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

Rum island

June 11, 2019 No Comments

In Barbados, rum defines a well-balanced thirst quencher

It won’t take long, once you’ve landed in Barbados, before someone presses a glass, sparkling with condensation and filled with an amber elixir, into your hand. Welcome to the famous Barbados rum punch and the taste of island life.

In Barbados, rum punch is enjoyed by everyone from farm workers to property tycoons to pallid newcomers from wintry climes. And it’s enjoyed everywhere from the verandas of grand plantation houses to the tailgate of a jeep in the jungle.

How rum punch came to be the national drink is unknown, but not exactly surprising.

Classics, Recipes

Barbados Rum Punch

June 10, 2019 No Comments

The classic the way it is made on the island.

• 0.5 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 oz simple syrup (see note)
• 1.5 oz dark rum (such as Barbados’ own Mount Gay Eclipse, or older)
• 2 oz water
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
• Freshly grated nutmeg

Recipes, The Alchemist

Ampersand Martini

June 7, 2019 No Comments

Ampersand Distilling recently released its Imperative Dry Vermouth as the perfect partner for its award-winning floral-and-citrus-forward gin.2 oz Ampersand Gin

• 2 oz Ampersand Gin
• 0.25 oz Imperative Dry Vermouth

The Alchemist

Raise a glass to World Gin Day

June 7, 2019 No Comments

We can’t imagine a better reason to celebrate (responsibly, of course) than this: June 8 is World Gin Day, and all over the world, people are raising a glass to the juniper-scented spirit.

The first World Gin Day was held a decade ago in Birmingham, England; last year saw events in 30 countries, with 200 million people participating on social channels. This year, dozens of gin-soaked events are being held everywhere from London to Tokyo to Sydney and perhaps to your own back yard.

Recipes

Negroni Blanco

June 7, 2019 No Comments

• 1oz Victoria Oaken Gin
• 1oz Martini Bianco Vermouth
• 1oz Luxardo Bianco Bitters
• Ms. Better’s Quina Bitters
• Lemon Zest

The Alchemist

Jeff Savage Crowned World Class Canada Bartender of 2019

June 5, 2019 No Comments

The Botanist head bartender wins the Diageo World Class Canada title in Whistler

Jeff Savage, Canada’s Bartender of the Year 2019, hoists his trophy atop Whistler Mountain. Colin Fox photo

Jeff Savage is standing on top of the world. Literally.

On June 4, after three days of competition that took the finalists on a cocktail-themed scavenger hunt, through world history and deep into the spirit of the mountains, the head bartender of Vancouver’s Botanist Bar won the Diageo World Class Canada final in Whistler, B.C.

Hey Bartender

Hey, Bartender

May 31, 2019 No Comments

Thoughts from behind the wood: Why bartending should be social, not social media

Bartenders are not in the business of making drinks. We are in the business of servicing the needs of human beings. Full stop.

It’s been said that we trained bartenders in the art of mixology and along the way we lost the art of bartending. But in the debate of bartender vs. mixologist, the end goal of both was essentially the same: Be better, be more knowledgeable, provide better experiences, work in better places. I believe both sides would agree that it is unbecoming of a barkeep to seek prestige by any other means than hard work and education.

Bottled Up!

Bottled Up! with Cyan Moir

May 27, 2019 No Comments

Meet Cyan Moir, a hard-working, Chihuahua-loving industry veteran who wears all sorts of hats in Vancouver, from established publican to skat master (belated spoiler alert). She brings skill, experience, and mega style to the local scene, but, as a true scion from Quadra Island, she curbs pretension and just wants to host a good time…for humans and Chihuahuas alike.

Features

Some like it hot

May 24, 2019 No Comments

Canada’s artisan distillers are bringing their own spiced heat to the party

Don’t look now, but Canada’s distillers have been gently plotting to spice things up for all you unsuspecting folks out there.

For instance, did you know that Fireball Cinnamon Whisky—which has taken off in a big way in the U.S.—has replaced Jägermeister as the masochistic shot of choice? It just doesn’t seem to be what you’d expect from a laid-back kind of land like Canada. But it turns out we Canucks were dabbling in pyrotechnic tippling well before its propulsion into pop-shot culture.

Features, Recipes

Spicy Moscow Mule

May 23, 2019 No Comments

Sons of Vancouver Distillery turns up the heat with their spicy take on the Moscow Mule

• 1 oz Vodka Vodka Vodka
• 0.5 oz Spicy Chili Vodka
• 5 oz Dickie’s Ginger Beer

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Rum island

In Barbados, rum defines a well-balanced thirst quencher

Barbados Rum Punch

The classic the way it is made on the island.

Ampersand Martini

Ampersand Distilling recently released its Imperative Dry Vermouth as the perfect partner for its award-winning floral-and-citrus-forward gin.2 oz Ampersand Gin

Raise a glass to World Gin Day

We can’t imagine a better reason to celebrate (responsibly, of course) than this: June 8 is World Gin Day, and all over the world, people are raising a glass to the juniper-scented spirit.

Negroni Blanco

Jeff Savage Crowned World Class Canada Bartender of 2019

The Botanist head bartender wins the Diageo World Class Canada title in Whistler

Hey, Bartender

Thoughts from behind the wood: Why bartending should be social, not social media

Bottled Up! with Cyan Moir

Some like it hot

Canada’s artisan distillers are bringing their own spiced heat to the party

Spicy Moscow Mule

Sons of Vancouver Distillery turns up the heat with their spicy take on the Moscow Mule

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