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Perfect Pears

December 7, 2018 No Comments

Fall’s favourite tree fruit makes a great addition to autumnal cocktails

Perfectly preserved pears, from left, as purée, in syrup or dehydrated into chips. Dan Toulgoet photo

There is a sublime comfort in autumn, as the breezy aroma of fallen leaves wafts away the smoke of our sultry summer. One of my favourite things to do in the fall is to cruise out to the local farmers markets and fill my basket with delicious local fruits and vegetables. As a cocktail maker, I love loading up on things that I can preserve and keep around through what is sure to be another cold, wet and dreary Vancouver winter.

Home Bar, Recipes

Cognac & Pear Brulée

December 6, 2018 No Comments

• 1.5 oz. Remy Martin VS Cognac
• 0.5 oz Bénédictine liqueur
• 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 0.75 oz pasteurized liquid egg white
• 1 oz caramelized pear purée (see note)
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 tsp cinnamon sugar

Home Bar, Recipes

Mezcal Mule

December 5, 2018 No Comments

• 2 oz mezcal
• 0.25 oz jalapeño and pear syrup (see note)
• 0.5 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
• 4 oz ginger beer, preferably Dickie’s

Home Bar, Recipes

Spicy Pear Old Fashioned

December 4, 2018 No Comments

Justin Taylor’s sweet and spicy take on an Old Fashioned. Dan Toulgoet photo

• 2 oz Canadian rye whisky
• 0.25 oz jalapeño and pear syrup (see note)
• 3 dashes Angostura bitters

Home Bar, Recipes

Chuzzlewit’s Pear

December 3, 2018 No Comments

• ¼ Anjou pear
• 0.5 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 0.75 oz blended scotch whisky
• 0.75 oz amontillado sherry
• 0.5 oz Sons of Vancouver amaretto
• 3 dashes Peychaud’s bitters

Home Bar

Party in a bottle

July 6, 2018 No Comments

Batch the cocktails for your next gathering, and you can be part of the fun, too

Bottling cocktails for your next social event makes for impressive presentation—and it’s much easier than you might think. Dan Toulgoet photo

Let’s face it: Making cocktails for a crowd is quite easy, but executing multiple different drinks over and over can be a tedious chore, especially when you want to enjoy the fun, too. The solution? Bottle these crowd pleasers in advance of your next party or backyard barbecue.

Your guests will be blown away with your attention to detail and this fun way of serving iconic cocktails.

Home Bar, Recipes

Big-Batch Margarita

July 5, 2018 No Comments

Toss one of these bottled Margaritas to your guests the next time you have a party or barbecue. Minds blown!

3 cups reposado tequila
1.5 cups Cointreau
1.5 cups freshly squeezed lime juice
2 cups water
2 pinches sea salt

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher. Stir, pour into bottles, seal, label and refrigerate or stash on ice.

Home Bar, Recipes

Big-Batch Negroni

July 4, 2018 No Comments

Free up your party time by bottling up these Negronis in advance of your next party. Once bottled and properly sealed, these will keep for about one month.

• 2 cups gin
• 2 cups Campari
• 2 cups sweet vermouth
• 2 cups water

Combine ingredients in a large pitcher. Stir, pour into small bottles, seal, label and refrigerate or stash in ice.

Home Bar, Recipes

Sangria Rosé

July 3, 2018 No Comments

Mix up this rosé-based sangria recipe ahead of your next outdoor gathering.

• 3 cups dry rosé wine
• 0.5 cup brandy
• 0.5 cup Okanagan Spirits rhubarb liqueur
• 2 cups white cranberry juice
• 2 cups sliced strawberries
• 1 mango, peeled, pitted and cubed
• 2 cups soda water

In a large container such as a gallon-sized glass jar, combine all ingredients except soda water. Seal container and refrigerate for 12 hours or overnight. Remove fruit, place in ice moulds or freezer bags and freeze.

Features, Home Bar

Bartender in a bottle

July 2, 2018 No Comments

Raise a glass to the supporting cast of B.C.’s cocktail scene—local craft syrups, sodas, tonics and other mixers

Odd Society Spirits joins the craft soda trend with its zingy housemade ginger beer. RD Cane photo

Forget the genie. Professional bartending expertise is captured in each bottle, can and jar of these B.C.-born cocktail mixers, which are often natural and preservative-free, too. To let loose your cocktail creativity, just add craft spirits.