Spirit of Toronto 2012

[Frodo]

I'll meet up with everyone after the show at the Elephant & Castle!

[Nabil]

Masterclasses are up and online.

Once you have your ticket and masterclass picked out, we can then set a time to meet up in between classes. I'll be going to an early bird session at 5:30. I might try the HP MC as well at 7 pm.

Cheers!!

[portwood]

Last year I attended three sessions and felt I did not have enough time to check the rest of the tables. I was thinking of two for this one.

Hmmmmm, what to do?
5:30 Editor's choice vs Gordon & MacPhail
7:00 Highland Park vs small batch bourbon
8:30 Canadian whisky for export vs Amrut

This event needs to expand to two days ...

[bebdo]

5:30 Editor's choice vs Gordon & MacPhail
8:30 Amrut vs Glenrothes

7:00 Highland Park

[Yello to Mello]

maybe Ill try for Davin's masterclass....just hoping to try some Mastersons.

That or the CC one....only doing 1 MC

[TimWhalen]

I'm presuming that the logos that flash near the top are the exhibitors? If so it'll be fun to visit the Ardbeg booth even though I worry about how long that lineup will be. I was hoping for either Glenfarclas or Springbank but oh well what can you do.

Anyone really excited for a particular distillery booth?

[portwood]

I'm presuming that the logos that flash near the top are the exhibitors? If so it'll be fun to visit the Ardbeg booth even though I worry about how long that lineup will be. I was hoping for either Glenfarclas or Springbank but oh well what can you do.

Anyone really excited for a particular distillery booth?

Per the website, they are not allowed to mention specific names (the advertising would make us all rush out and get drunk on that distillery's booze) but it's safe to say that the products from the brands listed will be available - not necessarily at booths hosted by the distillery. It's possible for some products to be available at the LCBO booth (IIRC, last year they had a Springbank).

Unfortunatelly, I get the sense that this event isn't worth attending for the small independents. Could it be the Ontario bureaucracy?

Beyond the masterclasses I will be looking to try:
BBR/Glenrothes (I've only had the 1995)
Glengoyne (only tried a small sample of the 21yo)
Benromach/Gordon Macphail
Laphroaig (IF the 18 is available)
Amrut
RUM (to see if I like it enough to buy a bottle or three of "the good stuff")

[Yello to Mello]

Tickets requested not available.

[bebdo]

yeah - been trying since 10:02
web site allows you to go through the verification box and then - Not available. I tried selecting different masterclasses but same thing - so I think it's a site issue! Guess we are all hammering the site!
phone lines are busy!

[Yello to Mello]

Ok...as long as its not just me...gotta get back to work..ill check back later

[bebdo]

now I get site not available ...
Y2M - u brought the site down!!

[Yello to Mello]

Hahaha yeah they took the ordering link down...ggotta call now...how are the waiting times?

[bebdo]

Hahaha yeah they took the ordering link down...ggotta call now...how are the waiting times?

okay, I finally got through on the phone - and the followings Master Classes have sold out
- Editors Choice 5:30
- Gordon & McPhail 5:30
- Highland Park - 7:00
- Amrut - 8:30
these were the ones I asked about - so don't know if others are available.


Online booking wasn't available and they sold out ?? How many operators do they have taking calls?
Anyway, have to give this some serious thought whether to go or not (most likely won't now)

[Nabil]

I spoke with someone in the know...technical difficulties at RT. Heads may roll.

As for tickets...I got the G&M early bird. Even if I hadn't, I would still go. The social aspect is great, and there are a lot of whiskies to sample, and great food. I hope that everyone who thought of going will still be there, I really want to meetup with the MLLers. And as I mentioned, there will be a special treat for MLLers from the event organizers!

Hope to see you all soon.

N.

[Yello to Mello]

I refreshed the page 10 mins ago and its back online...got my order in...export only MC

[bebdo]

And as I mentioned, there will be a special treat for MLLers from the event organizers!
N.

Nabil, doesn't take much to sway me!!

My primary reason for attending this event is to meet the MMLer's as well. So have purchased my ticket along with
the following Masterclass:
5:30 Sketches of Spain, A Sherried Whisky Extravaganza
7:00 The Original Small Batch Bourbon Collection
8:30 Glenrothes, Maturity not Age

[portwood]

I spoke with someone in the know...technical difficulties at RT. Heads may roll.

As for tickets...I got the G&M early bird. Even if I hadn't, I would still go. The social aspect is great, and there are a lot of whiskies to sample, and great food. I hope that everyone who thought of going will still be there, I really want to meetup with the MLLers. And as I mentioned, there will be a special treat for MLLers from the event organizers!

Hope to see you all soon.

N.

Same "technical difficulties" with the web ordering as last year

40 minutes of dialing the phone number. Finally got through and got all my first choices. Lucky I have a very understanding employer
Editor's choice (hoping Johanna has some good stuff in her cabinet ... )
Highland Park (hoping to taste at least one item I will not buy - 21yo, maybe thor )
The 8:30 time slot was the most difficult - between Davin/Amrut/Glenrothes. Chose Glenrothes

[Nabil]

Once the online site was up and running, they held back some seats from all the classes for the web. Hope you all had a chance to get one of your choices. We'll sort out a meeting time some time in the future. I'm open during the whole show. I'm only doing the early bird.

[TimWhalen]

Hope everyone got the masterclasses they were hoping for. I'm assuming tickets to the show itself does not sell out too quickly?

[bebdo]

I did not get even one of the MC's I was trying for -
I was surprised that within an hr when I got someone on the phone all the 3 I wanted were sold out - maybe like Nabil states they did have some set aside for the web orders after they sorted out their issues - I did end up buying online soon after the site was back up but didn't see the ones I wanted.

[bebdo]

Nabil, not counting down sleeps until SOT2012??

Some days back I went to the SOT ticket section to see what master classes were still available and saw Highland Park and 2Ben and 3 Glens showing with some others. So I called up RT and told them that I was disappointed that I was told the tickets for these had sold out and now they show up online. They said they were instructed by organizers not to swap masterclasses so they suggested I email them and see if they would do something about it. So I did - and within an hr I had RT sales person call me and said they were going to swap the Bourbon class for HP and I also got an email from SOT apologizing for the issue with the web site and ticket sales in general.
I wasn't expecting anything - but was pleasantly surprised by turn of events - so I have my HP masterclass ticket in hand (arrived in mail today).

[Nabil]

Only 25 more sleeps until SofT 2012!

Glad to hear you got your mc. I propose we meet at the elephant and castle at around 3:45 pm for apps and a beer?

[Frodo]

I just got SOT day off work so I can meet up with anyone before or after the event at someplace like Elephant & Castle!

[Nabil]

Only 18 more sleeps. Frodo, ill be there ca. 3:45 pm. That way I can get something to eat ahead of time.

[Frodo]

Sounds good Nabil!