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Accolades for Ampersand

August 6, 2021 No Comments

The Cowichan Valley distillery wows the world with its handcrafted spirits

This year, the World Gin Awards awarded the distillery’s flagship Ampersand Gin “Canada’s Best Classic Gin.” Supplied photo

Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley may seem far away from just about everywhere, but that doesn’t mean the world isn’t taking notice. That’s thanks to an artisanal distillery named Ampersand Distilling Co., which is scooping up all sorts of awards for its carefully handcrafted spirits.

Earlier this year, for instance, the World Gin Awards awarded the distillery’s flagship Ampersand Gin “Canada’s Best Classic Gin.” It’s been made since 2014 from B.C.-grown wheat, eight botanicals and fresh spring water from the five-acre farm owned and operated by the Schacht family, Stephen and Ramona, their son Jeremy and his wife Jessica.

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Ampersand 50/50 Martini

August 5, 2021 No Comments

Ampersand Distilling’s 50/50 Martini. Supplied photo

As the author of a forthcoming book on essential cocktails, Ampersand co-founder Jessica Schacht recommends this sophisticated classic to make the most of the distillery’s award-winning spirits.

1.5 oz Ampersand Gin

1.5 oz Imperative Dry Vermouth

Garnish: lemon twist

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Fever-Tree serves up a citrusy summer

July 23, 2021 No Comments

Sparkling Pink Grapefruit adds fizz and flavour to all our favourite highballs

Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit. Supplied photo

Canadians who’ve been searching for that perfect grapefruit soda for their Palomas and punches need look no further. Just in time for all our summer sips, Fever-Tree, the world’s leading maker of premium mixers, has launched Sparkling Pink Grapefruit.

Fever-Tree’s first mixer created specifically for North American consumers, Sparkling Pink Grapefruit, is made with hand-picked Florida grapefruits. It has no artificial colours, flavours, ingredients or sweeteners and is only 30 calories per 200 mL bottle.

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Fever-Tree Pink Dame

July 22, 2021 No Comments

A low-alcohol spritz perfect for all-day patio sipping.

¼ Lillet Blanc

¾ Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit

Garnish: grapefruit wedge

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Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Spritz

July 21, 2021 No Comments

Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit perfectly complements spirits and captures the essence of easy-to-make spritzes.

¼ vodka (we suggest Grey Goose)

¾ Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit

Garnish: grapefruit wedge and rosemary sprig (optional)

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Fever-Tree Paloma

July 20, 2021 No Comments

Mexico’s favourite cocktail, the refreshing Paloma, is also the easiest to make.

• ¼ tequila (we suggest a 100% agave, like Patrón)

• ¾ Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit

• Garnish: grapefruit wedge

• Optional: salt rim

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Satisfying summer sips

July 9, 2021 No Comments

Three ‘extremely drinkable’ cocktails from Donnelly Group’s Trevor Kallies

I’ve been crafting and designing cocktails for close to 20 years. There are a handful I can look back on with a great deal of pride and, of course, a handful that I would love to forget, but those closest to me can’t seem to let go. (There was an incident with a blue whale candy circa 2003.) Regardless of the wins and losses, there is a fairly steady evolution of where it started and how it’s going.

I realized extremely early in my role as Beverage Director for Donnelly Group that 95 per cent of the drinks I design that find their way onto the 14-plus menus around Vancouver and Toronto are not for me. Not for my enjoyment anyway. I can appreciate their flavour, their ingredients, the spirits and brands found within, of course. When I say “not for me,” I am referring to the fact that a great cocktail is designed for the enjoyment of the guests and to capture the brand of the bar, not to appease the hubris of the bartender.

Here are a handful of relatively recent cocktails that we’ve been pouring at some of the venues. They’re extremely drinkable (if I do say so myself) and not overly cost- or technique-prohibitive to be made at home.

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