The Alchemist Magazine BC | B.C. Distilleries | Cocktail Bars Vancouver

A new Signature from St-Rémy

November 25, 2021 No Comments

Cellar master Cécile Roudaut introduces a brandy that balances quality with versatility

St-Rémy Signature is as enjoyable on its own as it is in a cocktail. Supplied photo

Cécile Roudaut loves her job. “Every day I learn new things and this brings me happiness,” says the master blender for St-Rémy. “I have the opportunity every day to taste very high-quality products. Each day I make something different. My role is to perpetuate tradition, but also to innovate.”

Roudaut was in Vancouver recently to launch St-Rémy Signature, the exciting new blended brandy she has created for Rémy-Cointreau. “I asked for a project: ‘Can I have a budget to buy some casks?’” she says. Of course, they said yes. “And the results were very pleasant.”

Bar Bites

Boozy reads for cosy days

November 19, 2021 No Comments

Pour yourself a cocktail and curl up with one of these new releases.

B.C., distilled

If you’re looking for a guide to the province’s distilleries, the spirits they produce and the cocktails you can make with them, then Shawn Soole is the guy to take you there. The bar manager of Clive’s Classic Lounge in Victoria is an award-winning mixologist, hospitality entrepreneur, podcaster (Post Shift) and author of several books, including his latest, The BC Spirits Cocktail Book (FriesenPress). It’s got everything you need to know about 57 of B.C.’s artisanal distilleries, with creative cocktail recipes to enjoy along the journey.

Recipes

Geraniol Gin Cosmo

November 18, 2021 No Comments

Recipe from Stillhead Distillery, created by Mitch Poirier and reprinted with permission from The BC Spirits Cocktail Book by Shawn Soole.

• 3 snap peas

• 1.75 oz Stillhead London Dry Gin

• 0.25 oz Arbutus Limoncello

• 0.5 oz cranberry cordial

• 0.5 oz lemon juice

• 1 dash of Ms. Better’s Black Pepper Cardamom Bitters

Bar Bites

Campaign to lift spirits

November 15, 2021 No Comments

Canada’s craft distillers have had it with what they see as an unfair federal excise tax on spirits production, and they just won’t take it any more.

They have created a coalition called Lift Canada’s Spirits and have launched a petition urging the federal government to make the excise tax on small volumes more in line with that on domestic craft beer production—and, significantly, with what small U.S. distilleries pay.

Bartender of the Year 2021 James Grant faces the future

November 12, 2021 No Comments

Diageo World Class excited to support the bartending comeback

Diageo World Class Global Bartender of the Year James Grant gets a lift from previous winners of the World Class Canada title. Photos courtesy of World Class Canada

It took James Grant only a decade to go from bartending “to pay the bills” to becoming the Diageo World Class Global Bartender of 2021—a title that recognizes him as the world’s best bartender.

“It’s pretty wild. It’s finally started to sink in,” says the bar manager of Edmonton’s Little Hong Kong. “I’m very humbled and grateful to have done OK representing the Canadian bartending community on the world stage.”

Bar Bites

Hospitality helper

November 10, 2021 No Comments

Since the BC Hospitality Foundation was created in 2006, it has become a go-to lifeline for the industry. And this October, the organization passed a significant milestone: It reached $1 million given to hospitality and tourism workers facing financial crisis due to a health condition experienced by themselves or a family member.

Bar Bites

The Alchemist is seeking a part-time advertising representative

November 8, 2021 No Comments

Want to work with a dynamic group of magazines? Vitis, The Alchemist and The Growler B.C. Craft Beer and Cider Guide are seeking an ambitious and energetic advertising sales representative to join our team. You would need to connect with wineries, distilleries, breweries, brewpubs, restaurants, bars, B-to-B and retail business that suit the demographic of people who go out socially, stay on trend, and support our local businesses and communities.

Vancouver Cocktail Week

Tickets now on sale for Vancouver Cocktail Week 2022

November 5, 2021 No Comments

Dozens of events planned for the city’s inaugural celebration of cocktail culture, March 6 to 10, 2022.

Diageo World Class 2021 Bartender of the Year James Grant prepares the Pathfinder, a cocktail made with Johnnie Walk Black Label, Umé Shu plum wine, maple green tea cordial, cardamom bitters, Fever-Tree club soda, a rosemary sprig and a candied pine cone. Jana Bizzarri photo

At 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 3, it became official: Vancouver is about to have its first ever cocktail week. We’ll drink to that!

From March 6 to 20, 2022, Vancouver Cocktail Week presented by The Alchemist magazine will celebrate the excellence of the city’s cocktail scene and the hospitality of its bars, hotels and restaurants.

The Alchemist

The Alchemist Fall/Winter 2021

November 5, 2021 No Comments

Here at The Alchemist, we think it’s time to look forward rather than back; to be hopeful rather than anxious; to raise a glass to the good rather than drink to forget the bad. So the Fall/Winter 2021 issue is all about our bright, sunny future.

Let’s start with an announcement: The Alchemist magazine is thrilled to present Vancouver Cocktail Week from March 6 to 10, 2022. Expect parties, seminars, our Cinq à Sept series and much more. We can’t wait to see you there!

The Alchemist

The Dalmore’s historic whisky auction

September 29, 2021 No Comments

Six decades of exceptional whisky captured in The Decades collections

The Dalmore Highland Single Malt’s The Decades No. 6 Collection is up for auction on October 8. Supplied photo

When The Dalmore puts its once-in-a-lifetime selection of six exceptional single malt whiskies on the auction block this October, the Highland distillery is offering more than prestige and fancy spirits. It is sharing a taste of history, captured in amber spirit.

The Dalmore Highland Single Malt is offering The Decades No. 6 Collection as a single-lot auction at Sotheby’s Hong Kong on October 8. Partial proceeds from the auction will be donated to V&A Dundee as part of a four-year partnership with the art museum.

Hot buttered rum

Hot Buttered Rum

Hot Toddy

A new Signature from St-Rémy

Cellar master Cécile Roudaut introduces a brandy that balances quality with versatility

Boozy reads for cosy days

Pour yourself a cocktail and curl up with one of these new releases.

B.C., distilled

Geraniol Gin Cosmo

Recipe from Stillhead Distillery, created by Mitch Poirier and reprinted with permission from The BC Spirits Cocktail Book by Shawn Soole.

Campaign to lift spirits

Bartender of the Year 2021 James Grant faces the future

Diageo World Class excited to support the bartending comeback

Hospitality helper

The Alchemist is seeking a part-time advertising representative

Tickets now on sale for Vancouver Cocktail Week 2022

Dozens of events planned for the city’s inaugural celebration of cocktail culture, March 6 to 10, 2022.

The Alchemist Fall/Winter 2021

The Dalmore’s historic whisky auction

Six decades of exceptional whisky captured in The Decades collections

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