the Games so don’t be late in registering!

Details of the 8 sessions are as follows:

(WS1)
Saturday May 18th 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
The Strath’s Single Casks
Price: $49 – 45 attendees. SOLD OUT On Sale Soon Buy Now!
with Adam Bradshaw

Over the last six years, Adam at The Strath has proudly sourced and released over 20 exclusive single cask whiskies. Join him as he shares a selection of his favourites from Scotland and beyond, and also reveals some exciting brand-new editions to the lineup.

(WS2)
Saturday May 18th 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM
Lindores Abbey Distillery Masterclass
Price: $49 – 45 attendees. SOLD OUT On Sale Soon Buy Now!
with Rick Sousa

After a break of 523 years, spirit is once again flowing from the copper stills at Lindores Abbey Distillery. Lindores Abbey, or the ‘Church by the Water’, was founded in 1191 by David Earl of Huntingdon, on land overlooking the Estuary of the River Tay, given to him by his brother King William I. Learning from the great Scottish distillers around them, past and present, and from others much further afield, Lindores Abbey distillers are bringing a very modern whisky-making approach to this ancient site. Join Rick Sousa, Victoria Single Malt Club president, as he leads you through an excellent selection of Lindores Abbey whiskies.

(WS3)
Saturday May 18th 2:30 – 3:30 PM
Nikka Japanese Whiskies
Price: $49 – 45 attendees. SOLD OUT On Sale Soon Buy Now!
with Rick Sousa

This masterclass will cover the beginnings of Japanese whisky with the story of Nikka’s founder, Masataka Taketsuru, the “Father of Japanese Whisky” whose trip to Scotland created in him a passion for whisky, which shaped the history of whisky production in Japan. Savor an arroay of Nikka’s finest whiskies, and discover what it takes to crate a finished bottle.

(WS4)
Saturday May 18th 4:15 – 5:15 PM
Scotland vs The World
Price: $49 – 45 attendees. SOLD OUT On Sale Soon Buy Now!
with Stacy Kyle

How does Scotch whisky compare to other world whiskies?
Test your pallet and skill. Join Stacy Kyle of Lionheart Spirits as she leads you through a selection of extraordinary whiskies from Scotland and around the globe.

(WS5)
Sunday May 19th 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Whisky and Local Charcuterie Pairing (Loch Lomond and Glen Scotia)
Price: $69 – 45 attendees. SOLD OUT On Sale Soon Buy Now!
with Chef Chris Ireland and Adam Bradshaw

Join Chef Chris Ireland of the Whole Beast and the Strath’s whisky curator Adam Bradshaw, as they lead you through a selection of local made charcuterie paired with outstanding whiskies from the Loch Lomond and Glen Scotia distilleries. For more information on The Whole Beast, visit www.thewholebeast.ca.

(WS6)
Sunday May 19th 12:45 PM – 2:00 PM
The Lost Distillery Company – Whisky Legends Reborn
Price: $49 – 45 attendees. SOLD OUT On Sale Soon Buy Now!
with Stacy Kyle of Lionheart Spirits

The Lost Distillery Company combines archival research and the art of blending to create modern expressions of now closed distilleries, sharing the stories of the people and the places behind each dram. This tasting will focus on the limited Archivist Micro-Batch selections, bottled only once a year: meticulous blends of Sungle Malts with an average 15 year old age profile and presented at cask strength.

(WS7)
Sunday May 19th 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Scotch Malt Whisky Society Masterclass
Price: $49 – 45 attendees. SOLD OUT On Sale Soon Buy Now!
with Lawrence Graham

SMWS Canada invites members and guests alike to join host Lawrence Graham, Co-Founder of the Victoria Whisky Festival, Keeper of the Quaich and long time SMWS member, as he leads you through an exciting lineup of SMWS whiskies.

(WS8)
Sunday May 19th 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
The Vancouver Island Distilleries Masterclass (Devine, Macaloney, Stillhead, Shelter Point)
Price: $49 – 45 attendees. SOLD OUT On Sale Soon Buy Now!
with Chris Reid, Brennan Colebank, Adam Bradshaw and Iain Hooey

Over the past two decades, several Vancouver Island distilleries have produced a myriad of award winning whiskies. Come and join representatives from Shelter Point, Stillhead, Devine and Macaloney’s Island distilleries and sample the excellent world class whiskies each of these are producing.