Event Review: The Diefenbunker's 2nd Annual 'Whiskey Business' Fundraiser
On Saturday, November 30th, 2013, which also happened to be Saint Andrew's Day (you know, that Saint Andrew, the Patron Saint of Scotland), I attended, along with several other members of our informal whisky club, the Diefenbunker Museum's 2nd Annual 'Whiskey Business' Fundraiser. I had wanted to go to this event last year, but scheduling conflicts had prevented me from doing so; this year, however, was a different story, as we (Meg, Rowan, and I) had all been out at the Diefenbunker most of October and early November volunteering as part of their zombie-themed collaboration with The Haunted Walk (the 'Incident At The Bunker'), and I knew the whisky tasting was coming up, so we booked early.
And how was it, you ask? Well, before I get into too much detail, I will take a moment to shamelessly steal Johanne McInnis's event rating parameters and grading system (for the sake of consistency, of course, and not simply because I am lazy...):
1. COST:
As this was an event that was confined to one evening, there was no cost for accomodation, and there were no "Classes" per se, just the main tasting event, which leaves us with costs for the tickets themselves and transport. Tickets were fairly reasonably priced: $75 per person ($65 for Museum Members), $140 per couple ($130 for Museum Members), or $500 for a table (eight people, which works out to $62.50 per person). In addition, since the Diefenbunker is a registered charity, a portion of the ticket cost is considered to be a charitable donation (any amount in excess of the 'advantage' received by the ticket holder is eligible for receipting as a charitable gift). Since I was able to drum up eight people, the final bill for tickets (after convience fees for ordering online) was $65 per person. We also car-pooled out to the site, which is a fair distance from anywhere (although parking is free), and this saved us a bit, since if we'd been forced to take a cab, it likely would have cost us between $70 and $80 each way (assuming a shared cab with four people, this would have resulted in an additional $35 to $40 per person, return trip). As it was, we car pooled, so the final cost to me, not counting mileage and gas, was $65.
MARK = A (a relatively low-cost evening, all things considered)
2. VENUE:
If you've never been to the Diefenbunker, I encourage you to go. It is a fascinating place in its own right, and yes, it might be out of the way, but since it was originally built as a nuclear defence bunker to ensure continuity of government, it is, by necessity, a bit out of the way. In the grand scheme of things, a 40km drive isn't going to kill you (one minor quibble is that you can't get there using public transit: the closest major transit stop is still a $25 to $30 cab ride, one way). For me it was a bit of an experience, as the main cafeteria was laid out with fairly elegant tables, centre-pieces, etc., and I had grown accustomed to being in the Bunker with most of the lights turned off, and the corridors strewn with debris, fake blood, fake body parts, make-shift barricades, and zombies. Seeing the cafeteria set up as, well, a formal dining hall was a bit of a shock.
MARK = B (getting there can be a bit difficult, but the atmosphere and feel of the Bunker is amazing, and the food for the evening, provided by The Swan at Carp, was phenomenal)
3. CLASSES:
N/A - there were no actual classes, just the main event, so this category is not required.
4. MAIN EVENT:
The event was presided over by Geoffrey Skegs (@TheWhiskyCourse on Twitter), who runs a Whisky Course at Algonquin College. Discussions in advance of the event suggested that he'd would be showcasing whiskies from Ardbeg (Islay), Bruichladdich (Islay), The Balvenie (Speyside), Auchentoshan (Lowland), and Old Pulteney (Highland), but no specifics had been given. Having done my own research on what the LCBO had available from each of these distilleries, I made the assumption that he was likely going to be serving the Ardbeg 10yr, Bruichladdie 'Classic', Balvenie Double-Wood 12yr, Auchentoshan 'Three Wood', and Old Pulteney 12yr. As it turned out, he had been unable to get any Old Pulteney and had substituted Springbank 10yr instead. In the end, the tasting line-up looked like this:
Things got off to a bit of a slow start, which left some of the people at my table a bit hungry, although since there were baskets of rolls and bottles of water at each table, they were able to stave off their hunger until the whisky and food pairings started to arrive. I was also a bit disappointed that I'd previously sampled three of the five whiskies on offer, but I understand the rationale with going for lower-cost whiskies and not being too daring with the selection, especially since this may have been the first whisky tasting that some of the guests had ever attended (personally, I would have selected the Laphroaig Quarter-Cask over the Ardbeg 10 as it has a more interesting story behind it, is lower cost, and in my mind, is a better whisky). Mr. Skegs made a point of making his way around the cafeteria while each whisky was being tasted and engaging all of the tables in conversation, answering questions when asked, and entering into discussions with the attendees. Perhaps my only critique for this part of the evening is that the coffee, made available to all attendees at the end of the tasting, was reportedly pretty vile. I don't have first-hand knowledge of this, though, as I had made myself a cup of tea, instead of waiting for the coffee.
MARK = B- (a bit more information on the whiskies themselves would have been useful, but for people coming to their first whisky tasting, it was pretty good overall)
5. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:
I love the Diefenbunker, I really do. The people who run it are fantastic, friendly, and very enthusiastic about their facility; they do their best to educate the public about Canadian history and the Cold War, and they have an amazing venue which they use in very innovative ways (Cold War Cinema Evenings, the Music of the Cold War - for which they won an award, Spy Camps, Zombie-themed Halloween events - which get people talking about emergency preparedness, etc., etc.), including whisky tasting fundraisers. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening, even if some of the whiskies were a bit disappointing: I didn't like the Ardbeg 10yr at our first tasting event, and while I'm still not fond of it, I can see why others like it; also, the Balvenie 14yr 'Caribbean Cask' was just not that good - it felt like I was drinking inferior whisky that someone had thrown into an ex-rum cask for a couple of years to hide its weakeness...I would rather have had tried the 12yr 'Signature' or even the 12yr 'Double Wood' again, or even a decent aged rum as opposed to a rum-tinted whisky. On the other hand, the food was very, very good, the Diefenbunker staff were wonderful, and the company and conversation was quite enjoyable. Everyone who went seems to have had a good time, so Kudos all around to the Diefenbunker, Mr. Skegs, and The Swan at Carp for a very successful evening!
MARK = A (one minor quibble, though: whisky vs. whiskey...since we were celebrating Saint Andrew's Day, they probably should have used the U.K. spelling of 'whisky' instead of the American 'whiskey'...)
OVERALL AVERAGE MARK = A- (if they host it again next year, we are definitely going, and we'll do what we can to spread the word!)
And how was it, you ask? Well, before I get into too much detail, I will take a moment to shamelessly steal Johanne McInnis's event rating parameters and grading system (for the sake of consistency, of course, and not simply because I am lazy...):
- Cost (accomodations, classes, transport, etc.)
- Venue (atmosphere, food, geographic location, etc.)
- Classes
- Main Event
- Overall Personal Experience
- A (90 - 100) - Exceptional Value
- B (80 - 89) - Great Value
- C (70 - 79) - Good Value
- D (60 - 69) - Little Value
- Fail (<60) - No Value
1. COST:
As this was an event that was confined to one evening, there was no cost for accomodation, and there were no "Classes" per se, just the main tasting event, which leaves us with costs for the tickets themselves and transport. Tickets were fairly reasonably priced: $75 per person ($65 for Museum Members), $140 per couple ($130 for Museum Members), or $500 for a table (eight people, which works out to $62.50 per person). In addition, since the Diefenbunker is a registered charity, a portion of the ticket cost is considered to be a charitable donation (any amount in excess of the 'advantage' received by the ticket holder is eligible for receipting as a charitable gift). Since I was able to drum up eight people, the final bill for tickets (after convience fees for ordering online) was $65 per person. We also car-pooled out to the site, which is a fair distance from anywhere (although parking is free), and this saved us a bit, since if we'd been forced to take a cab, it likely would have cost us between $70 and $80 each way (assuming a shared cab with four people, this would have resulted in an additional $35 to $40 per person, return trip). As it was, we car pooled, so the final cost to me, not counting mileage and gas, was $65.
MARK = A (a relatively low-cost evening, all things considered)
2. VENUE:
If you've never been to the Diefenbunker, I encourage you to go. It is a fascinating place in its own right, and yes, it might be out of the way, but since it was originally built as a nuclear defence bunker to ensure continuity of government, it is, by necessity, a bit out of the way. In the grand scheme of things, a 40km drive isn't going to kill you (one minor quibble is that you can't get there using public transit: the closest major transit stop is still a $25 to $30 cab ride, one way). For me it was a bit of an experience, as the main cafeteria was laid out with fairly elegant tables, centre-pieces, etc., and I had grown accustomed to being in the Bunker with most of the lights turned off, and the corridors strewn with debris, fake blood, fake body parts, make-shift barricades, and zombies. Seeing the cafeteria set up as, well, a formal dining hall was a bit of a shock.
MARK = B (getting there can be a bit difficult, but the atmosphere and feel of the Bunker is amazing, and the food for the evening, provided by The Swan at Carp, was phenomenal)
3. CLASSES:
N/A - there were no actual classes, just the main event, so this category is not required.
4. MAIN EVENT:
The event was presided over by Geoffrey Skegs (@TheWhiskyCourse on Twitter), who runs a Whisky Course at Algonquin College. Discussions in advance of the event suggested that he'd would be showcasing whiskies from Ardbeg (Islay), Bruichladdich (Islay), The Balvenie (Speyside), Auchentoshan (Lowland), and Old Pulteney (Highland), but no specifics had been given. Having done my own research on what the LCBO had available from each of these distilleries, I made the assumption that he was likely going to be serving the Ardbeg 10yr, Bruichladdie 'Classic', Balvenie Double-Wood 12yr, Auchentoshan 'Three Wood', and Old Pulteney 12yr. As it turned out, he had been unable to get any Old Pulteney and had substituted Springbank 10yr instead. In the end, the tasting line-up looked like this:
- Springbank 10yr paired with crostini smothered with smoked cheddar, sliced almonds, and dried figs;
- Bruichladdich 'The Laddie 10' paired with chicken satay and mango chutney;
- Ardbeg 10yr paired with spicy salmon california rolls;
- Balvenie 14yr 'Caribbean Cask' paired with smoked maple scallops; and
- Auchentoshan 'Three Wood' paired with a Grand Marnier creme brulee.
Things got off to a bit of a slow start, which left some of the people at my table a bit hungry, although since there were baskets of rolls and bottles of water at each table, they were able to stave off their hunger until the whisky and food pairings started to arrive. I was also a bit disappointed that I'd previously sampled three of the five whiskies on offer, but I understand the rationale with going for lower-cost whiskies and not being too daring with the selection, especially since this may have been the first whisky tasting that some of the guests had ever attended (personally, I would have selected the Laphroaig Quarter-Cask over the Ardbeg 10 as it has a more interesting story behind it, is lower cost, and in my mind, is a better whisky). Mr. Skegs made a point of making his way around the cafeteria while each whisky was being tasted and engaging all of the tables in conversation, answering questions when asked, and entering into discussions with the attendees. Perhaps my only critique for this part of the evening is that the coffee, made available to all attendees at the end of the tasting, was reportedly pretty vile. I don't have first-hand knowledge of this, though, as I had made myself a cup of tea, instead of waiting for the coffee.
MARK = B- (a bit more information on the whiskies themselves would have been useful, but for people coming to their first whisky tasting, it was pretty good overall)
5. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:
I love the Diefenbunker, I really do. The people who run it are fantastic, friendly, and very enthusiastic about their facility; they do their best to educate the public about Canadian history and the Cold War, and they have an amazing venue which they use in very innovative ways (Cold War Cinema Evenings, the Music of the Cold War - for which they won an award, Spy Camps, Zombie-themed Halloween events - which get people talking about emergency preparedness, etc., etc.), including whisky tasting fundraisers. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening, even if some of the whiskies were a bit disappointing: I didn't like the Ardbeg 10yr at our first tasting event, and while I'm still not fond of it, I can see why others like it; also, the Balvenie 14yr 'Caribbean Cask' was just not that good - it felt like I was drinking inferior whisky that someone had thrown into an ex-rum cask for a couple of years to hide its weakeness...I would rather have had tried the 12yr 'Signature' or even the 12yr 'Double Wood' again, or even a decent aged rum as opposed to a rum-tinted whisky. On the other hand, the food was very, very good, the Diefenbunker staff were wonderful, and the company and conversation was quite enjoyable. Everyone who went seems to have had a good time, so Kudos all around to the Diefenbunker, Mr. Skegs, and The Swan at Carp for a very successful evening!
MARK = A (one minor quibble, though: whisky vs. whiskey...since we were celebrating Saint Andrew's Day, they probably should have used the U.K. spelling of 'whisky' instead of the American 'whiskey'...)
OVERALL AVERAGE MARK = A- (if they host it again next year, we are definitely going, and we'll do what we can to spread the word!)