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.

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.

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.

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.

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 and awards panels including Whisky Magazine and Scottish Field Magazine, as well as a consultant and presenter on both sides of the Atlantic.

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 our ‘Distillery Exclusive Collection’ at this year’s show.

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.