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Beer or whiskey plus chocolate (with hint of bacon)? Savour perfect pairings from Victoria Caledonian Brewery and Distillery

Just in time for Father’s Day, the Saanich brewery introduces pairing sessions
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While their own whiskies are aging, Victoria Caledonian Brewery and Distiller y selects premium Scottish single malt whiskies , some of which were madeby their third-generation Master Distiller in Scotland.

Sponsored by Victoria Caledonian Brewery and Distillery / Impress Branded Content

Craft beer and chocolate? How about whisky?

Aye! say the experts at Victoria Caledonian Brewery and Distillery, who this weekend launch a new pairing program matching a selection of beers or whiskies with custom-crafted chocolates.

The pairing sessions, hosted Thursdays to Sundays, are the perfect complement to the interesting and informative tours currently offered at the Saanich craft brewery and distillery.

“We’re getting a very good reaction,” says John Hamilton, pointing to their five-star TripAdvisor rating. “It’s very much an experiential tour and we tend to get rave reviews.”

While wine pairings are a more familiar concept, the depth of flavours in both beer and whisky is made to be paired.

The array of chocolate flavours includes caramelized bacon with a touch of espresso, Earl Grey, and cardamom creme brulee, meaning this isn’t your average sweet. But such interesting flavours can be perfectly matched to your beverage of choice.

In fact, a number of beers, especially porters, have chocolate notes. Others, like pilsner, bring a freshness that contrasts nicely with a richer chocolate.

Just in time for Father’s Day:

With pairing sessions starting on Father’s Day, June 17 (get a 25-per-cent discount on opening day!), give dad a gift he really wants: beer, whisky and chocolate.

Can’t make it that day? Opt for a gift card so dad can book another time.

Taste the difference:

While their own whiskies are aging, the distillery selects premium Scottish single malt whiskies, some of which were made by their third-generation Master Distiller in Scotland. These are then vatted and imported to Victoria Caledonian for bottling under their Macaloney’s independently bottled Scottish whisky label. The three whiskies included in the tastings represent three different Scottish regions – the peaty whiskies from the Hebrides, a sampling from the heather-clad Highlands and another from the Speyside region. “People will really get an idea of the different types of whiskies,” Hamilton says.

What you need to know:

Each session, beginning at either 3:45 or 5:45 p.m., features eight different chocolates paired with three premium whiskies or three seasonally changing craft beers. “It won’t be the same every time so you can come more than once,” Hamilton notes.

And for those also enjoying a brewery and distillery tour during their visit, the beers and whiskies will be different from those sampled on the tour.

Pairing sessions are limited to 25 people, so it’s best to book ahead, but drop-ins will be accommodated space-permitting.