Windsor, Ontario, is known as Whiskytown Canada, so we’re going celebrate it.
WindsorEats is hosting a week-long virtual celebration, bringing in some of Canada’s great whisky minds for casual, lighthearted discussions about whisky.
Each day from April 20-24, 2020, we’ll be hosting a Facebook Live session at 5pm with a different whisky expert. To liven up the session, we’re also bringing in whisky enthusiast and 939 The River personality, Greg Gnyp, each and every night. He’s been doing radio for almost 30 years but has also been loving whisky for just as long.
The one hour discussion will be just like a “happy hour” and you can watch and chime in to ask these experts any questions you may have about what you heard or always wanted to know about whisky.
Join us with your favourite whisky in your hand and enjoy this amazing lineup for the week:
JAMES NEIL
BEAM SUNTORY WORLD WHISKY AMBASSADOR
Monday, April 20, 2020
James has spent 10+ years working as an independent restaurant consultant across Canada. In 2009 he followed his passion and opened his own restaurant, diving into the world of Italian wine and craft cocktails. It wasn’t long after that when he was introduced to the World of Whisky and the fire was burning.
As a fan of the Beam Suntory portfolio, James had a desire to work with the organization and started doing so for 7 years with the Mixxit Canada team part time as a lead product specialist dedicated to brand education with Beam Suntory associates and customers. Stepping in the role as a Brand Ambassador for over 100+ events he felt it was time to join the organization in a permanent role in 2017 as a Territory Sales Manager. James is also the founder of the Hamilton Cocktail Showcase which is a local platform for bartenders to showcase their craft featuring Beam Suntory brands while giving back to local charities.
In 2019 James took on the role of World Whisky Ambassador, travelling across the country while sharing our brands of Laphroaig, Bowmore, Auchentoshan, Kilbeggan, and Tyrconnell.
GINA FOSSITT
U.S. Educational Program Manager – Canadian Whisky; the Bon Vivants
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Gina’s passion for great whisk(e)y started when she was touring the world, sharing many post-show toasts with her fellow tap dancers, musicians, and crew. Eventually, she spread the whisky gospel through a variety of roles in the restaurant and cocktail scene, earned her Advanced Certification in the WSET program, and became the Beverage Director for the iconic NY establishment, P.J. Clarke’s. She went on to become a Master of Whisky, where she completed many trainings and certifications. These include a 2-week Malt Advocate study abroad in Scotland, exploring many distillation, aging, sensory- analysis, and technical/bottling sites.
She completed an internship at The George Dickel Distillery and eventually led the Masters of Whisky and trade through the course. She was also the top-scoring MOW on the revered IBD certification – the General Certificate of Distillation – and developed and led a 6-month mentorship for other ambassadors up to the challenge. Other certifications include the Filson Bourbon Academy and Executive Steward in Stave & Thief’s Bourbon Steward Program; Gina also serves as a judge on tasting panels for Tastings.com. She continues to sit on expert panels and present seminars on many whisk(e)y topics for trade organizations and consumers around the United States. Her current role is the U.S. Educational Program Manager – Canadian Whisky; the Bon Vivants.
DAVIN DE KERGOMMEAUX
INDEPENDENT WHISKY EXPERT AND AUTHOR
Wednesday, April 22, 2020, 5PM
Davin is an independent whisky expert, who has been writing about, talking about, and teaching about whisky for over two decades. He is the author of the book, Canadian Whisky: The New Portable Edition, second edition. According to Clay Risen of The New York Times, “To call Davin de Kergommeaux the soul of Canadian whisky is an understatement—he is its guide, its historian, and its leading advocate.”
His new book The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries, was published on March 31, 2020. Davin is the founder and chairperson of the Canadian Whisky Awards, and publishes comprehensive notes about Canadian whiskies on canadianwhisky.org. He lives in Canada and writes full time.
RENEE HOWE
HOST OF THE BOURBON SHOW
Thursday, April 23, 2020, 5PM
Renée Howe is a Kitchener native with a marketing and hospitality background. A donut lover and whiskey enthusiast. She’s a cohost of The Bourbon Show podcast on the ABV Network. A foodie that’s always on the hunt for the best fried chicken (hint: she’s already found it ) and a cocktail that can compete with her beloved “coffee and cigarettes” from Grand Trunk Saloon. She was inducted into The Bourbon Show Hall of Fame from which she nominated herself. Currently eating her way through a jumbo bag of Cadbury mini eggs.
DR. DON LIVERMORE
MASTER BLENDER, HIRAM WALKER & SONS DISTILLERY
Friday, April 24, 2020, 5PM
Born in Fordwich, Ontario, a small town one hour north of Waterloo, Don showed a keen interest in microbiology at a tender age. Inspired by a Grade 10 biology teacher, Don pursued this interest and obtained his BSc in microbiology at the University of Waterloo. Don also completed a MSc and a PhD in Brewing and Distilling at Heriot Watt University
He’s worked at Hiram Walker for 24 years. Started as a lab technician, distillery supervisor, Research Scientist, Product Development Manager, then Master Blender.
Named Master Blender of the Year for 2019 and 2020 and has also won Canada’s Top Whisky in 2018 JP Wiser’s 35 Year, 2020 Pike Creek 21 Year Oloroso Cask.
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