Radio Royal York – Episode 12: Robbie Burns Day

robbie burns day | fairmont royal york hotel

Radio Royal York – Episode 12: Robbie Burns Day at the Library Bar

The Royal Stinger will run past midnight and the haggis will be sliding as The Fairmont Royal York’s Library Bar marks Robbie Burns Day from 12 Noon through to 1 AM on Tuesday, January 25, 2011.

In this episode, host Melanie Coates talks with Outlets Director, Jimson Bienenstock, one of the organizers behind The Library Bar’s Robbie Burns Day. Senior Sous Chef, Andrew Court, reads one of Burns’ best-loved poems. And to start the episode off, a traditional Scottish reel, “The Little Cascade”.

For a list of the single malt Scotch whiskeys stocked by The Library Bar, right-click on the link to download.

Click below to listen to or download this episode of the Radio Royal York podcast (MP3; 9 min 50 sec).

Listen to Episode 12

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Show Notes:

* Melanie intros the podcast to the sound of bagpipes being tuned and invites listeners to download the hotel’s haggis recipe from the Website.
* Melanie sits down with The Fairmont Royal York’s Director of Outlets, Jimson Bienenstock, to talk about Robbie Burns Day in the Library Bar.
* Jimson tells us why he prefers his Scotch “straight up” and notes that most Scotch drinkers prefer a slightly chilled Scotch “on the rocks”.
* Melanie gets in a grammar lesson by asking about the correct plural usage of the word “scotch”.
* Jimson talks about some of the more popular premium blends available at The Library Bar, including Johnny Walker Blue, Johnny Walker Black and Johnny Walker Red.
* Jimson notes that the bar also stocks several hard-to-find single malts, including Glen Breton from the Glenora Distillery in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
* Jimson describes the difference between blended and single malt scotch and talks about how each is produced.
* Melanie asks Jimson whether he can predict if someone is a scotch or vodka drinker.
* Jimson talks about what’s on the menu for Robbie Burns Night at The Library Bar.  He provides a thorough — and should we say appetizing — description of haggis and what ingredients can be found inside.
* Jimson recommends pairing haggis with a beer and finishing with a single malt chaser.
* Melanie and Jimson close with a toast.
* Musical interlude: “The Little Cascade”.
* Senior Sous Chef, Andrew Court, reads a Robbie Burns poem, “A Red, Red Rose”.
* Melanie wraps-up the episode with a plea to listeners to “try the haggis”. She will … on January 25th … in The Library Bar.

This episode features bagpipe sound effects from SoundSnap.

 

Radio Royal York – Episode 11: Queen Victoria Look-A-Like Contest

 
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Radio Royal York – Episode 11: Queen Victoria Look-A-Like Contest

In this episode of Radio Royal York: Host Melanie Coates talks queens, history and gin with Victoria Spirits’ Mia Hunt and the Fairmont Royal York’s own resident historian, Bruce Bell.

Click below to listen or download this episode as an MP3 (runs 19 minutes).

Listen to Episode 11

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Show Notes:

* Melanie intros the podcast and delivers a royal proclamation on the first annual Queen Victoria Look-A-Like Contest.
* Melanie welcomes Mia Hunt of Victoria Spirits. They talk about the company, the very talented Hunt family, and the distillery’s unique Vancouver Island location.
* Mia tells us why her family got into the gin business.
* Melanie confesses that she’s not a big fan of gin but admits to having her preferences changed by Victoria Gin.
* Mia tells us why booze connoisseurs are turning to gin.
* Mia describes how gin is made and explains what’s in the “heart” of the run.
* Mia lists the 10 botanicals used in Victoria Gin: juniper, orange peel, lemon peel, angelica, orris root, rose petals, coriander, cinnamon bark, star anise and a secret ingredient. Hint: If you attend the Look-A-Like Contest on May 24th, you’ll find out what it is!
* Melanie asks Mia why Victoria Gin features Queen Victoria on the bottle and inquires about Queen Victoria’s drinking habits.
* Mia tells Melanie where people can find and purchase Victoria Gin, including at The Fairmont Royal York’s Library Bar.
* Mia pumps some of the new products being developed by Victoria Spirits, including Left Coast Hemp Vodka, Oaken Gin, and Twisted & Bitter bitters.
* The ladies toast Queen Victoria and sign-off.

* Melanie introduces The Fairmont Royal York Hotel’s resident historian, Bruce Bell.
* Bruce explains why Queen Victoria was never able to visit Toronto, the “queen city”.
* Bruce talks about how the city “grew-up” with Queen Victoria and how important Victoria Day is to Torontonians.
* Bruce describes the kind of person Queen Victoria was and her grand relationship with Price Albert.
* Bruce recommends that contestants in the Look-A-Like contest take a trip to Queen’s Park to see the statue of Queen Victoria.
* Melanie explains how people can enter the Queen Victoria Look-A-Like contest.
* Melanie and Bruce exchange final pleasantries and share a cuppa Victoria Gin.

This episode features “The Rosebud Waltz” performed by Parlormuse.