Wed Jan 25th 2023 - The Bunnahabhain Portfolio- Tangle

Brand Ambassador - PMA Canada

 Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky      

 Butternut squash and honey crisp apples roasted in a brown sugar, honey and bourbon glaze all blended into creamy velvet soup, topped with roasted pumpkin & pomegranate seeds and kale crumble  

Paired With -  Bunnahabhain Abhainn Araig  

 Medley of rehydrated wild mushrooms in a bourbon tea, folded in a slow cooked orzo rice with mushroom stock and thyme butter, finished with aged parmigiano Reggiano cheese

Paired With – Bunnahabhain 12 year old

 New Zealand lamb shank glazed with fig marmalade, served with sweet potato & brown butter mash, bacon Brussel sprout veg medley and traditional Scottish haggis.

Paired With – Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dha

 Wedged apples within a coconut cinnamon streusel topped with decadent caramel sauce served with vanilla bean French ice cream and fresh mint

Paired With – Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair

Thank you to  Shaun Carrique, from Barrie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, for their generous contribution to sponsor the evening.

Brand Ambassador - The Edrington Group

Pan roasted butternut squash and Bartlett pears sprinkled with curry powder and blended into creamy velvet soup scented with maple syrup and nutmeg

Paired With - Highland Park Magnus     

Trio of apple delights

- Cinnamon sugar coated apple wrapped with bacon and fried drizzled with local Canadian honey

- Rosemary crostini topped with smoked gouda cheese, thinly sliced granny smith apples and toasted maple almonds for crunch

- Prosciutto wrapped apple with brie cheese fresh basil and balsamic reduction 

Paired With - Highland Park 12 Year Old Viking Honour  

Frenched Ontario 12oz bone on pork chop grilled and glazed in a bourbon peach sauce served with roasted garlic and rosemary mashed potatoes and prosciutto wrapped asparagus

Paired With - Highland Park 15 Year Old Viking Heart 

Pumpkin spiced cake layered with chai flavored whipped cream sweet cranberries and caramel sauce topped with shaved white chocolate and fresh mint

Paired With - Highland Park 18 Year Old Viking Pride

Thank you to  Rob Newman and Gianfranco Cesario, owners of Simcoe IT Solutions, for their generous contribution to the success of the evening.

Brand Ambassador - Woodman Wines and Spirits

Roasted Parsnip & White Chocolate Soup Roasted parsnip soup finished with melted white chocolate and fresh cream  

Paired With - anCnoc 12    

Baby Mozzarella and Strawberry Salad with Chocolate Vinaigrette   Baby winter arugula greens with mozzarella pearls, crisp prosciutto crisps, shaved asiago cheese, fresh strawberries all drizzled with bitter sweet chocolate vinaigrette   

Paired With - Speyburn 15  

Steak Au Poivre  Aged Canadian pink peppercorn crusted beef tenderloin cooked to medium rare served with roasted rosemary, bacon and duck fat potatoes, winter root vegetable bundle finished with a chocolate port reduction sauce and herb butter  Paired With - Balblair 15

Chocolate Bombe A smooth chocolate mousse with a caramel center on a chocolate genoise and coated with dark chocolate served with seasonal fruit and chocolate whipped cream  

Paired With - Old Pulteney 18

Thank you to Shannon Beattie & Roselle Carrigan, owners of Innisfil Pharmasave, for their generous contribution to the success of the evening.

Whisky Brand Ambassador for Forty Creek, Grimsby Ontario

Watermelon and Feta Salad 

Barrie Hill Farms watermelon served with salty slices of creamy feta cheese, lavender mint, Canadian honey and blueberry balsamic reduction 

Paired With -  The Forager Botanical Whisky

The Canadian Beef Taco

Certified Canadian beef tenderloin tips marinated in a whisky miso glaze served on a corn tortilla topped with heirloom diced tomatoes, pickled carrots, watermelon radish, avocado crema and toasted sesame seeds 

Paired With -  Double Barrel Reserve 

Maple and Fig Glazed Pork Chop

Ontario raised 8oz frenched bone in pork chop, grilled and served with a maple pineapple, fig and apple chutney, back bacon and sweet corn warm salad and green bean bundle

Paired With -  Confederation Oak Reserve

White Chocolate Strawberry Tiramisu

Ontario strawberries mascaraed in orange liqueur and sugar

layered between espresso infused lady finger cookies, mascarpone cheese, drizzled with white and dark rich chocolate garnished with fresh mint

Paired With -  Resolve 

Thank you to Willie and Illse Steyn of The Steyn House - Your local neighbourhood pub, for helping to make this event a success.

As the Whisky Brand Ambassador for Distell Group Ltd, Mike is a wealth of  whisky knowledge and enthusiasm.  

This tasting featured 6 unique whiskies from South Africa's James Sedgwick Distillery; Bain's Cape Mountain Single Grain Whisky, Bain's Founders Collection 15 Year Old, Bain's Founders Collection 18 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish, Three Ships 5 Year Old, Three Ships 10 Year Old Single Malt, Three Ships 15 Year Old Pinotage Cask Finish.

 Click on the picture to watch "The James Sedgwick Distillery Tasting"

As the Whisky Brand Ambassador for Distell Group Ltd, Mike is a wealth of  whisky knowledge and enthusiasm. 

 This virtual tasting, show-cased eight wonderfully delicious drams;  Tobermory Hebridean Gin, Tobermory 12 YO, Tobermory 2007 Sherry Finish, Tobermory 42 YO, Ledaig 10, Ledaig Rioja Sinclair Edition, Ledaig 18, Ledaig 21 Manzanilla 

Click on the picture to take in the "Eight drams from the Isle of Mull" virtual tasting!

The Canadian Scotsman, as he is known on Instagram, is a Scotch Specialist for PMA, Canada’s leading wine & spirits agency.

John has immersed himself in the lore, craft and history of the wonderful world of Aqua Vita and enjoys nothing more than sharing stories of whisky and distilleries, along with a few drams of amazing Scotches!   

Attendees of this event purchased  a seven miniature bottle whisky pack, including:

• GlenDronach 12 Year Old
• GlenDronach 21 Parliament
• Black Bottle Scotch Blend
• The Glenfiddich 1963 Original
• Glenfiddich 26 Year Old
• BenRiach 21-Year Old Single Malt 
• BenRiach Peated Cask Strength

John's presentation took our whisky club on a storied journey of scotch whisky legends and haunted distilleries.

Dave Cuthbertson recited Robbie Burns' address to the haggis and led the toast to this Scottish delicacy, with a dram from Black Bottle 

A scottish meal was also available for attendees to purchase.  This delicious food pairing, to go with the drams of the evening, was provided by a venue of the BSWS, LIBERTY NORTH Banquet Hall.

• Cock-a-Leekie Soup (Chicken and Rice)
• Steak and Guinness pot pie served with roast potato wedges
• Traditional Scottish Haggis
• Scottish Shortbread cookies

Click on the picture to take in the "Legendary Canadian Distilleries" virtual tasting!

Corby Claire, as she is known on Instagram,  is the Whisk(e)y Portfolio Consultant for Corby Spirit and Wine .   

Claire has enthusiastically established a career with Corby’s, representing such brands as J.P. Wisers, Pike Creek, Gooderham & Worts, Lot No. 40, The Glen Livet, Jameson and Aberlour.” 

Attendees of this event purchased  a six miniature bottle whisky pack, including "Four Chocolate Barrels"  filled with Pike Creek whisky and a celebratory Glencairn whisky glass, etched with the BSWS Anniversary Logo.

Claire's presentation took our whisky club off road from our normal journey of single malt scotch whisky, to experience distilled grain from Legendary Canadian Distilleries with a history that is older than this country itself.

Pike Creek 15 yo  Ontario Cabernet Sauvignon finish,  J.P. Wisers Seven Rebels Rare Cask Series,  J.P. Wisers 22 yo cask strength blend & port cask finish,  J.P. Wisers 15 yo,  Gooderham & Worts 49 Wellington and Lot 40 Dark Oak.

Click on the picture to take in the "Legendary Canadian Distilleries" virtual tasting!

As the Canadian Whisky Brand Ambassador for The Balvenie Distillery, Jamie is an enthusiastic whisky advocate who delights in sharing stories of this quaint distillery in Speyside.   Jamie is also Co-host of the popular podcast "Whisky Topic".

Attendees of this event, purchased  a five miniature bottle whisky pack and together with Jamie's slide presentation, experienced first hand this distillery's Handcrafted process.

Tun 1509 Batch No 5 / Caribbean Cask 14 year old / 12 year old Single Barrel / Portwood 21 year old / Week of Peat

Click on the picture to take in the "The Balvenie Barley to Bottle Story" virtual tasting!

As the Whisky Brand Ambassador for Distell Group Ltd, Mike is a wealth of  whisky knowledge and enthusiasm. 

Attendees of this event, purchased  a seven miniature bottle whisky pack and together with Mike's slide presentation, experienced first hand this distillery's open mash tun and its traditional distilling techniques, by 10 local craftsmen.

 Virgin Oak, 12 Year, 18 Year, Cream Sherry finish,  Organic Oloroso finish, Palo Cortado cask finish and the Deanston 40 Year Old 

Click on the picture to take in the "Seven Drams from Deanston" virtual tasting!

As the Whisky Brand Ambassador for Beam Suntory, James is a highly sought-after educator of whisky and spirits.

Attendees of this event, purchased  a five miniature bottle whisky pack and together with James's presentation, experienced first hand the differences between Whiskies from Japan, Ireland and Scotland .

 Brands featured were Toki, Kilbeggan, Auchentoshan 12, Laphroaig Quarter Cask and Bowmore Vault Edition 2nd release. 

Click on the picture to take in the virtual tasting and a tour of five distilleries in Japan, Ireland and Scotland.

Mike is the  Distell Whisky Brand Ambassador , who is  an enthusiastic explorer of the history behind Uisge Beatha. 

With an informative slide show, Mike  takes us on a virtual tour of the most northern distillery set on the majestic island of Islay. 

This tasting show cased the mystical flavours of six Bunnahabhain expressions;

Stuiradair, Bunna 12, 18, 25, Palo Cortado & Toiteach A Dha

Click on the picture to take in the virtual tasting and tour of the Bunnahabhain Distillery.

 Richard Urquhart is a 4th generation member of the Urquhart family, owners of Gordon and MacPhail, (independent bottler and distiller of Scotch Whisky) and the Benromach Distillery. 

 From his home in Scotland, Richard shared the history of Gordon & MacPhail and with a slide presentation took the BSWS on a virtual tour of Benromach Distillery.

Richard guided the BSWS through a tasting of Benromach Classic Speyside Vintage Cask Strength 2008 Batch 1.  Only 5,500 bottles were released worldwide. It was a fantastic event and an unforgettable tasting.    

Click on the picture to take in the virtual tasting and tour of the Benromach Distillery. 

Alberta bison Bolognese over pappardelle with smoked Ontario aged cheddar cheese.

Accompanied by  Glen Scotia 15

Roasted beet and granny smith apple salad with panko crusted goats’ cheese, maple, bourbon balsamic, and cold pressed olive oil..

Accompanied by  Glengoyne 18 

Chipotle and cumin marinated pork loin finished with whiskey mushroom cream sauce, served with cheddar and bacon stuffed twice baked potatoes and chef’s vegetables.  Complemented with traditional Scottish Haggis!

Accompanied by   BenRiach 1998 Single Cask 

Chocolate almond tiramisu with roasted almond and pomegranate, cranberry chocolate bark.

Accompanied by Laphroaig Triple Wood 

Thank you to Jessi Fournier and Bekki Martin, independent owners of the family run J'Adore Fine cheese and Chocolate and the SpeakCheasy, for their contribution to the success of the evening.

Dave Cuthbertson will present the address and offer a toast to the Haggis, which will be processed into the hall, led by Piper Juhan Puhm. Teachers Highland Scotch Whisky will accompany the toast to the Haggis.

Ian Beattie will lead off the featured whiskies with Glen Scotia 15 year old by Loch Lomond Distillers, who are established in the whisky distilling region of Campbeltown.  Glen Scotia 15 has been released as part of the brand's relaunch in 2015 and is matured in bourbon barrels. This delicious malt whisky has notes of ginger, vanilla, sea spray and spice.

Ross Brown will present this evenings second Single Malt, from the whisky distilling region of the Highlands.  Glengoyne 18 yo is a replacement for Glengoyne's 17yo that appeared in their revamped range in late 2012. This tasty dram is a mix of refill sherry casks and a generous mix of first-fill sherry-matured whisky.

Dave Cuthbertson will talk to the special characteristics of a Single Cask Whisky, such as the BenRiach 1998 Single Cask.  This is an 18 year old triple distilled BenRiach single malt, released as part of their 13th batch of single cask bottlings.  It was finished a Pedro Ximénez Sherry puncheon - 670 bottles were produced.

Raymond Martinelli will share what he has learned while visiting the Laphroaig Distillery and finish the whisky presentations with the evenings final expression… Laphroaig Triple Wood from Islay. This whisky has been matured in bourbon barrels, before being transfer into quarter casks, and a third maturation in Oloroso sherry European oak butts. A flavour that is filled with oodles of peat smoke and sweetness.

Smoked Corn and Pumpkin Soup 

Accompanied by  Cardhu 12 Year Old 

Apple Maple Crostini Trio of toasted crostinis topped with Camembert cheese sliced granny smith apples, maple syrup drizzle and candied walnuts.

Accompanied by  Springbank 18-Year-Old 

Pan Seared Duck - Blackened seared duck breast served with sweet potato gratin, deep fried Brussel sprouts and port lingonberry reduction sauce.

Accompanied by  Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10    

Peach and Rhubarb Cobbler Tart

Brandy infused peaches and rhubarb topped with brown sugar cinnamon oats and scotch gelato.

Accompanied by  Royal Brackla 16 Year Old 

Glenn Prairie of Total Living Concepts

Ross Brown will presented Cardhu 12 Year Old Single Malt from Speyside. Pioneered by Helen and Elizabeth Cumming, two of the earliest female distillers, this medium gold dram is known for its sweet aromatics and rich palate of orange, dark chocolate, delicate smoke and toffee; the finish is gentle with notes of cinnamon and cedar smoke.

Ian Beattie introduced Springbank 18-Year-Old from Campbeltown. This is the second edition of the established mauve-packaged 18 year old Springbank. The multi-award-winning Campbeltown single malt has been matured in ex-bourbon casks, so expect a big, coastal, oily flavour from this one.

Raymond Martinelli featured Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10. This 10 year old single malt from the Isle of Islay is a lip-smackingly smoky number indeed. It's peated to 40ppm, and drawn from a combination of first-fill American whiskey casks, second-fill American whiskey casks and second-fill French wine casks.

Arlene Stone rounded out the evening’s expressions with Royal Brackla 16 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Royal Brackla was the first distillery to be allowed to use the 'Royal' title, and 2015 saw it get its own range of single malts. Part of the Last Great Malts series, the 16 Year Old is finished in first-fill oloroso sherry casks and is sweet and spicy, with a hint of smoke in the mix, as well.

 Sampler Pairing  with Cheese Plate 

accompanied by  Naked Grouse

 Volute De Chanaignes, Creamy Roasted Chestnut Soup
Smooth and silky roasted chestnuts and fresh thyme 

accompanied by  The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask 

Deconstructed French Onion Bites, trio of won ton wrappers   stuffed with caramelized onions in a rich brown stock, double smoked bacon,   & melted Swiss cheese  accompanied by The Macallan 15 Year Old Triple Cask

5oz bacon wrapped beef tenderloin topped with peppercorn   brandy sauce served with cremini mushroom risotto, and orange marmalade  carrot bundle,  accompanied by The Macallan Edition No 4

Strawberry Shortcake Ontario strawberries macerated in orange liquor, with Baileys whipped cream, fresh mint and rich dark chocolate sauce accompanied by Highland Park Trillium

"Thank you" to both our Sponsor Steve Hopper of ProClean and

James Neil, Whisky ambassador for Beam Suntory, Edrington, for helping to make this event a success.