FRAGRANCE: Sweet wheat, bread. FLAVOUR: Intense with heat, anise, lingering sweetness. FEEL: Light on the palate, extremely vibrant on the tip of the tongue, dissipates quickly. FINISH: Very long finish of sweet wheat. BEST ENJOYED: An intense high-proof spirit. Think a Chinese version of the ever-popular White Dog. THE BOTTOM LINE: Packs a punch for those looking for a neutral spirit with some balls. —Wendy McGuinness, April 2016
Coffee Liqueur
FRAGRANCE:Steeped medium roast. FLAVOUR:Tempered coffee, touch of anise. FEEL:Soft, unassuming. FINISH:Sweet, too short. BEST ENJOYED:Maybe on the rocks. THE BOTTOM LINE:Too unassuming to make an impact.—Josh Pape, July 2016
Cranberry Liqueur
FRAGRANCE: Stewed dark fruit. FLAVOUR: Tart cranberry snap. FEEL: Oily, good staying power. FINISH: Lasting. BEST ENJOYED: In a punch or simple mixer with soda. THE BOTTOM LINE: A great festive holiday mixer. —Robyn Gray, October 2016
Blueberry Liqueur
FRAGRANCE:Berrylicious. FLAVOUR:Not overly sweet at all. Very enjoyable. FEEL:Light. Doesn’t have that thick sugar feel, which is nice. FINISH:Short, clean. BEST ENJOYED:Neat, as an after-dinner sipper. Would be great in a spritz. THE BOTTOM LINE:Get a bottle if you’re looking for a natural-tasting liqueur.—Scott Barber, July 2017
A successful brewery in the heart of the city, Yaletown moved into spirits in 2013, distilling gin and vodka from B.C. barley. Tours and tastings are available onsite.
• Yaletown Small Batch Craft Vodka
• Cranberry Vodka
• Mandarin Vodka
• Tequila Barrel Aged Vodka
• Espresso Vodka
• Artisan Honey Spirit
• Yaletown Small Batch BC Gin
• Cucumber Gin
• Hopped Gin
• Tequila Barrel Aged Hopped Gin
• Yaletown Single Malt Canadian Whisky
TASTING NOTES:
Small Batch BC Gin
FRAGRANCE: Lemon and juniper. FLAVOUR: Sweet and fruity. FEEL: Viscous, coats the mouth. FINISH: Lightly bitter. BEST ENJOYED: Sweet and fruity, with a lemon backbone—a perfect match for a Corpse Reviver #2. THE BOTTOM LINE: Produced from locally grown barley this gin has a richness and mouth feel reminiscent of a Genever-style gin. —Robyn Gray, April 2016
Mandarin Vodka
FRAGRANCE:Intense stewed mandarin. FLAVOUR:All about the orange essence; think opening a bag of Tang. FEEL:Light on the palate. FINISH:Long, mandarin orange. BEST ENJOYED:With soda. The mandarin is going to come through with anything you mix with this. THE BOTTOM LINE:An intense flavoured vodka. Tread lightly. —Wendy McGuinness, July 2016
Small Batch Craft Vodka
FRAGRANCE:Tropical! Banana, pineapple, bubble gum, vanilla. FLAVOUR:Savoury, slightly briny, white pepper, yeasty. FEEL:Nice mouthfeel, slightly sweet. FINISH:Loads of spice, white pepper, marzipan, coriander. BEST ENJOYED:Savoury notes would make for a great Dirty Martini. THE BOTTOM LINE:Great value local product.—Shaun Layton, October 2016
Situated in the fertile Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, Wayward Distillery crafts each spirit on a base of sustainable honey, supporting local agriculture while achieving an unparalleled silky-sweet flavour. Home to a tasting bar, visitors can see firsthand how the team ferments and distills their spirits on-site from a base of sustainable honey, mixed with grain.
Crowd favourites include Krupnik, an intoxicating toasted honey liqueur spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, raw vanilla and citrus peel; Drunken Hive Rum, an “aged rum for whisky drinkers” made from caramelized BC honey and aged in bourbon casks; and Depth Charge, an espresso and cacao bean vodka infusion incorporating fairtrade coffee and organic cacao nibs.
When Wayward first began distilling spirits, the distillery partnered with Golden Clover Apiary located in the Peace region of BC. The apiary cared deeply about the health and long-term sustainability of pollination, bees, and BC-grown agricultural produce. The more Wayward learned about the importance of pollinators, the more the distillers cared about their well-being.
Wayward cares so much in fact, that they’ve pledged to donate 1 per cent of all spirit sales to Pollinator Partnership Canada, a not-for-profit registered charity dedicated to the protection and promotion of pollinators and their ecosystems through conservation, education, and research.
• Smoked Drunken Hive Rum Cask strength, 750ml, 56.7% ABV • Drunken Hive Rum – fermented from honey 750ml, 375ml, 42.5% ABV • Krupnik – spiced honey liqueur 750ml, 375ml, 40% ABV, Also available in celiac safe version • Raspberry Gin Liqueur 750ml, 375ml, 25% ABV • Swallowed Anchor Bourbon – Limited quantities available Cask strength, 750ml, 55.91% ABV • Depth Charge – Espresso and Cacao Bean Vodka Infusion 375ml, 33% ABV • Elixir 151 – fermented from honey 375ml, 75.5% ABV • Char #3, Bourbon Barrel Aged Gin – fermented from honey 375ml, 45.0% ABV • Unruly Gin – fermented from honey 750ml, 375ml, 43% ABV • Unruly Vodka – fermented from honey 750ml, 375ml, 40% ABV
TASTING NOTES:
Unruly Vodka
FRAGRANCE: Floral and earthy. Honey, new garden notes. FLAVOUR: Sweetness from the honey with hints of vanilla. FEEL: Full body, pleasant viscosity. FINISH: Long, savoury. BEST ENJOYED: Mixes well with basil, pineapple and lemon. Also fantastic neat, or on the rocks. Preferred olives for a Martini. THE BOTTOM LINE: Unique vodka made from B.C. honey—a must try for those looking for something different. —Scott Barber, April 2016
Unruly Gin
FRAGRANCE:Juniper, and pine. Slight honey and sweet nose. FLAVOUR:Muted juniper, semi-sweet, white pepper on the palate. FEEL:Thick, silky mouthfeel. FINISH:Slightly bitter, with honeyed herbal finish. BEST ENJOYED:Delicious in a Last Word; mix with citrus. THE BOTTOM LINE:A sweeter, crowd-pleasing gin (not for London Dry fans). Use in cocktails.—Shaun Layton, July 2016
Depth Charge Espresso & Cacao Bean Liqueur
FRAGRANCE: Sweet coffee. FLAVOUR: Deep off-dry cacao bitterness with coffee overtones. FEEL: Thin and dry. FINISH: Long lasting non-offensive bitterness. BEST ENJOYED: On the rocks. THE BOTTOM LINE: Not a sweet liqueur. A great balance of bitter and dry. —Robyn Gray, October 2016
Krupnik Spiced Honey Liqueur
FRAGRANCE:Cinnamon, honey, nutmeg, vanilla. FLAVOUR:A beautiful fall day in a glass. FEEL:Thick like a liqueur. I’d definitely cut it with a base spirit such as rum or bourbon. FINISH: Warm, sweet, spicy. Yum! BEST ENJOYED:Chill and sip on rocks or mix in a cocktail. Whiskey Sour using bourbon, Krupnik, lemon, chai and bitters. THE BOTTOM LINE: These guys are doing everything right. —Scott Barber, February 2017
Bourbon-Barrelled Gin
FRAGRANCE:Surprisingly intense vanilla. Yum! FLAVOUR:Citrus, with pleasant vanilla and earthy tones. FEEL:Light, medium body. FINISH: Spicy. BEST ENJOYED:Neat or on the rocks. Try it in a Martini, Negroni or Corpse Reviver #2. THE BOTTOM LINE: If you’re looking for a gin that isn’t juniper forward, this is for you. I love working with and drinking this product.—Scott Barber, July 2017
• Victoria Gin
• Oaken Gin
• Empress 1908 Gin
• Vodka
• Left Coast Hemp Vodka
• Sidney Spiced
• Brandy
• Chocolate Liqueur
• The Strait and Narrow Gin Cocktails
• Twisted and Bitter bitters
TASTING NOTES:
Oaken Gin
FRAGRANCE: Hint of toffee and wood, background of baking spice. FLAVOUR: Toffee, vanilla, and clove. FEEL: Buttery, slightly viscous mouthfeel, creamy. FINISH: Long, creamy finish with a hint of pine. BEST ENJOYED: In a gin Old Fashioned or neat, with a big ice cube. THE BOTTOM LINE: One of the first local gins to be aged in oak, making an elegant style of craft gin, although pricey. —Trevor Kallies, April 2016
Victoria Gin
FRAGRANCE:Anise, clove, angelica, with a slight burn. FLAVOUR:White pepper, rose, bitter lemon. FEEL:Creamy, quite clean. FINISH:Slight bitterness, hint of spice. BEST ENJOYED:Makes a great Negroni. THE BOTTOM LINE:The new packaging is more attractive, though I miss Queen Vic on the bottle. Good gift for out-of-towners.—Shaun Layton, July 2016
Left Coast Hemp Vodka
FRAGRANCE:Earthy, toasted grains, nutty. FLAVOUR:Buckwheat, rye spice, roasted walnuts. FEEL:Silky, balanced, sustained. FINISH:Pleasant, clean. BEST ENJOYED:Chilled, neat or as a Martini with an onion. THE BOTTOM LINE:More flavour than your average vodka, and worth a try.—Josh Pape, October 2016
Chocolate Liqueur
FRAGRANCE:Intense cocoa nib and chocolate. FLAVOUR:Bitter, as expected. Little to no sweetness. FEEL:Light to medium body. FINISH:Long, bitter finish. BEST ENJOYED:Would make a super-cool Old Fashioned or Brandy Alexander. THE BOTTOM LINE:If you like bitter spirits or liqueurs, this is for you. —Scott Barber, July 2017
Empress 1908 Gin
FRAGRANCE:Green and vegetal up front with spice undertones. FLAVOUR:Juniper, citrus. Lightly floral. FEEL:Quite a journey. Unassuming at first but then the spices take over. FINISH:Bitter and long. BEST ENJOYED:Great neat, but nobody does that. Makes an excellent Gin & Tonic with lemon. THE BOTTOM LINE:A well made spirit worth checking out.—Josh Pape, October 2017
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Small Batch BC Gin
Mandarin Vodka
Small Batch Craft Vodka
Unruly Vodka
Unruly Gin
Depth Charge Espresso & Cacao Bean Liqueur
Krupnik Spiced Honey Liqueur
Bourbon-Barrelled Gin
Oaken Gin
Victoria Gin
Left Coast Hemp Vodka
Chocolate Liqueur
Empress 1908 Gin