The Alchemist Magazine BC | B.C. Distilleries

Great world bars we love: The Surf Club

August 18, 2023 No Comments

Facebook.com/ChampagneBarAtTheSurfClub photo

There’s no shortage of glamour in Miami, but even the most jaded of luxury travellers will find something to marvel at when setting foot into Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club. A former members-only club that hosted the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Winston Churchill, the historic grandeur of the hotel is still present in every nook. While visitors may get lost strolling the storied halls, most who enter today probably know exactly where they are going and that place is usually the Champagne Bar.

Classics

Atomic age cocktails

August 11, 2023 No Comments

The mid-20th century was the best of times, the booziest of times

The advent of Vodka in the 1930s begat a whole new cadre of cocktails like the Moscow Mule, Sea Breeze and Greyhound, pictured above. Getty Images photo

The end of the Second World War ushered in an era of unprecedented prosperity and optimism across North America. The space race was on; so was the baby boom, a housing boom and a technology boom that filled all those new homes with fancy gadgets and their driveways with shiny automobiles. (There was also another, less happy “boom” on people’s minds, a nuclear one.)

And, when workers came home from the office to their tidy, well-appointed suburbs, they’d mix up pitchers of Martinis or Mai Tais to enjoy around their kidney-shaped cocktail tables.

Recipes

Gimlet

August 10, 2023 No Comments

The classic Gimlet is simply half gin and half Rose’s Lime Juice. Although Raymond Chandler declared, “It beats Martinis hollow,” in his 1954 noir novel The Long Goodbye, it can be a bit sweet and unbalanced for modern palates, which is why we prefer the “refreshed” version below.

Recipes

Singapore Sling

August 9, 2023 No Comments

The Singapore Sling is the king of tropical cocktails. It was created at Raffles Hotel in 1915, but its heyday was arguably in the 1950s and ’60s. Forget the overly sweet versions you may have encountered; the original is complex and refreshing, perfect for a sultry tropical day.

Recipes

Greyhound

August 8, 2023 No Comments

When made with quality ingredients, this vodka highball is refreshing, versatile and delicious—and as easy to make as it is to enjoy.

2 oz vodka

4 oz freshly squeezed grapefruit juice

Garnish: Grapefruit peel or wedge

Optional: Salted rim (for a Salty Dog)

Optional: 0.5 oz Campari (for an Italian Greyhound)

Features

Sipping Winnipeg

August 4, 2023 No Comments

The Prairie city is developing a cool cocktail scene. Here’s where to enjoy the best sips in town.

Langside Grocery is a cosy neighbourhood joint—and a destination well worth seeking out.
Photo courtesy of Langside Grocery

From the early days of the European fur trade to the current craft brewing boom, Winnipeg has been a beer city through and through. Fortunately for those who love a bone-dry Daiquiri or a proper Porn Star Martini mixed with local vodka, the craft cocktail scene is catching up. The city might only boast only a handful of bars where you can lose yourself in a superbly executed drink, but they are all fabulous in their own ways.

Recipes

Bathtub Gin

August 3, 2023 No Comments

This refreshing, pretty-in-pink summer sipper by Elsa Taylor has been the most popular cocktail at Winnipeg’s The Roost since it opened in 2015.

Features

A whisky lovers’ road trip

July 28, 2023 No Comments

New transnational trail showcases world-class single malts from the Pacific Northwest

On the Vancouver Island leg of the trail, sippers can discover drams from Goldstream, Macaloney’s and Shelter Point distilleries. Reece Sims photo

Whisky enthusiasts have a new reason to raise a glass with the launch of the Northwest Whiskey Trail. The trail, which takes visitors on a journey to some of the best single malt distilleries in the Pacific Northwest, is set to become a must-visit destination for both locals and tourists alike.

The Alchemist

Bar Bravo: New seafood and cocktail bar set to open in Vancouver

July 26, 2023 No Comments

Well shucks! Vancouver is getting a new spot for oysters and drinks soon

Bar Bravo is a new spot for seafood, oysters, and drinks opening this summer on Vancouver’s Fraser Street. Alexander Spatari/Moment/Getty Images

After a few short months of being dark, the Fraser Street address that was home to the beloved Ubuntu Canteen has seen a flurry of activity recently, as new operators have taken over the business and are prepping to open a seafood and oyster bar with cocktails in the space.

The Alchemist

Eye openers: 4 great brunch cocktail pairings

July 25, 2023 No Comments

Brunch provides a palette for a myriad of cocktail pairings. Reece Sims photo

There’s just something about bringing people together for brunch that captures hearts and palates. Perhaps it’s the enticing blend of savoury and sweet flavours, endless beverage options, and a leisurely atmosphere that creates undeniable allure.

I was especially inspired by the brunches I enjoyed on a recent visit to Scottsdale, Arizona, for a bachelorette party weekend. Mostly I was inspired by one particular brunch at the W Scottsdale’s Cottontail Lounge. The hotel is situated in the heart of the city, with the Fashion District a few minutes west, Old Town a few minutes south, and the Entertainment District at its doorstep.

Best of all? The brunch cocktail pairings. Here are four to try.