Featuring Jim Byrnes with Simon Kendall and Eric Read

For nearly sixty years Jim’s crooned, drawled, belted, hollered and sweet talked more songs into a microphone than most people ever get to hear in a single lifetime. His evocative, smoky vocals are found in a truth that doesn’t come overnight. The sheer joy you can hear in the music he creates is a reason to celebrate.

Complimenting the musical selections, Emma Coady will lead you through a variety of excellent Whyte & Mackay offerings from Tamnavulin, Jura and Fettercairn. Once again, get ready for a sublime combination of fantastic music and delicious Whyte & Mackay whiskies, and launch the 21st edition of the Victoria Whisky Festival in style.

Session One: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Session Two: 9:30 PM – 11:30 PM

The Victoria Whisky Festival was once more proud to co-host the annual Canadian Whisky Awards The Victoria Whisky Festival is proud to co-host the annual Canadian Whisky Awards Gala at the Hotel Grand Pacific. Join hosts Alex Hamer and Blair Phillips for a celebration of Canadian whisky as they announce the winners of the 2027 Canadian Whisky Awards. This year’s special guest is Bryce Parsons of True Wild Distilling in Alberta, who will talk about the new Alberta Whisky Act and what it means for the province’s whisky industry.

Tickets go on sale October 14 at canadianwhiskyawards.com.

Join Nikka Whisky’s Global Spokesperson and Educator, Emiko Kaji, in analyzing the specialized art of Japanese blending with Nikka Whisky for the unveiling of Taketsuru Pure Malt Essentials 2026. Marking the first edition of a five-year limited series honouring founder Masataka Taketsuru, this masterclass delves deep into the spirit of Nikka's birthplace, the Hokkaido Yoichi Distillery.

Guests will explore how Yoichi’s historic direct coal-fired distillation shapes the whisky's bold character, bringing forward rich malt sweetness, mature peaty smoke, and dynamic depth. Discover the heritage behind this limited expression, including historic whiskies distilled during Taketsuru Pure Malt’s inception in 2000. Join us for a guided exploration of this highly limited expression and experience the evolution of Nikka’s flagship pure malt blend.

By demand of the Ardbeg Committee, we welcome you to an epic tasting of the Islay distillery’s range of heavily peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Ardbeg’s much loved expressions are only part of the reason for their success, with whisky fans also falling in love with the romance of the tales of the distillery past and present. National Brand Ambassador Bry Simpson will take us through a journey of Ardbeg expressions including rare whisky not usually shared at festival.

A Celebration of Indian Whisky Excellence

Welcome to an exclusive Grand Tasting of Amrut Distillery's finest whiskies, where the traditions of Indian whisky-making meet global acclaim. With roots deep in the heart of India, Amrut has built a reputation for crafting bold, innovative whiskies that push the boundaries of flavor, technique, and maturation in unique climates. This tasting will be hosted by Amrut's Neelesh Saran, who will guide you through eight expressions spanning the flagship range to the distillery's rarest and newest releases such as Peated Cask Strength, Kranthi and Café X.

SMWS Canada Pub Quiz

Join Adam Bradshaw of Strath Liquor Merchants and Kelly & Rob Carpenter of SMWS Canada for the Festival’s first ever Pub Quiz, while tasting a great lineup of SMWS whiskies! Think you’re an expert on all things whisky? Music? Geography? History? Are you the Cliff Claven of your local pub? Prove it! Top three teams win prizes and bragging rights, but everyone will enjoy some great drams and camaraderie (teams will be assembled at the event; all you have to do is show up).

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 wide selection of these exceptional spirits, including the Paul John Christmas Edition 2026, plus the Paul John Weller Cask 20535 bottled exclusively for BC, that have won over 300 prestigious international awards.

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.

Founded in 2011 by whisky geeks (and good friends) Jason Johnston-Yellin and Joshua Hatton, Single Cask Nation has grown from a small fellowship of whisky lovers into America’s leading Independent Bottler—and an award-winning one at that—with a global community of more than 10,000 members.

With Single Cask Nation now sharing a cask warehouse with the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, they have access to more than 18,000 casks from some of Scotland’s most famous distilleries.

At the Victoria Whisky Festival Single Cask Nation Grand Tasting, co-founder Joshua Hatton will personally guide you through eight exceptional single cask Scotch whiskies, showcasing an incredible range of distilleries, cask styles and flavour profiles. Eight single casks. One whisky geek at the helm. This is the Grand Tasting you won’t want to miss!

From Canada to Ireland: Discover Sazerac Whiskies

Explore the world of Sazerac whisky through two distinct traditions: Canadian and Irish. Discover the craftsmanship, character and diversity behind the portfolio, including Caribou Crossing, the world’s first single barrel Canadian whisky. Take a journey through two great whisky-making traditions, one pour at a time.

The Path of Independent Bottlers

Independent bottlers have played a pivotal role in the Scotch whisky industry for generations. Each brings their own distinctive approach to cask selection, maturation and bottling, offering perspectives on familiar distilleries that you may never encounter in an official release.

Discover what makes them stand out from the crowd as Adam from The Strath leads you through a selection of whiskies, each released by a different independent bottler, exploring the people, philosophies and choices that give each one its own identity.

Dispelling the Whisky Myth

Duncan Polson, Macaloney’s Global Brand Ambassador and host of Friends of Macaloney’s Whisky Club, will push back on common whisky myths and misconceptions. You will either learn something or question everything you know.

Macaloney’s is Canada’s most awarded craft distillery. We make whisky for people, not basements. We are artisans, we are proudly made in Victoria and we are here to tell you that the best whisky is the one you want to drink.

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“The Dalmore: The Art of Cask Curation”

Step into the world of The Dalmore, one of Scotland’s most celebrated Highland Single Malt whisky houses, for an exceptional masterclass exploring the artistry, heritage and craftsmanship behind one of the world’s most distinctive whiskies.

Founded in 1839 on the shores of the Cromarty Firth in the Scottish Highlands, The Dalmore has spent more than 180 years pursuing the art of creating exceptional single malt. Its story is deeply intertwined with the Mackenzie family and the iconic 12-point Royal Stag, an emblem that has adorned every bottle of The Dalmore for generations.

At the heart of The Dalmore’s character is an uncompromising approach to whisky making. The distillery’s distinctive stills create a rich, robust spirit perfectly suited to long and complex maturation. But it is the art of cask curation that truly sets The Dalmore apart. Working with some of the world’s most prestigious wineries and bodegas, The Dalmore’s whisky makers carefully select and curate exceptional casks to develop layers of depth, richness and complexity within the spirit.

During this exclusive masterclass, Emma Coady will guide guests through a curated selection of The Dalmore’s expressions, exploring how time, spirit and cask come together to create the unmistakable house style of The Dalmore.

A Journey Through the Causeway: Bushmills Whiskey

Join Polina Snitkova, National Portfolio Ambassador at Proximo Spirits, for a guided journey through Bushmills Irish Whiskey, from the 10 Year to the 25 Year. Learn from one of the category's leading voices as she reveals how oak shapes each expression, and discover the nuances that set these exceptional whiskeys apart.

The Murray & Beyond: A Tullibardine Cask Journey

Located at the ‘gateway to the Highlands’ in Blackford, Tullibardine Distillery produces handcrafted single malt Scotch whiskies renowned for their light, floral, and malty character. An intensive wood management program has enabled Tullibardine to create a delectable selection of cask-finished expressions. One of the few Scotch whisky distilleries to oversee the entire whisky-making journey on-site, Tullibardine manages everything from cask preparation and maturation through to blending and bottling, ensuring a distinctive house style in every dram.

Manon Lledo, America Sales Manager at Tullibardine Distillery will walk through the core 15 year-old expression along with three The Murray releases plus two special editions exclusive from the distillery shop.

This will be a unique virtual experience as we take you and drop you into Paul Klocke’s virtual world of Armorik whisky from Bretagne, France, a region steeped in Celtic traditions and culture. This tour will transport you on a personal journey behind the scenes of the distillery, strolling through copper stills, rows and rows of aging whisky barrels, including some secret barrels and rare, limited French age statement whiskies.

Paul will share some interesting stories of the world of Armorik, Bretagne single malt whisky. While this is a serious exploration of whisky, be sure to bring your sense of humour, along with your curiosity and expectant taste buds. Paul and the whiskies will take care of the rest!

Founded in 2011, Shelter Point Distillery has been committed to distilling high quality single malt whisky from the outset. Located on the Eastern shore of Vancouver Island, sourcing water from its own aquifer and surrounded by the farm that supplies much of the barley for its distillations it is well placed to do so.

Brand Experience Manager Chris Read will talk you through the history of the distillery and the process for making its whiskies. This masterclass will feature a chance to try Shelter Points inaugural 15 Year Old Single Malt, accompanied by its 12 Year Old and 10 Year Old as well as the new PX finish and a selection of the distillery’s core offerings.

A City's Whisky, Revived

In 1770 the original Glasgow Distillery Company began making whisky in the heart of the city. It ran until 1902. More than a century later, founders Liam Hughes and Mike Hayward set out to bring single malt back to Glasgow. Working from a converted warehouse in Hillington, The Glasgow Distillery became the city's first independent single malt distillery in over 100 years. Its first Glasgow 1770 release sold out in 48 hours, and the distillery was named Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year in 2020.

Your guide for the masterclass is Kirk Doherty, former distiller at Macaloney’s Island Distillery and a Victoria Whisky Festival Board member. He'll lead you through six expressions that show how one distillery explores three distinct spirit styles: Original, Peated and Triple Distilled plus three limited editions.

Reece Sims, one of the Victoria Whisky Festival’s hometown educators, will lead attendees on a tour of Scotland through farm-to-bottle whiskies from four distilleries in the TS Global portfolio: Aberargie, Arbikie, Lochlea and Kilchoman. Along the way, you’ll explore how locally grown grain, place and production choices shape what ultimately lands in the glass.

Presented as a Flavor Camp™-style semi-blind tasting, the class will put your senses to work. Using visual infographics, hands-on resources and the Flavor Camp tasting system, you’ll learn to identify, describe and compare each whisky before all is revealed.

Since 2000 Forty Creek has challenged the status quo and helped redefine what Canadian whisky could be with a long line of award winning, innovative expressions. This Masterclass will explore our cask strength releases and the liquid behind our latest XX Legacy limited edition. Host by National Brand Ambassador Chris Thompson.

An Unapologetically Canadian Whisky Masterclass

Join Canadian Whisky Ambassador Mike McLean as he explores the proud history of our Canadian Club and Alberta Distillers brands, along with a breakdown of what makes Canadian Whisky so unique, all while enjoying an incredible range of our products.

When it comes to whisky and the joy it brings, Compass Box keeps our minds open to new possibilities. They tap into new production processes, new combinations of flavours, new ways of sharing and enjoying great whisky. There is so much to discover in the world of whisky and, as Compass Box demonstrated at this masterclass, it is ready to take us there.

Benromach is a window into another - a traditional family-owned Speyside distillery intent on making single malt the right way with true character. They keep things simple: single malt made by hand matured exclusively in first-fill casks, with a subtly smoky character the way Speyside whiskies once were. This year is a celebration of the new 12 Year Old, 46% expression.

Ardbeg invite you to a heavily peated whisky experience like no other from the distillery with the whisky you can’t untaste. Ardbeg’s rollercoaster ride of a story has led the distillery to have a cult following like no other, with the passionate Ardbeg Committee Members having their say in past, present and future direction of the distillery. National Brand Ambassador Bry Simpson will take us on a peaty pilgrimage with a mix of classic and limited edition expressions from Ardbeg.

This masterclass regularly sells out first, so early booking is advised.

For generations, Bowmore has been shaped by the unique character of Islay—its rugged coastline, maritime influence, peat-rich landscapes and enduring traditions.

Join us for an immersive whisky tasting exploring the traditions, craftsmanship and expertise that have been passed down through generations of whisky makers. Through a selection of carefully chosen whiskies, we’ll explore the flavours, techniques and stories that make Islay one of the world’s most celebrated whisky regions.

Join us for an intimate tasting with Alasdair Day, co-founder and master distiller of Isle of Raasay — the first legal distillery on the island, opened in 2017 in a converted Victorian manor house on Scotland's Hebridean coast. Rather than aging in one cask for a decade-plus, Raasay matures peated and unpeated spirit separately across distinct cask types and vats them together, building complexity most whiskies take twice as long to earn.

Alasdair will pour and talk through six drams that trace that philosophy from foundation to frontier: The Draam (the flagship six-cask blend), Dùn Cana (sherry quarter cask), The Chinkapin (fully matured in rare virgin American oak), Cask Strength (unfiltered, full power), Marsala Cask (finished in rare Sicilian Marsala Vergine barriques), and Quercus Humboldtii (one of the first Scotch whiskies ever matured in Colombian oak).

Recently named Craft Producer of the Year 2025 and Visitor Attraction of the Year 2026 at the World Whisky Awards, this is a rare chance to taste Raasay's full range of cask innovation with the person who built it.

Hunter Laing & Co. Ltd. is a family company with an unrivalled pedigree as blenders and bottlers of the finest Scotch whisky. Hunter Laing is now run by the 3^rd generation, Scott and Andrew Laing who know the importance of selecting the choicest casks – there are few more knowledgeable consumers of a product than the single malt consumer. Looking to the future, their distillery Ardnahoe on Islay started releasing whisky in 2024, and continue to provide the standard of excellence for their single cask programs from 55 Scottish distilleries.

The Golden Age of Canadian Whisky is now! Join Canadian Whisky Awards lead judge and lifestyle and spirits writer, Blair Phillips, as he leads us through the best of the very best – the winners of the 2027 Canadian Whisky Awards. From large distilleries and small, find out from the source what all the excitement is about.

Tamdhu, the Speyside single malt devoted entirely to the art of sherry cask maturation. Discover how the distillery's dedication to exclusively maturing its whisky for the full term in the finest Oloroso sherry oak casks from both American and European Oak. These oak styles create a variety of flavour and colour, married together in our range to deliver an exceptional dram.

Step into the world of Tomintoul Single Malt for an unforgettable masterclass hosted by legendary Master Distiller Robert Fleming. Taste your way through a hand-selected range of Tomintoul whiskies as Robert shares stories, secrets, and insights from more than four decades in Scotch whisky. A rare opportunity to raise a dram with the man behind “The Gentle Dram” and discover the craftsmanship, character and passion that make Tomintoul one of Speyside’s great single malts.

Discover award winning whisky from Eau Claire Distillery. This guided masterclass explores our farm-to-glass approach to whisky making, from locally grown grain and glacial water to maturation shaped by Alberta’s unique climate. Taste through a curated selection of our whiskies while exploring the influence of terroir, cask selection, finishing and flavour, and discover how Eau Claire is bringing a distinctly modern perspective to Canadian whisky.

From Canada to Ireland: The Sazerac Whisky Experience

Join us for a guided tasting through Sazerac’s Canadian and Irish whisky portfolio. Discover the stories behind the brands, what makes each expression unique, and how Sazerac brings together heritage and character across two iconic whisky-making countries.

This will be a superb class for women to either start or further their whisky journey as part of a Masterclass of 6 unique single malts.

Chocolate is a perfect pairing for whisky and we are once again partnering with Hot Chocolates of Courtenay, BC, to ensure a very special evening. If you enjoy your whisky experience to be paired with not only chocolate but also a growth in knowledge, in a fun social atmosphere, then this is the class for you.

This class will be led by Viola Van de Ruyt, VWF director, and along with her husband has run and presented tastings for the Sidney Companions of the Quaich for well over 10 years.

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 300 prestigious international awards.

Journey through 200 years of Glencadam Single Malt with Master Distiller Robert Fleming. Established in 1825, Glencadam has spent two centuries quietly crafting its distinctive Highland single malt. Taste a hand-selected range of whiskies as Robert shares stories from the distillery, explores the influence of cask and maturation, and draws on more than four decades of whisky-making experience. A fascinating opportunity to discover the history, craft, and character behind one of Scotland’s historic Highland distilleries.

Taste Without Labels

Reece Sims will take attendees on a tour of Japan through whiskies from Miyashita Sake Brewery in Okayama, Shinobu, Masahiro and Kujira. Expect the unexpected while exploring three styles: Japanese single malt, Japanese world malt and Japanese single grain.

But this will not be a passive tour. Presented in the Flavor Camp Taste Challenge format, the class is designed to sharpen your blind tasting skills and help you become more fluent in flavor. Using visual infographics, hands-on resources and the Flavor Camp tasting system, you’ll learn to identify, describe, and compare what is in your glass without relying on the label.

Glenfiddich & The Balvenie: A Legacy in Every Glass

Join Brand Ambassador Jamie Johnson for a journey through the history, craftsmanship and enduring legacy of Glenfiddich and The Balvenie. Through a guided tasting of single malts, explore the Grant family’s lasting influence on Scotch whisky, Glenfiddich’s pioneering spirit, and the evolution of The Balvenie under its Malt Masters, past and present. From The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 to contemporary releases, discover the stories and traditions that shape these two celebrated distilleries.

Billy Walker has achieved about as much as one can achieve in the whisky business, from his early days at Chivas through the sale of BenRiach and GlenDronach. His newest venture at GlenAllachie distillery focusing of heavily peated spirit may be his best work to date. GlenAllachie has now won “World’s Best Single Malt” twice under Billy’s leadership for his sherried single malts, but the future of GlenAllachie may shine brightest on its peated expressions. A range of GlenAllachie peated expressions will be featured including several Canadian exclusive single casks and the mythical Turbo bottles.

Founded in 2011 by whisky geeks and (good friends) Jason Johnston-Yellin and Joshua Hatton, Single Cask Nation has grown from a small fellowship of whisky lovers into America’s leading Independent Bottler—and an award-winning one at that—with a global community of more than 10,000 members.

With Single Cask Nation now sharing a cask warehouse with the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, they have access to more than 18,000 casks from some of Scotland’s most famous distilleries.

At the Victoria Whisky Festival Single Cask Nation Masterclass, co-founder Joshua Hatton will personally guide you through six exceptional single cask Scotch whiskies, showcasing an incredible range of distilleries, cask styles and flavour profiles. Six single casks. One whisky geek at the helm. This is the Masterclass you won’t want to miss!

Discover the prestige of Irish whiskey through a guided tasting of Redbreast, the Spot Whiskeys and Midleton Very Rare, all crafted at the historic Midleton Distillery in County Cork. Celebrating 200 years of whiskey-making in 2025 and named the Most Awarded International Distillery at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Midleton is home to generations of whiskey-making expertise that Billy will bring to life through the heritage, craftsmanship and distinctive character of each expression.

Join Stillhead Distillery founder and Master Distiller Brennan Colebank for a tasting experience showcasing the potential of 100% rye whisky. Taste unique, cask-strength expressions, including our Garry Oak Rye Whisky, along with new single-cask releases exclusive to the Stillhead Whisky Society cask club.

Discover the story behind Victoria’s own Sanctuary Whisky and explore a lineup of core whiskies, distillery exclusives, and rare single casks guided by Fermentorium Distilling Co.’s Master Distiller Kevin Titcomb.

Join Venture Whisky’s brand ambassador, Yumi Yoshikawa, as we discover the world of Ichiro’s Malt and Chichibu. Created by legendary master distiller Ichiro Akuto, these intriguing and highly coveted whiskies have captivated whisky enthusiasts worldwide for the past 20 years.

Explore the distillery's rich history, from its foundational connection with the historic Hanyu Distillery to the founding of Chichibu in 2008 and gain insight into its dynamic evolution with Chichibu II. This masterclass offers an in-depth look into Chichibu's craftsmanship, featuring new releases from Chichibu II, exclusive single casks, and the exciting return of Chichibu The Peated.

Billy Walker has achieved about as much as one can achieve in the whisky business, from his early days at Chivas through the sale of BenRiach and GlenDronach. GlenAllachie Distillery has now won “World’s Best Single Malt” twice under Billy’s leadership. We are going to taste every GlenAllachie expression you could want in this tasting, providing that you want something sherried.

Join Michael Brown for an immersive exploration of Glengoyne Highland Single Malt, discovering how Scotland's slowest distillation and a commitment to exceptional oak maturation create one of the country's most elegant and flavourful whiskies.

Glenmorangie’s Kind of Delicious and Wonderful Whiskies

Glenmorangie are known not only for their delicious and much loved Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, but also for their philosophy and concepts behind them. From the pioneering family who founded the distillery, to the innovative practices and ideas by their whisky creation team. National Brand Ambassador Bry Simpson will take us through some of these wonderful expressions, including classics and sought after limited editions.

Curiosity distilled since 1840. For over 180 years, The Glen Grant has been creating exceptional and intriguing Speyside Single Malt Scotch whiskies that celebrate the innovation which has defined its lasting legacy. Sip through selections from the core line-up with Canadian Ambassador Chris Thompson.

Join Dr. Don Livermore, Master Blender at Hiram Walker & Sons, for an unforgettable Canadian whisky master class that celebrates the bold creativity, rich heritage, and endless ingenuity of Canada’s versatile whisky category. Through a guided tasting of distinctive 2026 regional releases from J.P. Wiser’s and Lot 40, guests will discover how Canadian whisky gives blenders remarkable freedom to shape flavour—from grain selection and fermentation to distillation, maturation, cask finishing, and final blending.

This is more than a tasting; it is a behind-the-scenes journey into how tradition, science, and imagination come together to create whiskies that are approachable, complex, and uniquely Canadian. Expect hard to find pours, surprising flavour stories, and a chance to experience limited releases that have come to life in select markets across Canada. Whether you are new to whisky or a devoted uisgephile, this master class will change the way you think about Canadian whisky—and leave you inspired to explore what J.P. Wiser’s, Lot 40, and the future of the category have to offer.

Join us as we dive in to the different grains that make up Canada's whisky landscape, with a deconstructed tasting of Bearface Whisky's newest expression Bear-bon. Using three key grains and ageing in heavily charred, hand-torched casks, this tasting showcases Bearface's take on a whisky a southern-style blend made in Canada with pride.

As the National Canadian Brand Ambassador for Bearface Whisky, Blake Canning has traveled across the country educating on all that his brand and Canada have to offer. From unique cask blends to the patented Elemental Aging process, Blake always attempts to share what makes Bearface and Canadian whisky as a whole so unique and important.

Amrut Distillery – A Celebration of Indian Whisky Excellence

Welcome to the masterclass of Amrut Distillery's finest whiskies, where the traditions of Indian whisky-making meet global acclaim. With roots deep in the heart of India, Amrut has built a reputation for crafting bold, innovative whiskies that push the boundaries of flavor, technique, and maturation in unique climates. This tasting will be hosted by Amrut's Neelesh Saran, who will guide you through six expressions spanning the flagship range including the latest release of Kranthi and Peated Cask Strength – 2025 World Whiskies Award Best Indian Single Malt.

Discover what makes Laphroaig one of the world’s most iconic Islay Single Malts. Known for its unmistakable peat smoke, maritime character and bold flavour, Laphroaig has been crafted on the shores of Islay for over 200 years.

Andrew Ferguson will lead you through a selection of favorite Laphroaig expressions, uncover the secrets of Islay’s peat and coastal influence, and enjoy a few very special drams along the way.

Experience the Mastery of Blending Through a Tasting of Japanese Whisky with CJ Murchie

Join Prestige Specialist CJ Murchie as she delves into the rich heritage of the House of Suntory, exploring our iconic brands such as Yamazaki, Hibiki, and Toki. Discover what makes Japanese whisky truly exceptional with an exquisite tasting experience featuring a remarkable selection of our finest products.

Anohka Distillery: For Peat's Sake

Join us for an exploration of the science and art behind making peated whisky. We will pull back the curtain on how distillation technique, differing PPMs, and cut points can dramatically impact the character of a whisky. We will be exploring whiskies made with 75 PPM, 82 PPM and 135 PPM heavily peated malt. We will also provide an exclusive look at our upcoming releases.

The VIP Tasting is open to special guests of the 2027 Victoria Whisky Festival and VIP Ticket holders. It will be held in the Vancouver & Pender Island Ballrooms prior to the Consumer Tasting and will feature the full line of whiskies as with the Consumer Tasting. VIP Ticket holders will be able to explore the range of whiskies being presented for a full hour prior to the Consumer Tasting (Ticket price includes VIP Tasting & Consumer Tasting).

The heart of the Festival is the Consumer Tasting being held in the Hotel Grand Pacific’s Pender Island and Vancouver Island Ballrooms featuring a myriad of distilleries and whiskies including Canadian whisky, Scottish single malts and blended whiskies, Irish whiskey, Japanese, Indian, French, Swedish, Australian whiskies and a variety of whisky & whiskey styles from the United States of America.

Each attendee is provided with an engraved Glencairn whisky nosing & tasting glass as well as assorted product information from the presenters.

The Hotel Grand Pacific will be providing the best Hors d’Oeuvres from their award winning kitchen and Chefs using local ingredients including the very popular & elusive haggis tarts created especially for the Victoria Whisky Festival! Here you will be able to satisfy your whisky curiosity by sampling your choice of over 150 whiskies, the largest selection available for such an event in British Columbia.

Brandon Isaak’s affinity for the rawness and spontaneity of the blues is second to none, as anyone who has had the privilege of being a part of his audience will tell you. As a 3 time Juno nominated musician, as well as winning blues guitarist, album and song of the year at the Canadian Blues Music Awards, he brings a firebrand style of guitar as well as incredibly stirring vocals that truly has to be witnessed to be appreciated! He is very much in the moment as he rips it up, and we know you'll be impressed with the caliber of showmanship within his performance of songs & stories by this great Canadian artist.

Complimenting the musical selections, Kirk Doherty will lead you through a variety of excellent Laphroaig offerings. Once again, get ready for a sublime combination of fantastic music and delicious Laphroaig whiskies, and conclude the 21^st edition of the Victoria Whisky Festival in style.

This exceptional dinner is by invitation only; the culinary team at the Hotel Grand Pacific led by Executive Chef Peter Kim will pair exceptional local ingredients with some outstanding whiskies.