On Saturday night, the shebeen in Gastown hosted the 2008 Cask Rendezvous with Arran Malt.

Managing director Euan Mitchell came straight from Scotland to guide the attendees through a tasting which included the 10 Arran Year Old Single Malt, the Sassicaia Cask Finish, the Pineau des Charentes Cask Finish, the Moscatel de Setubal Cask Finish and the Arran Ambassador’s Choice Single Cask which is not available in North America.

At the end of the tasting, the organizers held a draw for a bottle of the Robert Burns 250 Year Anniversary Edition. The winner, Fulvio Cecere, was generous enough to share a taste with everyone in the room.

Find out more about The Arran Malt and the tasting, after the jump. (more…)

On Wednesday afternoon, members of the media got a chance to check out a few fine whiskeys at the Shebeen in anticipation of the upcoming Hopscotch, Vancouver’s Scotch, Whisky and Premier Beer Festival which occurs this year between the 12th and 17th of November.

Whiskeys we tasted, with the help of Blue Water Cafe’s Ron Oliver, the local Scotch and Whiskey aficionado, incluced Famous Grouse, Macallan Fine Oak 10, Highland Park, Jim Beam Black and Maker’s Mark.

Watch a short video clip of Ron speaking about the origins of Macallan Fine Oak and a little bit more about Hopscotch after the jump. (more…)