Stray Bullets

Stray Bullets. Photo courtesy of Donnelly Group

Available at Brass Fish and The Three Brits. This one quickly became a staple at Brass Fish when we opened in February 2020. It found its way onto a few other menus and holds its own in the overall sales of cocktails in the pubs.

• 2 oz silver tequila (preferably Olmeca Altos 100% Agave)

• 0.5 oz simple syrup (1:1)

• 0.5 oz lemon juice

• 1 oz passionfruit purée

• Soda

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Good Vibes Only

Good Vibes Only. Photo courtesy of Donnelly Group

Available at Granville Room. I basically grew up as a bartender at Granville Room so it will always hold a special place for me. Good Vibes Only is a drink that came along mid-2020. It started as a Collins-style drink and found its way into the frozen drink machine and is currently being poured in slush format.

• 2 oz gin (preferably Beefeater London Dry, which has lots of citrus and juniper)

• 0.5 oz St-Germain elderflower liqueur

• 0.5 oz crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur)

• 0.5 oz lemon juice

• Soda

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Margarita Popsicles

Margarita Popsicles. Joanne Sasvari photo

Note that you will need popsicle moulds and, if you don’t have plastic holders, wooden popsicle sticks for this recipe.

0.5 cup sugar

1 cup water

0.75 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (5 to 6 juicy limes)

0.25 cup silver tequila

0.25 cup orange liqueur

Garnish: flaky sea salt (optional)

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Frozen Strawberry-Lime Daiquiri

Frozen Strawberry-Lime Daiquiri. Joanne Sasvari photo

Perfect for the patio. That is all.

• 1.5 cups white rum

• 0.75 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice (5 to 6 juicy limes)

• 0.25 cup simple syrup (more if you like your Daiquiri on the sweet side)

• 1 (600 g) package frozen strawberries

• 4 cups ice cubes

• Garnish: strawberries or lime wheels (optional)

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Negroni Gelée Shot

Negroni Gelée Shots. Joanne Sasvari photo

These look like those after-dinner gelées you get in fancy restaurants, but come with a boozy and bittersweet kick.

• 1 cup London Dry gin

• 1 cup Campari

• 1 cup sweet vermouth

• 1 cup water

• 4 packets (0.25-ounce each) powdered gelatin

• Garnish: sanding sugar, candied orange zest (optional; recipe below)

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Return of the Sumac

Return of the Sumac. Chickadee Room photo

Recipe by Chickadee Room bar manager Sabrine Dhaliwal. This new addition to the menu is a rich and savoury cocktail flavoured with sumac, a tangy, citrusy spice popular in Middle Eastern cuisine.

1.5 oz Sumac-infused blanco tequila (see note)

0.75 oz amontillado sherry

0.5 oz Cynar

2 dashes Bittered Sling Lem-Marrakech bitters

Garnish: lemon peel

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Live @ 5

Live @ 5. Mark Yammine photo

Recipe by Pourhouse Bar Manager Adam Domet. A re-interpretation of that summer classic, the Margarita, with the licorice-y hint of absinthe.

• 2 oz Altos Blanco Tequila

• 0.5 oz Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao

• 1 tsp St. George absinthe

• 2 tsp lime juice

• 0.5 oz Five Alive Cordial (see below)

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The Sooke Sunrise

Sooke Sunrise. Miki Ellis photo

This loose play on a Tequila Sunrise was created by Stephen Whiteside of Dachi, who says, “The akvavit brings a bright, herbaceous note to this fruity, sweet classic.”

1.5 oz Sheringham Distillery Akvavit

1 oz freshly squeezed orange juice

2 tsp maraschino syrup

2 tsp lemon juice

2 tsp simple syrup

Garnish: thinly sliced orange wheel

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It Takes a Valley

It Takes a Valley. Patrón photo

Jared Schmidt’s Patrón Perfectionists competition-winning cocktail is inspired by the Okanagan Valley.

• 1.5 oz Patrón Silver

• 0.5 oz B.C. apple-infused Bénédictine (see note)

• 0.25 oz 1:1 simple syrup

• 1 oz B.C. organic white verjus

• 0.75 oz dry B.C. apple cider

• Garnish: grapefruit peel

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Strawberry Youth

Strawberry Youth cocktail by Grant Sceney. Photo courtesy of the Fairmont Pacific Rim

This fresh, floral and delightfully fizzy patio sipper was created by Grant Sceney, creative beverage director at the Fairmont Pacific Rim. Its name refers to a line in the Jeffree Star song Beauty Killer: “I got a sweet tooth and strawberry youth.”

• 3 strawberries, divided

• 1 oz Botanist Gin

• 0.75 oz Youth Cordial (see recipe below)

• 0.75 oz lemon juice

• 2.5 oz  Champagne or other sparkling wine

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