Hive & Soul

Bar Susu’s Hive & Soul cocktail. Sarah Annand photo

Bar Susu’s “briny Martini” cocktail, created by Joe Casson, rides a perfectly seasoned knife edge of sweet and savoury, and is called “Hive & Soul” because of the live element of the fermented honey. Note that it should be served in a “super-cute vintage coupe.”

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Bruinwood Estate Distillery

Bruinwood Estate Distillery photo

Located on the Sunshine Coast, the family-run Bruinwood produces handcrafted, small-batch spirits from 100-per-cent B.C. grains, fruits and honey, as well as botanicals from around the world.

2040 Porter Rd., Roberts Creek
604-886-1371
Bruinwood.com


PRODUCTS

• Aquasen Vodka
• Mandarin Orange Vodka
• Espresso Vodka
• Plain Vodka
• Bruinwood Gin
• Earl Grey Gin
• Rhubarb Gin
• Advocaat
• Pumpkin Spice Cream Liqueur
• Mocha Cream Liqueur
• Spirited Horchata
• Pechuga Espiritu
• Crème de Cassis
• Akvavit

Island Spirits Distillery

Because shipping to Hornby is so expensive, Island Spirits distiller Pete Kimmerly transported his shiny new still himself. Tim Pawsey photo

At this Hornby Island distillery, icebreaker Capt. Peter Kimmerly has joined forces with organic chemist Dr. Naz Abdurahman to craft quality spirits, notably gin, using classic and creative botanicals.

4605 Roburn Road, Hornby Island
250-335-0630
IslandSpirits.ca

Read more about Island Spirits Distillery:

Distant distilleries: The challenges and benefits of making spirits in rural regions


PRODUCTS

• Phrog Vodka
• Phrog Gin, Aquavit,
• Vanilla Vodka
• Wicked Orange
• Raspberry Eau de Vie
• Fruit brandies (seasonal)
• Holunderbluten (elderflower liqueur)

Star Anise

How a Scandinavian classic is warming hearts in B.C.

iStockphoto.com photo

It takes about three seconds for a shot of ice-cold aquavit to pass your lips and slide down your throat, leaving its distinctive hit of caraway and liquorice tingling on your tongue and introducing a pleasing warmth into your belly. The Swedish Shot, as it is known — raise your glass, lock eyes with your fellow toasters and drink up — is swift and satisfying.

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Bring Out the Gimlet

Bring Out the Gimlet. Foxtrot Tango Whisky photo

A modern update on an old-school classic: This cocktail was created by Shawn Soole at the new Foxtrot Tango Whisky bar at the Doubletree by Hilton Victoria.

INGREDIENTS:
1½ oz (45 mL) Sheringham Akvavit
½ oz (15 mL) Bols Ginger Liqueur
¾ oz (22 mL) Carrot Lime Cordial*

METHOD:
Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake well and double strain into a large chilled coupe. If you like, garnish with a ribbon of sweet pickled carrot on a skewer. Serves 1.

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Sheringham Distillery

Jason MacIsaac was a successful chef before he turned distiller, and he brings his local, sustainable attitude toward food to his small batch spirits.

2631 Seaside Dr., Shirley
778.528.1313
SheringhamDistillery.com

Read more about Sheringham Distillery:

Recipe: Sheringham Cherub

Sheringham takes on the world

Zero-Sum Game: Don’t call them mocktails: #spiritfree and #placebo drinks are a growing wellness trend

Island Time: For the third year in a row a B.C. distillery has won the Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year—and for the second time, it’s Sheringham Distillery on Vancouver Island.

Ginned up: The evolution of terroir-driven made-in-B.C. gin

Recipe: Locals Only Negroni

It’s G&T time: The Alchemist’s tasting panel searches for the best B.C. gin to enjoy with your tonic

Recipe: Ambrosia

Canada’s best artisan spirits announced: Sheringham Akvavit named Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year

Star Anise: How a Scandinavian classic is warming hearts in B.C.

Recipe: Don’t call me Shirley!

Recipe: Bring out the Gimlet

Recipe: Local Negroni

A matter of taste: At Sheringham Distillery, Jason MacIsaac brings a chef’s palate to the still


PRODUCTS:

• Kazuki Gin
• Seaside Gin
• Akvavit
• Vodka
• Coffee Liqueur
• Lumette! zero-proof gin


TASTING NOTES:


Vodka

FRAGRANCE: Floral, with white pepper nose.
FLAVOUR: Light, slightly sweet.
FEEL: Well balanced, thin finish.
FINISH: Tad bit of tropical fruit, very pleasant.
BEST ENJOYED: On the rocks, lemon twist.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Pleasing, great packaging, good Martini vodka. —Shaun Layton, July 2016


Akvavit

FRAGRANCE: Citrus and anise.
FLAVOUR: Spicy caraway.
FEEL: Oily and mouth-coating. 
FINISH: Sweet and warming. Long.
BEST ENJOYED: As an aperitif before a good meal, especially fish.
THE BOTTOM LINE: A beautiful medley of botanicals that sing in perfect harmony. A great twist on the Scandinavian spirit. —Robyn Gray, October 2016


Dark Chocolate Vodka

FRAGRANCE: Cocoa nibs and raw bitter chocolate.
FLAVOUR: Real, proper crushed cocoa.
FEEL: Lean. More booze than sugar.
FINISH: Long and even.
BEST ENJOYED: An a well made chocolate Martini — spirit forward and not overly sweet. 
THE BOTTOM LINE: A refreshing alternative to all of the sickly sweet chocolate products available in our market. —Josh Pape, February 2017


Seaside Gin

FRAGRANCE: Fragrant, floral, damp wild flowers, seaside walks.
FLAVOUR: A bit savoury, piney juniper notes, candied violets, wild elderflower.
FEEL: Very balanced, great viscosity.
FINISH: Danky, savoury, pleasant briny finish.
BEST ENJOYED: This gin screams G&T or a citrus forward cocktail. Works great with shrubs. 
THE BOTTOM LINE: A phenomenal gin, not for Martinis, but for mixed drinks. One of the best in BC, buy now! —Shaun Layton, July 2017


Barrel-Aged Seaside Gin

FRAGRANCE: Salty and briney, mild citrus.
FLAVOUR: Citrusy, mostly lemon. Some juniper and savoury notes.
FEEL: Mouth-coating. Very pleasant.
FINISH: Lengthy, with more of the savoury botanicals sticking around.
BEST ENJOYED: Cold with lemon zest.
THE BOTTOM LINE: I can typically take or leave oak-aged gins; this one is interesting and worth a chance. —Trevor Kallies, October 2017


Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery

A family-owned award-winning distillery with a wide range of products to its name, including an absinthe, and both rye and single malt whiskies. Tours and tastings are available in both its locations.

5204 24th St., Vernon
267 Bernard Ave., Kelowna
250-549-3120  |  778-484-5174
OkanaganSpirits.com

Read more about Okanagan Spirits:

Spirited Away: B.C.’s oldest craft distillery has made an international impact

Fruitful endeavour: Family-owned distillery crafts world-class spirits from homegrown harvests

Recipe: Apple Flip

• A shift out of neutral: The Alchemist’s tasting panel samples B.C. vodkas for a taste of the province’s most crowd-pleasing spirit

Recipe: Sangria Rosé

Farm to flask: Artisan distilling started a conversation about the terroir of spirits. But can you taste those uber-local ingredients in the bottle?

Recipe: Bramble

Liquid gold: It can take years before brown spirits get to market. Here’s how B.C. distilleries keep their businesses liquid in the meantime

Star anise: How a Scandinavian classic is warming hearts in B.C.

Recipe: What’s Haskap’in? 

Recipe: Parkside “Sip ‘n’ Slide” Raddler

Recipe: The Burrard Gimlet

The spirit whisperer: B.C. craft spirits pioneer Frank Deiter is taking on the world

Recipe: Citrus Breeze

Collaboration nation: B.C.’s small-batch distillers are getting crafty with their foodie, wine and beer neighbours

Say hi to rye: The Alchemist tasting panel samples Canadian and American rye spirits

Return of the green fairy: The spirit that supposedly drove a generation of French artists mad is back in B.C., where distillers are reinventing absinthe

Recipe: Absinthe Mojito

At RauDZ, gin is in

Recipe: Born and Raised

 


PRODUCTS:

• Essential Vodka
• Family Reserve Vodka
• Essential Gin
• Evolve Gin
• Family Reserve Gin
• BC Rye Whisky
• BRBN Bourbon-Style Corn Whisky
• BLK BRBN Cask-Strength Bourbon-Style Corn Whisky
• BC Hopped Whisky
• Laird of Fintry Single Malt Whisky
• Laird of Fintry Rum Barrel Whisky
• Applejack IPA Whisky
• Okanagan Shine Unaged BRBN Whisky
• Taboo Genuine Absinthe
• Aquavitus
• Fruit Liqueurs
• Bartlett Pear (Poire Williams)
• Bradshaw Plum (Old Italian Prune)
• Canados (Aged Apple)
• Kirsch Danube
• Raspberry Framboise
• Gewurztraminer Marc

 


TASTING NOTES:


Poire Williams

FRAGRANCE: Sweet, ripe Bartlett pears.
FLAVOUR: Fruity, with a great boozy backbone.
FEEL: Clean, loads of mid-palate.
FINISH: Austere, dry, lean.
BEST ENJOYED: Neat, after a big meal.
THE BOTTOM LINE: A delicious introductory digestif. —Josh Pape, April 2016


Cherry Liqueur

FRAGRANCE: Cherry pit, fruit rollups, rose petals.
FLAVOUR: Tart cherry pie.
FEEL: Beautifully thin and bright.
FINISH: Cherry skins, rose water.
BEST ENJOYED: Remember The Main cocktail.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Great product showcasing Okanagan fruit. —Shaun Layton, July 2016


Maraschino Liqueur

FRAGRANCE: Sour cherry.
FLAVOUR: Sweet cherry with underlying almond.
FEEL: Mouth-coating.
FINISH: Relatively short.
BEST ENJOYED: In a Last Word cocktail.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Very excited to see this product. A popular ingredient in classic cocktail recipes, it is great to have a local iteration. —Robyn Gray, October 2016


Taboo Genuine Absinthe

FRAGRANCE: Refreshing hints of citrus from the lemon balm, pleasant fennel presence.
FLAVOUR: All the herbaceous notes you’d expect from absinthe.
FEEL: Great body, initial sensation of alcohol heat.
FINISH: Long, hot, delicious. 
BEST ENJOYED: Neat.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Try it neat without the sugar cube or any water dilution. —Scott Barner, February 2017


BRBN

FRAGRANCE: Certainly smells like a corn whisky. Has a sugary note as well.
FLAVOUR: Corn and oak, some mild vanilla on the front.
FEEL: Warm, slightly mouth coating. 
FINISH: Corn sticks around, shadowed by the alcohol heat.  
BEST ENJOYED: Good with some ginger ale and held up in an Old Fashioned.  
THE BOTTOM LINE: Interesting taste for a Canadian take on “BRBN.” —Trevor Kallies, October 2017


Long Table Distillery

Gin is at the heart of Long Table, with London dry-style, cucumber and barrel-aged varieties fuelling its many awards. This downtown Vancouver distillery also produces vodka, as well as seasonal liqueurs.

1451 Hornby St., Vancouver
604-266-0177
LongTableDistillery.com

Read more about Long Table Distillery:

Gin Tonic: Long Table, Vancouver’s original micro distillery, is fuelled by passion.

Read more about Long Table Distillery:

Recipe: Blonde Negroni

Amour for amaro: The Alchemist’s tasting panel revels in the complexities of made-in-B.C. amaros, vermouths and aperitifs

A shift out of neutral: The Alchemist’s tasting panel samples B.C. vodkas for a taste of the province’s most crowd-pleasing spirit

Business in the back, party in the front: Distillery tasting rooms are some of the hottest cocktail bars in B.C. Here are a few to try in the Vancouver area

Recipe: The Joyce

Star anise: How a Scandinavian classic is warming hearts in B.C.

Recipe: Burrard Gimlet

Recipe: Vancouver #2

Gin tonic: Long Table, Vancouver’s original micro distillery, is fuelled by passion

Recipe: Vancouver Cocktail

 


PRODUCTS:

• London Dry Gin
• Cucumber Gin
• Barrel Aged Gin
• Texada Vodka
• Långbord Akvavit
• Barrel-aged Akvavit
• Amaro No. 1 – Linnaeus
• Tradizionale Limoncello
• Curacao Orange Liqueur
• Absinthe


TASTING NOTES:


Cucumber Gin

FRAGRANCE: Neutral, slight cucumber notes.
FLAVOUR: Cucumber, coriander, citrus.
FEEL: Nice mouthfeel, fruity.
FINISH: Dry and savoury.
BEST ENJOYED: In a G&T.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Local gin for those Hendrick’s lovers. —Shaun Layton, April 2016


London Dry Gin

FRAGRANCE: Juniper, lemon peel, lavender.
FLAVOUR: Alpine notes, juniper heavy, bitter lemon.
FEEL: Thin mouthfeel.
FINISH: Great coriander, and black pepper finish.
BEST ENJOYED: Classic cocktails (Martini, Martinez, Hanky Panky).
THE BOTTOM LINE: The best B.C. London Dry on the market. —Shaun Layton, July 2016


Långbord Akvavit

FRAGRANCE: Caraway! Anise, citrus.
FLAVOUR: More spices, fennel. 
FEEL: Light up front, lots of back palate.
FINISH: Clean with lingering spices.
BEST ENJOYED: From the freezer, neat. Sub for gin – especially in a Corpse Reviver No. 2!
THE BOTTOM LINE: A cool alternative to gin. Very well made spirit. —Josh Pape, October 2016


Small Batch Limoncello

FRAGRANCE: Sweet lemon citrus.
FLAVOUR: Full and rounded lemon flavor.  
FEEL: Viscous and coating.
FINISH: Warm lasting ripe lemon.
BEST ENJOYED: In a Lemon Drop (vodka, limoncello, lemon juice).
THE BOTTOM LINE: Very clean, not too sweet, genuine natural lemon flavors. —Robyn Gray, February 2017


Amaro No. 1 — Linnaeus

FRAGRANCE: Pretty. Candied orange and potpourri.
FLAVOUR: Gentian, grapefruit zest, violet.
FEEL: Lean, dry, tannic.
FINISH: Bitter, perfumed. Expands.
BEST ENJOYED: As a replacement for Suze in a white Negroni, or maybe in an Aviation/French 75 hybrid.
THE BOTTOM LINE: A great first crack. They’ll have something special here before long. —Josh Pape, July 2017