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

The Phantom Distillery

November 1, 2019 No Comments

One of the most coveted bottles in Saturday’s 2019 Premium Spirit Release comes from a non-existent distillery on Islay… or does it? Welcome to the world of Independent Bottlers, brokers of rare, exclusive and unique Scotch and other spirits.

Oliver Chilton, blender for Elixir Distillers. Supplied photo

Last year, one of the hottest items in the BC Liquor Stores Premium Spirit Release—selling out in 24 hours—was the Port Askaig 100 Proof Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Offered again this year, it’s the spirit of Islay in a bottle: a nose full of spicy oak spice, with sea spray, smoke and dark earthy, kelpy flavours, bottled at a robust 50% ABV for rich texture. Yet anyone who’s been to the town of Port Askaig, on Islay’s east coast, will be puzzled: there’s no distillery there.

Home Bar, Recipes

Fish House Punch

November 1, 2019 No Comments

This classic punch dates back to circa 1744 Philadelphia.

• 1 bottle (750 mL) Jamaican amber rum
• 1.5 cups calvados
• 0.5 cup peach brandy
• 1 cup oleo saccharum
• 4 cups cold water

Home Bar, Recipes

Scotch Rocks Punch

October 31, 2019 No Comments

This flavourful punch was created by Justin Taylor, general manager of The Cascade Room.

• 1 bottle (750 mL) blended scotch
• 1 cup Cynar amaro
• 1 cup apricot brandy
• 1 cup oleo saccharum
• 1 Tbsp Angostura bitters
• 4 cups cold water

The Alchemist

The Alchemist is hiring!

October 30, 2019 No Comments

Are you passionate about the local cocktail, wine and craft beer scene? Are you energetic, on-trend and have a positive attitude? Is your ambition to work hard, make money and have fun? Perfect, because we want to hire you!

Home Bar, Recipes

Punch it up with oleo saccharum

October 30, 2019 No Comments

This ancient ingredient adds zest to your party drinks

Before you start, assemble your ingredients. Dan Toulgoet photo

Holiday entertaining is right around the corner and having a couple of easy, bold and delicious punch recipes on hand will really help set any party off on the right foot. It all starts with oleo saccharum.

Now, you might be wondering: What the heck is oleo saccharum? It is the Latin term for “oil sugar,” an ingredient that will change your home bartending.

Bar Bites

Flip for this frothy Halloween cocktail

October 25, 2019 No Comments

Wyeth Maiers at UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar has created a Halloween cocktail that is both clever and complicated and, most importantly, delicious. Photo courtesy of Uva Wine & Cocktail Bar

Halloween is the most spooktacular night of the year for a party; it’s just too bad Halloween cocktails are almost universally frightful. Weird colours, creepy garnishes, far too much dry ice, dubious vessels—you might as well stick to the classic Zombies and Bloody Marys, right?

Not if Wyeth Maiers has his say. The bar manager at UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar has created a Halloween cocktail that is both clever and complicated and, most importantly, delicious.

Bar Bites, Recipes

Graveyard Flip

October 24, 2019 No Comments

Created by Wyeth Maiers, bar manager at UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar.

Meringue:
• 3 egg whites
• 1 oz crème de cassis

Cocktail:
• 0.75 oz Evan Williams bourbon
• 0.25 oz Fernet Branca
• 2 tsp Laphroaig 10 Year Old single malt whisky
• 0.75 oz lemon juice
• 0.5 oz maple syrup
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
• 1 egg yolk
• Garnish: Grated chocolate, granulated sugar, (optional) brandied cherries

Recipes

Lost Horizon

October 19, 2019 No Comments

Recipe by Gianluigi Bosco, head bartender at MARKET at the Shangri-la Hotel in Vancouver. Lost Horizon, of course, was the book and movie that introduced the world to the magical land of Shangri-la.

• 1.5 oz O5 Time Traveller tea-infused Sons of Vancouver vodka (see note)
• 1 oz semi-clarified fresh orange juice (see note)
• 0.5 oz Citrus Wine (recipe below)
• 0.5 oz Kopan Masala Syrup (recipe below)
• 5 dashes citric acid (available from gourmet shops)
• 1 egg white
• Angostura bitters, for garnish

Features

True blue cocktails

October 18, 2019 No Comments

Shake up your drinks with blueberries

The sweet-tart taste of blueberries is unique and the infusion of blue is not only colourful, but good for you as well.. istockphoto.com photo

Who knows when the first blueberry found its way into a jigger of gin or a vodka martini?

Today more and more of these bright blue berries are finding their way into mixed drinks throughout the year. Fresh or frozen, whole or juiced, the sweet-tart taste of blueberries is unique and the infusion of blue is not only colourful, but good for you as well.

Recipes

Bitter Berry Babble

October 17, 2019 No Comments

• 1.5 oz blueberry-infused Beefeater Pink (see note)
• 0.5 oz Alvear Medium Sherry
• 1 oz Campari
• 0.75 oz Martini sweet vermouth
• 2 drops saline solution
• 1 lemon zest

Honouring a Bartender Handshake

Exploring BC’s best: Over 200 artisan spirits to be featured at BC Distilled

Where to drink right now in New Orleans

The Phantom Distillery

One of the most coveted bottles in Saturday’s 2019 Premium Spirit Release comes from a non-existent distillery on Islay… or does it? Welcome to the world of Independent Bottlers, brokers of rare, exclusive and unique Scotch and other spirits.

Fish House Punch

This classic punch dates back to circa 1744 Philadelphia.

Scotch Rocks Punch

This flavourful punch was created by Justin Taylor, general manager of The Cascade Room.

The Alchemist is hiring!

Punch it up with oleo saccharum

This ancient ingredient adds zest to your party drinks

Flip for this frothy Halloween cocktail

Graveyard Flip

Created by Wyeth Maiers, bar manager at UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar.

Lost Horizon

Recipe by Gianluigi Bosco, head bartender at MARKET at the Shangri-la Hotel in Vancouver. Lost Horizon, of course, was the book and movie that introduced the world to the magical land of Shangri-la.

True blue cocktails

Shake up your drinks with blueberries

Bitter Berry Babble

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