SCOTCH WHISKY AMBASSADOR

One of Canada’s original Scotch whisky ambassadors, Stuart – aka “the Johnnie Walker guy” – received his whisky education at Cardhu Distillery in Speyside more than two decades ago. He has since toured the country from coast-to-coast, earning a well-deserved reputation as one of Canada’s most engaging presenters, with an expertise and passion for Scotch whisky unrivaled by others.

It’s an impressive resumé by any measure, and we look forward to having Stuart present ‘The Distillery Exclusive Collection’ at this year’s show.

HEAD BLENDER

So much whisky, so little time! As Head Blender for Elixir Distillers – creator, blender and bottler of fine spirits – Oliver has spent nearly two decades buying, maturing and blending casks of whisky and rum, not to mention overseeing wood policy and spirit development for the reboot of Tormore Distillery in Speyside, as well as the much anticipated launch of Portintruan Distillery on Islay.

A whisky lover at heart, Oliver looks forward to connecting with likeminded spirits on his first visit to Toronto.

EXPERIENTIAL WHISKY AMBASSADOR

As Ian Macleod Distillers’ first Experiential Whisky Ambassador, Gordon has channeled an extensive career in comedy into his passion for whisky.

Having first joined Glengoyne in 2015, Gordon now has the pleasure of traveling through Europe and North America to delight audiences with the stories and drams behind Ian Macleod’s esteemed whisky portfolio, which include Glengoyne, Tamdhu, Rosebank and Isle of Skye, among others.

AUTHOR AND CWA FOUNDER

Widely regarded as the world’s leading authority on Canadian whisky, Davin has spent more than two decades documenting and championing the category.

Davin is the author of Canadian Whisky, The Essential Portable Expert and The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries, and the founder of the Canadian Whisky Awards. We look forward to having him back at Spirit of Toronto to share a selection of this year’s award-winners, offering guests a deeper appreciation for the excellence of whiskies being made right here at home.

REGIONAL MANAGER

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming ‘Kuma’, Regional Manager for Canada with the highly esteemed Nikka Whisky Co, as they celebrate the 40th anniversary of the much-loved ‘Nikka From The Barrel’.

As one of Japan’s most iconic whiskies – known the world over for its distinctive square bottle – Kuma looks forward to sharing the charm of the brand from various angles as he launches the limited edition ‘Nikka From The Barrel ~ Extra Marriage’.

WHISKY HOST AND PRESENTER

“Exuberance, huge Gallic charm, and the nose of a perfumier,” is the most apt description of Régis that we’ve heard, and we look forward to welcoming back Spirit of Toronto’s long time friend and resident whisky host.

Régis’ roots in whisky run deep, going back to his former home of Scotland, where he curated the whisky bars at the renowned Gleneagles and Old Course Hotel in St Andrews. In the years since, Régis has been a mentor and ambassador for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, a certified Whisky Ambassador, and a judge on a variety of tasting panels, as well as a consultant and presenter on both sides of the Atlantic.

REGIONAL DIRECTOR AMERICAS

A self-professed “whisky enthusiast, first and foremost”, David is born in Scotland, and considers himself lucky to have spent the last 20 years sharing his passion for whisky across Europe, Asia and the US, in a variety of different roles, and as a ‘Keeper of the Quaich’.

David looks to present a rounded perspective of the whisky world, through tastings that offer an informative and entertaining look at the ‘why’ behind the flavour in your glass.

CERTIFIED TEQUILA MASTER

As Canada’s only Certified Tequila Master, Adriana’s passion lies in sharing the terroir, tradition and artistry behind outstanding Tequila and Mezcal, one bottle at a time.

With a Master’s Degree in Mexican Distilled Spirits (SEP México), years of formal training, and hands-on experience in the heartlands of Jalisco and Oaxaca, Adriana is uniquely placed to share the legacy and story of Mexico’s jimadores and maestro mezcaleros, and she looks forward to imparting both culture and agave education to guests at this year’s Spirit of Toronto.

OYSTER SOMMELIER

Better known as ‘Shucker Paddy’, Patrick is a world champion oyster shucker, oyster sommelier, and one of Canada’s leading authorities on the subject, not to mention an all-round bon vivant. As former publican (Starfish and The Ceili Cottage) and educator, he has spent decades sharing his knowledge of bivalves while championing their sustainability and craft.

We can’t wait to have Patrick back at Spirit of Toronto, along with his contagious passion for pairing oysters and fine whisky.

AUTHOR AND CWA CHAIR

As a lifestyle and spirits writer specializing in Canada's growing landscape of spirits and distilleries, Blair is a regular contributor to various magazines, and is the co-author of The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distillers.

As a judge for several spirits competitions, including the Canadian Whisky Awards, Blair looks forward to highlighting the best of Canadian whisky by pouring some of the 2026 award-winners for guests at Spirit of Toronto.

SALES DIRECTOR

As the Sales Director and the second generation of Scotland’s newest whisky dynasty, James may be based in Edinburgh, but his heart is firmly on Islay where the Wills family founded Kilchoman Distillery in 2005. Not only was Kilchoman the first new distillery on the island in 120 years, but it also revived a tradition of farm distilling by growing, malting and bottling its own whisky on-site.

Having now celebrated its 20th anniversary, we look forward to having James share a glimpse (and taste) of what the future holds for Kilchoman.

RUMMELIER AND MIXOLOGIST

As Rummelier, mixologist, and brand ambassador at the West Indies Rum Distillery with nearly two decades in the industry, Dameain has built an impressive reputation through international festivals, competitions, and ongoing study, earning Level 3 Rummelier certification and multiple accolades, including Barbados Mixologist of the Year in 2022 and 2023.

A longtime Culinary Ambassador for the Barbados Food and Rum Festival, we look forward to having Dameian share his deep knowledge of rum with guests at Spirit of Toronto.