Lost Horizon

Lost horizon by Market at Shangri-La’s Gianluigi Bosco is inspired by the book and movie that introduced the world to the magical land of Shangri-la. Leila Kwok photo

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

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True blue cocktails

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.

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Bitter Berry Babble

Bitter Berry Babble. Dan Toulgoet photo

• 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

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Cuban Blues (including a zero-proof version)

Cuban Blues by Cam Brown can also be made as a zero-proof cocktail. Dan Toulgoet photo

REGULAR VERSION: 
• 1.5 oz Havana Club 3 rum
• 0.5 oz Cointreau
• 0.25 oz Green Chartreuse
• 0.75 oz blueberry, banana, basil orgeat (see note)
• 0.75 oz lime juice

ZERO-PROOF VERSION:
• 2 oz Seedlip Grove
• 0.25 oz Seedlip Garden
• 2 dashes non-alcoholic orange bitters
• 2 drops saline solution
• 0.75 oz blueberry, banana, basil orgeat (see note)
• 0.75 oz lime juice

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Purple rain

Purple Rain by Cam Brown uses BC Blueberries. Dan Toulgoet photo

• 1.5 oz Beefeater London Dry Gin
• 0.75 oz blueberry and black pepper milk syrup (see note below)
• 0.75 oz lemon juice
• 0.25 oz Noe Pedro Ximenez Sherry
• 1 oz egg white
• Topped with soda

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Blue Rose Sour

The Blue Rose Sour was created by James Grant at Black Lodge. Supplied photo

This aquafaba-based fizz-style cocktail was created by mixologist James Grant at Black Lodge.

• 1.5 oz gin
• 0.75 oz Bols Blue liqueur
• 1 oz lemon juice concentrate
• 0.5 oz simple syrup
• 1.5 oz aquafaba (chickpea water)
• 1 to 2 oz soda water

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Vegan Irish Cream

Angie Quaale’s Vegan Irish Cream is a delicious low-carb vegan treat. Supplied photo

This recipe by Well Seasoned owner Angie Quaale is a tasty, low-carb vegan treat.

• 1 can (13.5 oz) coconut cream
• 0.5 can (about 6.75 oz) coconut milk
• 1 cup unsweetened chocolate almond milk
• 0.5 cup Lakanto Golden Monk Fruit Sweetener or coconut sugar
• 1 Tbsp espresso powder
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup Irish whiskey (or to taste)

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Seven fall and winter cocktail events you don’t want to miss

With so many exciting events coming up, you won’t have a moment of boredom all winter long.

Art of the Cocktail. Supplied photo
Toronto Cocktail Week

Get your kicks in the Six this fall: The six-day festival of all things boozy returns
October 15 to 20, bringing together bars, brands and bartenders—as well as consumers, of course—to celebrate the city’s evolving cocktail scene. TCW will be shaking things up with a neighbourhood-focused bar guide, themed gala events, guided, seminars and pop-up bars featuring familiar faces from Vancouver. torontococktailweek.ca


Art of the cocktail

The Alchemist is pleased to sponsor Western Canada’s most important cocktail festival October 19 in beautiful downtown Victoria. Some 900 attendees will gather at the Grand Tasting to sip and sample cocktails and products from 40 exhibitors pouring more than 60 spirits. Plus there will be masterclasses, guided tastings and more fun than you can shake a cobbler at during this fundraiser for the Victoria Film Festival. artofthecocktail.ca


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Limoncello

Justin Taylor’s Limoncello. Dan Toulgoet photo

This simple liqueur from Justin Taylor is a great after-dinner sipper, but also makes a thoughtful host gift.

• 1 cup oleo saccharum
• 1 cup vodka

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