The Rob Roy was created in 1894 at Manhattan’s Waldorf Astoria; at Central City, bartender Christos Kalaitzis created this salty-sweet version that won the Canadian Art of the Cocktail competition in 2017.
INGREDIENTS: • 1 oz Lohin Mckinnon single malt • 1 oz sweet vermouth • 0.5 oz salted caramel sauce (see recipe below) • 2 dashes rosemary bitters • Garnish: Orange zest
Why did BC LCLB agents seize an estimated $150,000 in whisky? And could it happen to your favourite tipple, too?
It was a scene that might have been straight out of Prohibition—were this not 2018.
On the morning of January 19, 2018, plainclothes teams of B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch agents descended upon two licensed establishments in Vancouver and Nanaimo: Fets Whisky Kitchen and The Grand Hotel. Later that day, in Victoria, they visited The Union Club and Little Jumbo Cocktail Bar. What were they after? Illicit booze, grey market goods being sold as the real thing, or maybe something even more heinous?
Clear your schedule for the BC Distilled festival.
BC Distilled is the biggest artisan and micro-distillery event in Canada and a must for anyone interested in spirits and cocktails. It is April 14 at the Croatian Cultural Centre, with a trade tasting from 2 to 4:30 pm followed by the public event, 6 to 9 pm.
Cocktail competition season is in full swing, and it’s exciting to see so many B.C. bartenders competing both on the local and world stage.
After Royal Dinette’s Kaitlyn Stewart won Diageo World Class in 2017, all eyes are on the global competition whose winner is considered best bartender in the world. The 2018 round kicked off in January, with regional challenges being held in March and the Canadian finals scheduled for May 7 to 10. Good luck to all who dare enter.
Vij’s bartender Olivia Povarchook made it to the semi-finals of the prestigious 2018 Bacardi Legacy cocktail competition with her update on the classic Cuba Libre called the Original Sin.
INGREDIENTS:
• 2 oz Odd Society Wallflower Gin
• 0.5 oz tonic syrup
• 0.25 oz diluted maple syrup
• 0.75 oz fresh lime juice
• 3 dashes Fee Brothers plum bitters
• Ms Better’s Miraculous Botanical Foamer
Thirsty for cocktail and spirits news? You’re in luck—the spring issue of The Alchemist is out this week.
The eighth edition of B.C.’s only magazine dedicated to local distilleries and cocktail culture returns just in time for the warmer weather with “lighter spirits, brighter cocktails and new seasonal adventures.”
In this issue: We look at what was behind B.C.’s recent whisky raids and explain how to order a cocktail the right way. We offer a guide to Vancouver’s distillery tasting rooms, sample farm-to-flask cocktails and our tasting panel judges B.C. gins ideal for G&Ts or cocktails to toast the royal wedding. Plus we share a dozen must-try cocktail recipes.
Be sure to grab a free copy before they’re gone! Find The Alchemist in select distilleries, cocktail bars and independent liquor stores in B.C.
As an aspiring newcomer in the cocktail scene, Jason Cheung, born and raised in Vancouver, draws on his extensive training with mentors in some of the industry’s top bars.
His bar style is young and fresh, while still bringing you the traditional cocktails you know and love.
Currently at Boulevard as the assistant bar manager, he hopes to shake up the paradigm of traditional mixology and start a new generation in the industry.
Are you passionate about craft cocktails and craft beer? Are you a super cool person with a positive attitude? Is “fun” generally something you spend every waking moment pursuing?
Perfect, because we want to hire you!
Check back often for new events and updates or subscribe to the Vancouver Cocktail Week mailing list to receive event and ticket information as it is released.