One of the true pleasures in a lifetime in music and broadcasting is connecting with artists at the very beginning of their careers.
If the connection is a strong friendship, emotionally you get to go along for the ride.
On the downside, you must be prepared to lose those friends along the way through attrition, lifestyle and medical issues.
I’m pleased to say Colin James has given all of us a great ride.
8 Junos, 31 Maple Blues Awards, Induction into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame, Order of BC and turning 60 years old with 21 studio albums under his belt.
Colin has played his way through an amazing collection of audiences. Starting with Stevie Ray style Texas blues, then blues rock, big band swing, roots, Americana and all the way back to blues.
What a Ride!!
Following a stellar concert at Massey Hall, Colin is on a Canadian tour now and he’s heading our way. With the wonderful Terra Lightfoot!
Feb 26 -Grey Eagle Calgary
Feb 27 – N Jubilee Edmonton
March 1 – Orpheum Vancouver
March 3 – Royal Theatre Victoria
March 4 & 5 – Port Theatre Nanaimo
Colin is a master storyteller.
This time he has tales of recovering from a road accident on his scooter in the USA. Damage to his foot and fret hand slowed him down considerably. He has stories of becoming what he dreamed of as an 8-year-old and the biography he’s almost finished writing.
The complete interview can be heard on the Mulligan Stew Podcast and the terrydavidmulligan YouTube Channel.
Heading for Hanks Cowichan and Kurtis Kolt explains “Everything”!
THE SHOW
Hank’s – Provisions from The Cowichan
Hank’s was originally going to be called “Hank & Ludo” named after our dog Hank and a gigantic bull mastiff named Ludo. Then the name was shortened to just Hank’s. Hank, the dog, is named after one of my favorite customers who passed away the month we opened, at the age of 98, Hank was a local gentleman that I met at the Duncan Farmers Market and would walk to the market every Saturday rain or shine with chocolates for us in his pockets and a joke.
(Louise)
Hank would buy charcuterie boxes and terrines from me every week – some he gave as gifts to friends and the rest he ate throughout the week” Louise Pickles
“When you walk into Hanks, there’s a busy bustle going on. There may be 10 customers looking at what’s being offered, some standing in line. In the open kitchen, there’s just as many chefs, bakers, cooks and servers. This is such a wonderful experience.” (TDM)
Louise Pickles –Red Seal Chef, Owner/Operator Pickles’ Pantry Ltd. and Hank’s Cowichan Ltd.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, food has always been an essential part of family life for Red Seal Chef Louise Pickles. After graduating from Brentwood College in 1998, followed by Queen’s University and University of Victoria, Louise decided to make her passion for food and cooking her occupation and signed up to attend the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in 2003.
Since graduating, Louise’s career has taken her around the world and back again working in hotels and resorts throughout BC such as The Terminal City Club, Diva at the Metropolitan Hotel, Sonora Resort, Black Rock Oceanfront Resort, and The Hotel Georgia.
After moving to Western Australia to work in Margaret River and the one hatted restaurant “Bistro Moncur” in Sydney NSW, she returned to Ucluelet to take on the role of Executive Chef at Black Rock Oceanfront Resort before starting a family in 2014.
As a family, Louise and her husband and business partner Aaron Walsh have chosen the Cowichan Valley as their home . Louise decided finally to start her own business in 2020. She teamed up with Aaron and coffee roaster, Dana Meiner, to open Hank’s Cowichan in Duncan.
Louise and Aaron
A go-to spot for freshly made pastries, sweet treats, and coffee, Hank’s provides an assortment of provisions, including amazing soups, celebrated sandwiches, cheeses, and charcuterie crafted by Pickles’ Pantry. The breads are a work of edible art. Louise explains how they connected with a French baker who crafts the art. Louise and Aaron are both Red Seal Chefs.
Just imagine how outstanding Hanks is. Well, it’s even better than that. A destination to be celebrated.
Aaron Walsh – Co-owner & Chef Hank’s Cowichan
Originally from Windsor Ontario, Aaron attended cooking school at George Brown College and went on to work in Toronto for a number of years before moving to Vancouver Island where he worked at various establishments including Long Beach Lodge and later with Lisa Ahier to open SOBO.
He stayed on the West Coast for 16 years and he has since worked abroad in Australia and in BC at numerous restaurants and hotels including Black Rock Oceanfront Resort in Ucluelet.
Aaron now oversees production and manages all culinary things and bread baking at their own business, Hanks Cowichan.
Kurtis Kolt – Wine Educator, Judge, Writer. (Vancouver)
This a wild and crazy time in the wine business.
Kurtis Kolt
As a result of the 2024 cold snap in the Okanagan, many vineyards were killed and what did survive offered up very small production possibilities.
In order to survive, BC wineries were given permission to source grapes from out of the province. They headed for Washington, Oregon, California, Niagara and The Cowichan. Those wines, the whites at least, will be showing up on shelves in early spring. Blends we’ve never seen before. The bottles will be marked and labels changed to reflect out of province sources.
How will wine fans respond?
Also, the Vancouver Wine Festival begins soon. Some of those new BC wines may be being poured.
California is the featured region. Multiple stories follow.
Because of US tariffs, there’s a renewed discussion about provincial trade barriers finally changing. The Alberta / BC wine partnership is part of the discussion.
Best of all, Top Drop 2025 is coming to Vancouver (May 13) and Calgary (May 15)
It’s the best small wine festival anywhere. One of the reasons it’s held in such high regard is that Kurtis Kolt is one of the driving forces behind the choosing and presenting of the attending wineries.
Kurtis guests on Tasting Room Radio to talk about “everything”.
One of the true pleasures of a lifetime in music and broadcasting is connecting with artists at the very beginning of their careers. If the connection is a strong friendship, emotionally you get to go along for the ride.
Photo by James O’Mara
On the downside, you must be prepared to lose those friends along the way through attrition and medical issues.
I’m pleased to say Colin James has given all of us a great ride.
8 Juno Awards, 31 Maple Blues Awards, Induction into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame, Order of BC and turning 60 with 21 studio albums under his belt.
Colin has played his way through an amazing collection of audiences. Starting with Stevie Ray style Texas blues, then blues rock, big band swing, roots, Americana and all the way back to blues.
What a Ride!!
He’s heading our way, with the wonderful Terra Lightfoot, following a stellar concert at Massey Hall.
Feb 26 -Grey Eagle Calgary
Feb 27 – N Jubilee Edmonton
March 1 – Orpheum Vancouver
March 3 – Royal Theatre Victoria
March 4 & 5 – Port Theatre Nanaimo
Colin is a master storyteller.
This time he has tales of recovering from a road accident on his scooter in the USA. Damage to his foot and fret hand slowed him down considerably. He has stories of becoming what he dreamed of as an 8-year-old and the biography he’s almost finished writing.
The complete interview can be heard on the Mulligan Stew Podcast and the terrydavidmulligan YouTube Channel on Saturday
One donor hour
Shannon is a huge fan of CKUA. So much so, that her Mom donated the hour and gave it to her.
“I have been a long-time advocate and cheerleader for this wonderful radio station, and I boldly proclaim it as the best radio station in the World”
And for Shannon’s Mom Lorna, we play the latest single from Matt Anderson.
Allison McGourtey- Producer
Bernard MacMahon. Director
Makers of Becoming Led Zeppelin
A documentary about the first 18 months of Led Zeppelin. Jimmy, Robert. John Paul and John Bonham.
Before it all exploded, and their lives got CRAZY.
And………it’s in IMAX.
The complete story can be heard on Mulligan Stew Podcast and tdm YouTube Channel.
Amazing filmmaking and storytelling.
Interview with Grant Stanley – Winemaker at Spearhead. #1 Winery in Canada.
And the BC Ale Trail (Mid-Vancouver Island!)
grant stanley Spearhead
THE SHOW
Grant Stanley – Winemaker and GM Spearhead Winery (Kelowna)
Grant Stanley is the winemaker and general manager at SpearHead Winery, on the south eastern slopes just outside Kelowna, BC.
Grant is a dual citizen of Canada and New Zealand. He’s acclaimed for growing and creating exceptional Pinot Noir wines.
When the 2024 Wine Align Canadian National Wine Awards took place and 1800 wines from over 200 Canadian wineries were judged.
SpearHead Winery won three Platinum medals in the Pinot Noir category. That’s not all they won.
When the points were tallied, Spearhead had won Best Performing Small Winery In Canada and the Winery of the Year.
It was the wine version of the Kelowna Rockets beating the Russian National Hockey team. They had won 12 medals in all.
The medals won in the Nationals by SpearHead included Platinum medals for the 2022 Pommard Clone Pinot Noir, 2022 Club Consensus Pinot Noir, and 2022 Saddle Block Pinot Noir, as well as a Gold Medal for the 2021 Golden Retreat Pinot Noir.
Then, Mother Nature took over and a Winter cold snap wiped of many of their vineyards.
In order to keep making wine and paying the bills, Grant headed south to the wine regions in Washington and Oregon looking for just the right vineyards to gather harvest from.
Grant had made wines in Oregon in past years. He knew exactly where to find the best grapes.
We’ll talk about those award-winning Pinots and those special new wines – called Dual Citizen – on this edition of Tasting Room Radio.
Ken Beattie – Executive Director BC Craft Brewers Guild
(Ken Beattie)
Interview also includes Matt Hill – Founder and Owner – Fern and Cider Brewing.
The BC Ale Trail is kicking off two exciting Tasting Passport campaigns, inviting craft beer lovers to explore, sip, and win in some of British Columbia’s best beer destinations. From February 1 to March 9, 2025, participants can collect stamps while enjoying locally crafted beers, ciders, and spirits— all while supporting BC’s brewing communities.
Each completed passport enters participants into a Grand Prize draw, featuring overnight stays, dining experiences, and more in Langley, Comox Valley, Cowichan, Nanaimo, and Parksville-Qualicum Beach.
In a brisk last segment, Ken and Matt become BC travel guides taking us down the Central Island Tasting Passport BC Ale Trail. This ale trail is a blast.
First-hour donors, from Banff, suggested Colin James, Duke Robillard, Blue Rodeo, and Eric Burdon. Hour Two. Comes from the legendary Ritchie Thursday Ladies Night Group.
They will gather around the nearest speaker and share the tunes with sips of B.C. Wine. A great request list doesn’t really surprise me because they’re all lifetime fans of CKUA.
Special Guests are
Allison McGourtey- Producer
Bernard MacMahon. Director
Makers of Becoming Led Zeppelin
A documentary about the first 18 months of Led Zeppelin. Jimmy, Robert. John Paul and John Bonham.
Before it all exploded, and their lives got CRAZY.
And………it’s in IMAX.
The complete story can be heard on Mulligan Stew Podcast and tdm YouTube Channel.
Amazing filmmaking and storytelling.Next Week – Colin James
PLAYLIST
The Stew – TDMulligan
Guests – Becoming Led Zeppelin
Director and Producer
That’s where it at
Colin James
Colin James and Big Band Vol3
It hurts me too
Eric Burdon
Crawling King Snake
Run
Jackie Venson
The Love Anthology
Talk to me
Los Super Seven (Delbert McClinton)
Heard it on the X
Work in Progress
Honeybear -The Band
Work in Progress
The Stew
TDMulligan
Coming Up – Robert Plant & Blue Rodeo
Turn it around
Duke Robillard (Suzann Forrest)
Turn it Around
Terry Mulligan
CKUA 50 50
Why not YOU?
Even this shall pass away
Robert Plant
Band of Joy
Western Skies
Blue Rodeo
Lost Together
Dean House & River Cafe. On The Bow
Coming Up – Becoming Led Zeppelin
The Stew
All over now
Ry Cooder
Paradise and Lunch
Pressure Drop
Toots and the Maytals
Pressure Drop
Remembering Mike Bloomfield
Mulligan Stew – CKUA
Check out the 50.50
Like a Rolling Stone
Bob Dylan (Mike Bloomfield)
Highway 61 Revisited
September Fields
Frazey Ford
Indian Ocean
Last Night
Travelling Wilburys
The Travelling Wilburys Vol 1
Coming Up – Becoming Led Zeppelin Documentary
TDMulligan
In Hour Two
Oakland Stroke
Tower of Power
Back to Oakland
This is Mulligan Stew – Year 29
In Hour Two – Becoming Led Zeppelin Doc
for the Ritchie Ladies
It’s a good life if you don’t weaken
The Tragically Hip and Feist
Live from No Dress Rehearsal
Feeling you
The paperboys
At peace with ones ghosts
Love so strong
Bonnie Raitt
Just like that
Long black veil
Harry Manx
Bread and Buddha
coming up – Documentary called
Becoming Led Zeppelin
with Director and Producer in London
why I sing the blues
BB King
Live and Well
The Calling
Carlos Santana (Eric Clapton)
Supernatural
When I call your name
Mariel Buckley – Bros. Landreth
Something New. Something Blue
Coyotes Banff
NEXT – Becoming Led Zeppelin
With Director and Producer
Becoming Led Zeppelin Interview
Allison McGourty Producer & Bernard MacMahon Director
It’s the first of two Whisky Specials from the 2025 Canadian Whisky Awards and the 2025 Victoria Whisky Festival.
There are always headlining whiskies and star whisky makers in attendance!
Whisky fans want to taste and explore the new releases from Crown Royal, Canadian Club, Forty Creek, Hiram Walker, JP Wiser’s Lot 40, Pike Creek, Gooderham and Worts, Nikka, Amrut, The Dalmore and Glencadam.
For the first time ever, Gisbelle Distillery a distillery from China, would be joining the lineup.
The West Coast and Vancouver Island were well represented.
Stillhead, Odd Society, DubhGlas, Sheringham, Sons of Vancouver & Shelter Point.
Over 200 whiskies were up for the awards. 14 judges from across the country tasted and scored.
The Grand Prize Winner, judged Canadian Whisky of the Year was,
The Peat Project Moscatel Barrique single malt from Macaloney’s Island Distillery (Saanich)
(Heather Leary – Graeme Macaloney – Davin de Kergommeaux)
Here are the guests on part one of the 2025 Whisky Awards and Victoria Whisky Festival
Davin De Kergommeaux – Davin is the flag bearer for Canadian Whisky. He singlehandedly brought Canadian Whisky to the attention of Canada and The World.
His latest book is the updated and expanded third edition of Canadian Whisky – The Essential Portable Expert.
I love the first line.
“Handles, mickeys, shots or drams, no matter what its measure, Canadian whisky is a story of Canada.”
Davin is my ultimate connection to the world of Canadian Whisky. He helped create these awards and leads the judging team.
Davin de Kergommeaux
Grant Stevely – Distiller at DubhGlas (Oliver)
In the fall of 2010, Grant purchased some property at Gallagher Lake near Oliver, B.C.
“I wanted to build a distillery from the ground up, which is distinctly different from a lot of other
distilleries,” he says. “So we built the distillery with expansion in mind.”
Grant Stevely
At the heart of the operation is a German-made Arnold Holstein still.
No sooner did Stevely open Dubh Glas Distillery in the spring of 2015, when he began winning awards
for his first product, Noteworthy Gin.
“Dubh Glas” is Scottish Gaelic for “from the dark water.” It’s pronounced “Douglas,” which happens to
be Stevely’s middle name.
Jason MacIsaac – Distiller. Sheringham (Langford, BC)
Sheringham Distillery won Best Contemporary Gin at the 2019 World Gin Awards
Its Seaside Gin captured the award against World-class competition from 23 countries, including the UK and USA.
“We created Sheringham because we saw a hole in the market: the opportunity to create the world’s most drinkable spirits. This approach has served us well, and in the seven years since founding Sheringham, we have been on the ground building authentic connections with buyers, retailers, and consumers, sharing our story and highlighting our chef-driven approach to innovation and quality.” (Distiller Mag)
Jason and wife Alayne now have their growing portfolio available across Canada and in 15 markets in the USA.
Graeme Macaloney – Master Distiller Macaloney Island Distillery (Saanich)
There once was a wee Scottish lad by the name of Graeme Macaloney who found a summer job bottling
whisky and fell in love with Uisge Beatha, the ‘water of life’. He dedicated his heart to finding a way to
make whisky for a living.
Graeme set up shop on Saanich, just outside Victoria. Some of his favourite Scottish and Irish whiskies were island-made.
Graeme has found his “island” in Canada.
Congratulations Champ!!
– Distillery opened in 2016
– The first whisky made onsite and released in 2020
Founded by the Colebank family, Stillhead Distillery Inc. opened its doors in October of 2017.
After working 15 years in the tech industry, Master Distiller Brennan Colebank left his job to pursue his dream career,
blending the two things he loved most: chemistry and spirits. The chemist has created an amazing portfolio and a home for Whisky in the Cowichan Valley.
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
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings are one of the most interesting bands working anywhere today.
Sometimes they’re in a recording studio time warp with more songs to choose from than Gabriel.
Followed by tours and festivals everywhere.
Then they disappear
The punch line to the tale is, the Blackie guys have their own lives, careers and fan bases.
What’s most remarkable is, after more than 25 years, they are still a band and friends.
For Example:
Stephen Fearing is releasing his next album on March 13 – The Empathist. Wildly outstanding music. (We’ll be talking again.)
Stephen starts his Canadian tour at The Carleton Room in Halifax with two sold-out nights Feb 4-5.
Kicks off album release March 13 at Mary Winspear in Sidney, Vancouver Island.
Alberta dates March 21 Festival Place Sherwood Park, March 22 River Park Church Calgary.
Colin Linden
Colin continues to produce artists at his Pinhead Recorders in Nashville.
He’s also been touring with T Bone Burnett. He co-wrote and co-produced T Bone’s latest album The Other Side. Next week Colin starts a new album, just in time to hit the road again.
Colin begins his own tour – The Ride on Tour – on April 23, hitting Calgary on June 1 and Canmore on June 3.
Tom and Terry
Tom Wilson
I’ll just give you the short version.
Re-recording songs, with son Thompson, from his play Beautiful Scars. Writing and recording soundtrack music for a number of projects including a film by Tanya Tagaq. Between his flourishing artwork, writing a new book, and starting a new album, Tom also enjoys the glow of an Order of Canada induction. That’s the short version.
Blackie – The Band.
Plans are underway for dates in Canada. Winnipeg Folk Festival, Mariposa Folk Festival, Belmont Festival Edmonton (June 20)
They are planning shows in Hamilton, Toronto where cameras will be filming. More events to come.
