Part Two of Victoria Whisky Festival

THE SHOW 

It’s the second half of the 2025 Canadian Whisky Awards and  Victoria Whisky Festival  

Our guests this week are:

The Sons of Vancouver: (East Van)

Jenna Diubaldo –   Blender and Whisky Program Manager

James Lester – Founder-Blender-GM. (Middle)

Jenna –  A grad of SOV Distillery School and the Seibel Institute in Chicago.  Originally from Winnipeg.  Oversees the whisky program and manages production at distillery. Insisted the bar get a slushy machine.  She and the machine very popular.

James – One of the founding owners of SOV, he started the distillery in 2005.  James has a vast knowledge of the whisky industry and spent time making bourbon in Seattle. Quirky and funny, like his label names and overall design.  Clever and very interesting , like his blends.

 Forty Creek 

Bill Ashburn – Master Blender (Grimsby Ontario)

Bill has been a part of Forty Creek since John Hall acquired the plant from Otto Reider in 1992. After it was purchased by the Italian brand Campari Group in 2014, happily Bill remains the Master Blender to this day.

Still making Barrell Select and Special Reserves.  Bill and Forty Creek are winners of many awards!!

Bill won Master Blender of the Year and Whiskey Maker of the Decade in 2020.

The Strath (Victoria) and Odd Society (East Van)

Adam Bradshaw – Whisky Specialist The Strath Liquor Store

Gordon Glanz – Odd Society

Adam and The Strath are known as one of the premier locations in Canada for whisky lovers. Also  Vancouver Island’s home for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, as well as founder of the 1200+ member strong Whiskey Folk.

Gordon Glanz – Founder and distiller holds a MSc in brewing and distilling from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland and finished his education with a week at whisky school at  SpringBank in Campbeltown

Gordon Glanz

 Hiram Walker and Sons (Windsor, Ont)

Dr. Don Livermore – Master Blender. 

Dr Don Livermore and TDM

Responsible for many of Canada’s award-winning whiskies, such as JP Wiser’s,  Lot 40, Pike Creek, and Gooderham and Worts. He has also created the Canadian Whisky Flavour Wheel. Now in over 150 countries.

Author – The Keeper of History Vol 1

Author – Blending 101 Vol 2

In 2019 and 2020 the Canadian Whisky Master Blender of the Year

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

A Spring full of Surprises

Grant Stanley – Spearhead Surprises.

Michal Mosny – Winemakers Cut

Hanks – Duncan

Hester Creek