Whisky Social Recap
This month saw Spirit of Toronto birth Whisky Social – Toronto’s newest whisky festival, something that quite frankly feels surreal, but the photo gallery is now online, so it wasn’t a dream, right?
(Speaking of dreams, we’ve always wanted to host a Parisian salon circa 1890, with lively banter in between sips of brandy and bites of pastry. Fast forward to 2025 where we swapped whisky for brandy and poutine for pastry – with the World Series as our backdrop – and Whisky Social gave off similar vibes, if you squinted a bit?)
The initial feedback from guests and vendors is that everyone loved the cozy, intimate feel of our new salon, along with the chance to talk and taste at a relaxed pace, without the crowds.
The chill vibe also left time to catch up with guests, get input for next year’s Spirit of Toronto, and partake in fine food truck fare.
On the whisky front, what stood out for us was the high quality of what’s being made right here at home: we’ve really stepped up our game in recent years, and it was impressive to taste.
Macaloney's Peat Project: Washington Moscatel Cask was amazing, not to mention Still Waters’ glorious, cask strength Buck 8 Straight Corn Whisky, and Paradigm Spirits’ El Maiz 18 Year Old finished in tequila casks – OMG that was good!
Maverick Distillery’s Barnburner Union was a scrumptious blend of Canadian whisky and bourbon, and left me itching to try their cask strength 5-year-old Kentucky bourbon, essentially contraband, but don’t ask, don’t tell, right?
Speaking of bourbon, while we might still be pissed (as in very) with our American cousins, thirsty hoardes at the Luxco stand were proof that we’re still jonesing for their bourbon. What would the holidays be without a family fight, eh?
We were also gifted a curious bottle of Wilson’s Pride: agave wine distilled in Niagara, that drinks like a fortified gewürztraminer. Maybe something to test drive in a Canadian-styled margarita over the holidays?
Those on the look out for sub-$100 single malts weren’t disappointed: the Speyburn 10 Year Old was drinking handsomely, as were the Tomatin Legacy and Glen Scotia Double Cask, both great value single malt Scotches. As was Wolfie’s, a surprisingly robust, toothsome Scotch blend priced at a very fair CAD$60. Who knew!?
We were looking for a catering option in keeping with the casual, industrial theme of our new warehouse location, and our food truck partners hit the mark with indulgent yet scrumptious menus that paired beautifully with the whiskies on offer.
Think of a smash burger with RyeLaw, a pricey-but-yummy Scottish grain whisky, or a BBQ pulled pork poutine with McConnell’s 5 Year Old, our current go-to for cheap, cheerful Irish whiskey.
(And speaking of Irish, run (don’t walk) to grab a bottle of Killowen Gloria Coffee Liqueur while it’s available. Your holiday guests will be on their best behaviour for seconds, facts.)
As the kids say, too long, didn’t read: we did a thing, yay us! Click here for photos and circle your calendar (tentatively) for an encore on Saturday November 21, 2026.
