Whisky, beer, chocolate, together in one place … sounds like the makings of a delicious destination!
Add engaging, knowledgeable guides to the mix and it’s no wonder the Victoria Caledonian Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery is enjoying five-star Trip Advisor reviews:
“One of the best tours I have done (and I have done a few across Canada and the US),” wrote one visitor. “Our knowledgeable and personable guide led us through the brewing and distilling processes as we walked through the large facility. A special treat was to pick up our various tasting glasses of beer at points along the tour, beautifully presented on barrels. Two final tastes were two generous nosing glasses of their blended whiskies. We are already planning a repeat visit with other friends – highly recommended.”
The enthusiasm Vic. Caledonian/Twa Dogs tour-guides share reaches far beyond their tartan kilts.
Eager to pass along their passion for the beers and single malt whiskies crafted on-site, tour-guides welcome visitors for truly entertaining, informative and above all, experiential, 45-minute tours.
“It’s about education, but it’s also about entertainment – immersing people in the whole brewery and distillery experience,” explains explains Vic. Caledonian/Twa Dog founder, Graeme Macaloney. “We encourage our tour hosts to bring both fun and their personalities to the tours as they share their extensive knowledge with guests both young and old.”
In addition to hearing how the craft beer and whisky are made, visitors can taste their ingredients, grab a bottle of beer from the bottling line, and see how whisky casks are filled!
And of course, there’s tastings along the way: “Because our beers and whiskies and food pairings are changing, the tour and tasting experiences are also changing,” Macaloney notes.
Perfect pairings: The brewery and distillery recently launched a new pairing program matching a selection of beers or whiskies with local, custom-crafted artisanal chocolates … to rave reviews. Hosted Thursdays to Sundays, the sessions are the perfect complement to the interesting and informative tours. Sessions begin at either 3:45 or 5:45 p.m., pairing eight chocolates with three premium whiskies or three seasonally changing craft beers.
Master the craft: Explore every nuance of the spirit with a whisky master class with level 3 sommelier Andrew Walls. A tasting fit for the whisky connoisseur, sample the Twa Casks Heritage whiskies – Speyside, Highland and peaty Islay whiskies – and draw four healthy drams, swirling, nosing and tasting your way to happiness.
What you need to know: Space is limited in the pairing and master class sessions, so it’s best to book ahead, but drop-ins will always be accommodated space-permitting.
