Gin | The Alchemist

Island Spirits Distillery

March 1, 2018 No Comments

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)

B.C. Distilleries

Anderson Distilleries

March 1, 2018 No Comments

Ian Anderson had planned to pursue a PhD in physics. Instead, he makes craft vodka, gin, liqueurs and intriguing products such as soju at his Burnaby distillery.

106-3011 Underhill Ave., Burnaby
604-962-0326
AndersonDistilleries.com

PRODUCTS

• Mare Serenitatis Creme d’Cafe
• Serenitatis Golden Gin
• Serenitatis London Dry Gin
• Serenitatis Smoked Rosemary Gin,
• Serenitatis Silver Liquorice
• Sweet Serenitatis Cinnamon
• Sweet Serenitatis MuddledMint
• Sweet Serenitatis Limoncello
• Sweet Serenitatis Lime’cello
• Sweet Serenitatis Orangello

B.C. Distilleries

Salt Spring Shine Craft Distillery

March 1, 2018 No Comments

Salt Spring Shine is a small, family owned artisanal distillery that makes products from the fermentation of local honey.

194 Kitchen Road, Salt Spring Island
250-221-0728
SaltSpringShine.com

PRODUCTS

• Sting Gin
• Hive Vodka
• Honeycomb Moonshine
• Apple Pie Moonshine

Recipes, The Last Word

The Last Word: A classic Bronx

February 12, 2018 No Comments

A classic Bronx, shaken the Nick and Nora way. Dan Toulgoet photo, taken at D/6 Bar & Lounge, Parq Vancouver.

“The important thing is the rhythm. Always have rhythm in your shaking. Now a Manhattan you shake to foxtrot time, a Bronx to two-step time, but a dry martini you always shake to waltz time.”

—Nick Charles (William Powell) covers the essentials in the 1934 classic movie The Thin Man.

The Cosmopolitan

December 7, 2017 No Comments

Our man at the bar, John Burns, savours a Southside as he mulls the value of drinking local

Barstools are for boasting. And when you’re alone, they’re for wool-gathering, your privacy on public display. Random thoughts assail you — unless you’re just there to watch the game, which is fine but for the purposes of this column let’s assume no high-def.

I’m at a bar now, in fact, just me and no TV, making notes on napkins the way you do. This is not unusual. Over the last 18 months I’ve warmed my share of seats, and I’ve written about some of the highlights in these pages, usually from notes on the backs of napkins very like this one. Those 18 months happen to have included a fair amount of travel, and so the cocktails I’ve described have often gone down in other cities, in bars very like this one.

Home Bar, Recipes

The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree

November 22, 2017 No Comments

INGREDIENTS:
Juice of one whole Ginger Crisp apple (around 2oz)*
1 oz unsweetened cranberry juice
1.5 oz gin
0.5 oz ginger liqueur
0.5 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 dashes of orange bitters
Apple slices and cranberries (for garnish)

METHOD:
Using a press or juicer, extract juice from apple. Add all ingredients (except garnish) to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake hard for 20 seconds. Double strain into a chilled cocktail coupe and garnish with apple and cranberry skewers.

The Alchemist

November’s most ‘spirited’ events

November 10, 2017 No Comments

November is no one’s favourite month. It’s dark, cold, wet and gloomy, and it isn’t quitethe month that comes with presents. Maybe that’s why it’s such a great month for drinking. I mean, maybe that’s why it’s such a great month for new product releases and exciting social events, starting with these.

Recipes, The Alchemist

The Last Word

October 27, 2017 No Comments

This Prohibition-era cocktail had been long forgotten until it was rediscovered by Seattle-based bartender Murray Stenson.

INGREDIENTS:
0.75 oz (22 mL) gin
0.75 oz (22 mL) green Chartreuse
0.75 oz (22 mL) maraschino liqueur
0.75 oz (22 mL) fresh lime juice

METHOD:
Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass or a coupe. If you like, garnish with lime twist. Serves 1.

Recipes, The Alchemist

Hendrick’s Gin Old Fashioned

October 20, 2017 No Comments

Wildebeest’s Hendrick’s gin variation on the Old Fashioned. Wildebeest photo

Floral, fragrant and refreshing – Josh Pape’s gin-based take on the Old Fashioned has been a huge hit at Wildebeest.

INGREDIENTS:
1-inch cylinder of cucumber, or ½ oz (15 mL) cucumber juice
2 oz (60 mL) Hendrick’s gin
2 tsp (10 mL) runny honey (see note)
2 dashes Scrappy’s lavender bitters
Cucumber slice to garnish (optional)

METHOD:
Muddle the cucumber in a mixing glass. (Alternatively, stir in the cucumber juice with the rest of the ingredients.) Add ice, gin, runny honey and bitters and stir until the drink is well chilled and has reached your ideal level of dilution. Fine strain into an Old Fashioned glass over fresh ice. If you like, garnish with a slice of cucumber. Serves 1.

The Alchemist