Birthday alert… Spirit of Toronto turns TEN!!!

It’s incredible to think that ten years ago the first Spirit of Toronto Whisky Gala took place at Roy Thomson Hall. Year after year it’s been our pleasure to showcase some truly stellar whiskies and fine spirits to our ever growing audience, including the first ever public tasting of Highland Park 40 Year Old, the first Canadian tasting of the Generations Glenlivet 70 Year Old and the king of cognac, Louis de XIII de Rémy Martin.

We’re also pleased to have held Canada’s only dedicated whisky auction which raised over $7000 for the Parkinson’s Society of Canada on behalf of the late whisky writer Michael Jackson.

That said, the many friends that Spirit of Toronto has made along the way are the true highlights of the past ten years. Those of you who not only return every year, but come back with your family, friends and colleagues in tow. It is with you in mind that we look forward to presenting a birthday bash that you will be talking about for the rest of the year…

Tickets on sale Monday, March 24

Tickets for this year’s Spirit of Toronto Annual Gala go on sale Monday, March 24 at 10:00am sharp. Once again tickets will be sold through Roy Thomson Hall’s box office online, by telephone and in person at 60 Simcoe Street. Those of you subscribed to this list will receive an automatic email notification the night before.

The complete schedule for the Spirit of Toronto 2014 Masterclass Series is also close to being confirmed. For those of you in need of some hints, I can report that this year’s tutored tastings will see some of you visting Italy, while some of you will take on the role of master blender. And then there are the lucky few who will be afforded a rare opportunity to travel back in time. All will be revealed in the coming weeks when Spirit of Toronto’s new website is published in March.

Coming in from out of town?

No need to wait to arrange your travel plans, once again we have discounted rates being offered by our hotel partners, and both are within walking distance of Roy Thomson Hall.

The Fairmont Royal York is right next to Union Station and is offering attendees rooms at $159 per night. You can book online by clicking here or by calling the hotel directly at 416-368-2511 and quoting “Spirit of Toronto”.

The Marriott Residence Inn Downtown Toronto is 3 blocks from Roy Thomson Hall and has a limited number of Studio Suites with full kitchen and living area available for $159 per night which includes WiFi, highspeed internet and a hot buffet breakfast. These can be booked by calling the hotel directly at 416-581-1800 and quoting “Spirit of Toronto” or by clicking here.

Single Minded 2014: A Modest Guide to Really Good Whisky

For those of you who can’t wait until May, the 2014 edition of Single Minded is now published and available to order online through Amazon Canada.

Based on more than ten years worth of tasting and travel in the world of whisky—both as an enthusiast and in my role as executive producer of the Spirit of Toronto—this is a no-nonsense guide to the affordable, everyday whiskies that I hold to be every bit as good (and often better) as bottles costing twice the price.

In short, this is my love letter to whisky, featuring those bottles I have purchased myself and enjoyed at my leisure… what I’d invite you to taste should you drop by for a wee blether as my Scottish friends like to say.