The Alchemist

‘I don’t want to be a dreamer’: These former set decorators are disrupting the landscape of gin distilling in North Vancouver

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Copperpenny Distillery looks like a stunning cocktail lounge but it’s the behind the scenes work that sets them apart.

You won’t find any wide shots of the room on social media because like with their gin, the couple aims to take people by surprise. | @copperpennydistilling/Instagram

One of the statement pieces of Copperpenny Distilling Co.‘s emerald and gold, peacock-esque cocktail lounge is a bunny lamp that made the 7,581 km trek from London to North Vancouver segmented in co-owner and mistress of distilling Jennifer Kom-Tong’s hand luggage. The shade, stashed under the seat in front of her, forced Kom-Tong to spend the nine-hour flight with her legs shoved to the side—but it was worth it.

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Bar Bites, Recipes

JOEY’s Jungle Bird

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JOEY’s Jungle Bird. Supplied photo

In this updated tropical classic, Campari is swapped out for subtler Aperol. 

• 1.5 oz Appleton Estate Signature Blend rum (formerly Appleton Estate V/X)
• 0.5 oz Aperol
• 0.5 oz lime juice
• 1.5 oz pineapple juice
• 0.5 oz cane or simple syrup
• Garnish: Fresh lime wheel

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Product Spotlight, The Alchemist

Startup building a buzz with Nude soda lineup

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Brand moving into new markets as demand increases for vodka and gin sodas

Maddy Amisano, who grew up on the North Shore, started out in operations as Nude Soda’s first employee.
Photo MIKE WAKEFIELD, NORTH SHORE NEWS

When North Shore native Maddy Amisano began working with Nude, the new B.C. startup focusing on canned, carbonated soda alternatives to beer and coolers, they had sales of a hundred grand. Two years later the young company is now at just under 10 million.

Amisano grew up on the North Shore attending Windridge Park Preschool, Plymouth Elementary and Windsor Secondary schools, as well as playing team sports with the North Shore Girls Soccer Club and Mount Seymour Little League.

At Nude, she started out in operations as the company’s first employee.

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Features

Business in the back, party in the front

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Distillery tasting rooms are some of the hottest cocktail bars in B.C. Here are a few to try in the Vancouver area.

The tasting room at Surrey’s Central City Brewers & Distillers is a welcoming space to sample spirits and enjoy a cocktail or two. Duncan Joseph photo.

Distillery visits aren’t just for spirits geeks—although staff (even the distillers) are usually keen to tour guests through the production line. Even micro-distilleries now offer flights, cocktails and tastings, some spiked with snacks or entertainment. More reasons to visit: You can buy bottles right from the source, including seasonal and limited releases, only-at-the-distillery products (such as collaborations with local brewers or food producers) and even cocktail accoutrements. Since many distillery tasting rooms are small, family-run affairs, call ahead or check social media for hours, especially if your group is more than a few or would like a tour.

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The Alchemist

Sons of Vancouver’s amaretto earns global amore

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North Van distillery wins worldwide attention thanks to Kaitlyn Stewart — but many have already fallen in love with its nutty liqueur

Sons of Vancouver’s James Lester with the No. 82 amaretto. Dan Toulgoet photo

What might just be Vancouver’s coolest cocktail lounge isn’t in a fancy hotel or a downtown hipster hangout. Heck, it isn’t even in Vancouver and it isn’t, for that matter, actually a bar.

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B.C. Distilleries

Stealth Distilleries Corporation

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Master distiller Randy Poulin and Stealth president John Pocekovic specialize in vodka made from field-dried Okanagan corn.

#3-20 Orwell St. North Vancouver
604-916-4103
StealthVodka.com

PRODUCTS:

• Stealth Corn Vodka
• Stealth Wheat Vodka

TASTING NOTES:

Stealth Vodka No. 9

FRAGRANCE: A hint of alcohol on the nose with a small touch of cream.
FLAVOUR: Slight bit of grain with white pepper.
FEEL: The palate is smooth with a tiny element of alcohol warmth.
FINISH: Fairly abrupt.
BEST ENJOYED: In your favorite mixed vodka drink.
THE BOTTOM LINE: As craft vodkas go it is right up there. Packaging is bartender friendly, with a decent neck to grab onto. —Trevor Kallies, February 2017

Stealth Vodka

FRAGRANCE: Caramel, butterscotch even.
FLAVOUR: Toffee, candy corn.
FEEL: Light.
FINISH: Dryer than the nose suggests.
BEST ENJOYED: In a shaken cocktail with fruit or citrus.
THE BOTTOM LINE: A New World-style vodka for those who like sweeter drinks. —Josh Pape, October 2017

B.C. Distilleries

The Woods Spirit Co.

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Friends Joel Myers and Fabio Martini’s West Coast version of Amaro uses traditional botanicals such as rhubarb and bitter orange, as well as the more unconventional grand fir.

1450 Rupert Street, North Vancouver (opening soon)
778-996-7637
TheWoodsSpiritCo.com

Read more about The Woods Spirit Co.:

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

• 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: Local Negroni

 

PRODUCTS:

• Amaro
• Barrel-aged Amaro
• Cascadian Dry Gin
• Limoncello
• Nocino

TASTING NOTES:

Pacific Northwest Amaro

FRAGRANCE: Bright, fresh rhubarb, bitter orange peel dominate. Quince and nutmeg, too.
FLAVOUR: Bright, bitter citrus, herbs and unripe strawberry.
FEEL: A little thin.
FINISH: Quite bitter with clove, allspice and quinine.
BEST ENJOYED: After dinner. Try as a replacement to the Amaro Nonino in a Paper Plane.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Quality like this usually takes decades to perfect. A must-have for local spirit enthusiasts. —Shaun Layton, October 2017

B.C. Distilleries

Sons of Vancouver

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James Lester and Richard Klaus now have a lounge licence at their North Vancouver distillery, meaning cocktail service is in
full effect.

1431 Crown St., North Vancouver
778-340-5388
SonsOfVancouver.ca

Read more about Sons of Vancouver

• Some like it hot: Canada’s artisan distillers are bringing their own spiced heat to the party

• Recipe: Spicy Moscow Mule

• Recipe: Chuzzlewit’s Pear

• 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: Bourbon Sour

• Sons of Vancouver’s Amaretto earns global amore

• Recipe: Vancouver’s Brooklyn

• Prodigal sons: How Sons of Vancouver is riding the big boom in small spirits

 

PRODUCTS:

• No. 82 Amaretto
• Barrel-aged No. 82 Amaretto
• Vodka Vodka Vodka
• Chili Vodka
• Coffee Liqueur Sucks
• Craft Clue Curacao
• Craft Tiki Creamer
• Craft Coconut Liqueur

TASTING NOTES:

Chili Vodka

FRAGRANCE: Peppers. Red bell and chillies.
FLAVOUR: Fire. All chillies all the time.
FEEL: Hot. Spicy.
FINISH: Lingering heat.
BEST ENJOYED: Sipped neat or in a Caesar.
THE BOTTOM LINE: A fun one to try if you like it hot. Very hot. —Josh Pape, July 2016

Barrel Aged No. 82 Amaretto

FRAGRANCE: Kalamata olives and vanilla. In a good way.
FLAVOUR: Marzipan, vanilla, with a touch of stone fruits.
FEEL: Velvety, lingering.
FINISH: Lingering heat.
BEST ENJOYED: Go old school: Godfather would be cool (with Scotch) — add a lemon twist to balance it.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Delicious. More complex than the original version. —Josh Pape, October 2016

No. 82 Amaretto

FRAGRANCE: Way more apricot jam than the more traditional apricot pits. 
FLAVOUR: More dried apricot flavour, raisin, caramelized fruit and honey.
FEEL: Sweet and sticky.
FINISH: Honey on toast.
BEST ENJOYED: On ice or over ice cream. Seriously: Enjoy this. 
THE BOTTOM LINE: Not your typical amaretto and better for it. Delicious. —Trevor Kallies, October 2017

B.C. Distilleries

Deep Cove Brewers & Distillers

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This North Shore distillery augments its rosemary and olive-infused gin and award-winning vodka with a variety of small-batch seasonal releases.

2270 Dollarton Hwy., North Vancouver,
604-770-1136
DeepCoveCraft.com

PRODUCTS:

• Rosemary and Olive Gin
• Deep Cove Vodka
• Canadian Rye Whisky

TASTING NOTES:

Rosemary & Olive Gin

FRAGRANCE: Funky tropical fruit, salty.
FLAVOUR: Pine, hot, aggressive on the palate.
FEEL: Thin, spicy, hot.
FINISH: Powerful finish.
BEST ENJOYED: Dirty Martini.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Doesn’t stand up to its Spanish or B.C. counterparts. Lots going on, and very hot. —Shaun Layton, July 2016

Barrel Aged Akvavit (Sold Out)

FRAGRANCE: Herbs and spices, background of liquorice.
FLAVOUR: Full. Fennel and caraway shine, softened by some
floral notes.
FEEL: Thin on the mouth, warming.
FINISH: Spices resonate throughout.
BEST ENJOYED: Warm, after coming in from the cold.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Spices are all there. Well balanced. A good sipper for winter. —Trevor Kallies, October 2016

Deep Cove Vodka

FRAGRANCE: Light, not too boozy.
FLAVOUR: Sweet, white pepper.
FEEL: Even, balanced, medium body.
FINISH: Clean, silky and long.
BEST ENJOYED: With less, rather than more. Keep it booze forward.
THE BOTTOM LINE: A well made spirit, better than the big-name brands you get with bottle service in the club. —Josh Pape, July 2017

Barrel Aged Mediterranean Gin

FRAGRANCE: Big, herbaceous rosemary.
FLAVOUR: Sweet and herbaceous.
FEEL: Soft and round.
FINISH: Pepper spice, light citrus.  
BEST ENJOYED: In a Martini.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Stirred down cold, this gin’s unique character is best enjoyed when its spirit can shine through. —Robyn Gray, October 2017