The Victoria Highland Games Association is once again pleased to present “The Whisky Tasting School” on May 16th and 17th, 2026 at the 163rd 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 $53.00 ( Charcuterie and Whisky pairing session $63.00 ) and includes a one-day field entry (value $20).
Guests must be aged 19 years or older to attend!
All tickets are non-refundable.
Attendees more that 10 minutes late for a class may be denied entry.
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 9 sessions are as follows:
Tickets are non-refundable
(WS1)
Saturday May 16th 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
Signatory Vintage Independent Bottlers
Price: $53 – 45 attendees. SOLD OUT On Sale Soon
with Adam Bradshaw
Join Adam Bradshaw in discovering exceptional independent bottlings from Signatory Vintage, featuring rare cask-strength single malts and grain whiskies with unique maturation profiles never before available to British Columbia.
(WS2)
Saturday May 16th 12:20 PM – 1:20 PM
Charcuterie and Laphroaig Distillery Masterclass
Price: $63 – 45 attendees. SOLD OUT On Sale Soon
with Perry Brewer
Come enjoy charcuterie from the Whole Beast and taste a selection of whiskies from the number one selling Islay Single Malt in the World. Those lucky enough to attend this Masterclass will experience a good dose of Islay lore and some very special drams of Laphroaig and excellent local charcuterie from the Whole Beast.
For more information on The Whole Beast, visit www.thewholebeast.ca.
(WS3)
Saturday May 16th 1:55 PM – 2:55 PM
Hunter Laing Independent Bottlers Masterclass
Price: $53 – 45 attendees. SOLD OUT On Sale Soon
with Lee Hanson
Hunter Laing & Co. Ltd. is a family company with an unrivalled pedigree in Scotland
The Laing’s have spent over fifty years in the industry – first as blenders, then as bottlers of some of the finest single cask scotch whiskies in the market. Now a new chapter has begun with the launch of Ardnahoe the newest distillery on Islay, a bold step to further a whisky legacy now in its 3rd generation.
(WS4)
Saturday May 16th 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Gordon & MacPhail Independent Bottlers Masterclass
Price: $53 – 45 attendees. SOLD OUT On Sale Soon
with James Bornn
For over 125 years Gordon & MacPhail has been driven by a simple mission: to create single malt whisky of exceptional quality. Explore deep into Gordon & MacPhail’s vaults with us as we experience the fruits of this vision with whiskies from all corners of Scotland.
(WS5)
Saturday May 16th 5:05 PM – 6:05 PM
House of Suntory Japanese Whisky Masterclass
Price: $53 – 45 attendees. On Sale Soon Buy Now!
with Rick Sousa
Come and join Victoria Single Malt Club President Rick Sousa as he takes you journey through the vaults of the House of Suntory Japanese Whiskies.
(WS6)
Sunday May 17th 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Paul John Masterclass
Price: $53 – 45 attendees. On Sale Soon Buy Now!
with Kirk Doherty
Paul John Whisky is made from Indian 6-row malted barley and, for some variants, imported Islay and Aberdeen peat, distilled in traditional copper pot stills and then matured in charred American Oak casks at the company’s distillery in Goa, India. The Paul John Single Malt expressions (except Nirvana) are non-chill filtered, with no added colour, additives, or flavours. Come experience a selection of these exceptional spirits that have won over 290 prestigious international awards.
(WS7)
Sunday May 17th 12:35 PM – 1:35 PM
Dalmore and Friends Masterclass
Price: $53 – 45 attendees. SOLD OUT On Sale Soon
with Adam Bradshaw
Discover the prestige of The Dalmore as we showcase it alongside some standout offerings from Jura, Fettercairn, and Tamnavulin. Join The Strath’s Adam Bradshaw for a guided Scotch journey through Speyside, the Highlands, and the Islands.
(WS8)
Sunday May 17th 2:10 PM – 3:10 PM
Scotch Malt Whisky Society Masterclass
Price: $53 – 45 attendees. SOLD OUT On Sale Soon
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.
(WS9)
Sunday May 17th 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM
The Vancouver Island Distilleries Masterclass
Price: $53 – 45 attendees. On Sale Soon Buy Now!
with Chris Reid, Adam Bradshaw, and Duncan Polson
Over the past two decades, several Vancouver Island distilleries have produced a myriad of award winning whiskies. In fact, Macaloney’s Island Distillery won the 2025 Canadian Whisky of the Year honours for its Peat Project Moscatel Barrique single malt. Come and join representatives from Shelter Point, Stillhead, and Macaloney’s Island distilleries and sample the excellent world class whiskies each of these are producing.