B.C. Distilleries

Island Spirits Distillery

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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

Crow’s Nest Distillery

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Rekindling the tradition of his Italian ancestors, Daniel Paolone, along with friend Ian Jarvis, are distilling spirits with local ingredients, starting with vodka and rum.

117-667 Sumas Way, Abbotsford
778-251-6002
CrowsNestDistillery.com

PRODUCTS:

• Crow’s Nest Vodka
• Crow’s Nest White Rum
• Crow’s Nest Spiced Rum

TASTING NOTES:

Crow’s Nest Vodka

FRAGRANCE: Faint vanilla.
FLAVOUR: Cinnamon spice.
FEEL: Clean and crisp.
FINISH: Short and pleasant, light vanilla.
BEST ENJOYED: Vodka soda.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Extraordinarily clean and crisp, true to the essence of vodka as a neutral grain spirit. —Robyn Gray, October 2017

 

B.C. Distilleries

North West Distilling Co.

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Using winter wheat, Maple Ridge-based NorthWest creates its signature vodka by distilling it 10 times and cold-filtering eight times through charcoal.

104-20120 Stewart Cres., Maple Ridge
604-818-6972
NorthWestDistillingCo.ca

PRODUCTS:

• North West Vodka

TASTING NOTES:

North West Vodka

FRAGRANCE: Just alcohol.
FLAVOUR: Sweet. White pepper.
FEEL: Silky and balanced.
FINISH: Short but pleasant.
BEST ENJOYED: Chilled. Minimal dilution. Makes a good Martini. 
THE BOTTOM LINE: Very easy-drinking vodka. —Josh Pape, October 2017

 

B.C. Distilleries

After Dark Distillery

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Dean and Louise Perry moved from Alberta to the Shuswap to begin their distilling adventure. They focus on flavoured moonshine, vodkas and whisky, but gin is also in the works.

1201 Shuswap Ave., Sicamous
250-836-5187
AfterDarkDistillery.com

PRODUCTS:

• Copper Island Gin
• After Dark Burner Vodka
• Monashee Mountain Vodka
• Monashee Mountain Whiskey
• Cinnamous Whiskey
• Loudmouth Soup
• Monashee Mountain Moonshines

TASTING NOTES:

Monashee Mountain Apple Pie Moonshine

FRAGRANCE: Amazing nose of fresh baked cinnamon buns, quince tarte tatin and cream cheese.
FLAVOUR: Apple candy sweetness dominates.
FEEL: Very light viscosity.
FINISH: Sweet finish with hints of cinnamon and vanilla. Astringent, bitter notes.
BEST ENJOYED: In hot apple cider on a fall day.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Could use more viscosity and natural apple flavour. —Shaun Layton, October 2017

Recipes, The Alchemist

Grey Goose Le Grand Fizz

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Grey Goose photo

This simple but elegant vodka fizz is a clean canvas for your own experimentation.

• 1.25 oz (35 mL) Grey Goose vodka
• 0.75 oz (22 mL) St. Germain elderflower liqueur
• 0.75 oz (22 mL) freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2.5 oz (75 mL) chilled soda water

Place vodka, elderflower liqueur and lime juice in a cocktail shaker along with some ice. Shake vigorously. Fine strain into a chilled flute or large wine glass and charge with soda water. If you like, add a few cubes of ice and garnish with a slice of lime. Serves 1.

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Recipes, The Alchemist

Cîroc Me Gently, Cîroc Me Slowly

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The Cîroc Me Gently, Cîroc Me Slowly. Fred Fung/Royal Dinette photo

This cocktail from Kaitlyn Stewart, World Class Canada 2017 winner and bar manager of Royal Dinette, is a mouthwatering balance of sweet, citrus and spice.

• 1.5 oz (45 mL) Ciroc Vodka
• 0.5 oz (15 mL) Ancho Reyes chili liqueur
• 0.25 oz (7 mL) crème de cacao (chocolate liqueur)
• 0.5 oz (15 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 dashes of Bittered Sling Lem-Marrakech bitters

Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Fine strain into a chilled cocktail glass. If you like, garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel. Serves 1.

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Recipes, The Alchemist

Lady O’Keefe

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The Lady O’Keefe cocktail. Contributed photo

Lily Duong, assistant bar manager at UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar in the Moda Hotel, captures the floral fragrance of elderflower in this refreshing spring cocktail.

• 1 oz (30 mL) vodka
• 0.5 oz (15 mL) St. Germain elderflower liqueur
• 0.75 oz (22 mL) lemon juice
• 0.75 oz (22 mL) Monin jasmine flower syrup
• 2 dashes Bittered Sling Grapefruit & Hops bitters
• 1 egg white

Place all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Once you have created voluminous foam, add ice, and shake again. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Serves 1.

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Features

Field work

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Potatoes fuel the spirit at Langley’s Roots and Wings Distillery

Distilling is a labour of love for Rebekah Crowley. Katie McTiernan photo.

If you want something done right, do it yourself.

It may be a truism, but for Rebekah Crowley and Rob Rindt it’s also the organizing principle that inspired their newly opened Roots and Wings Distillery in Langley, and the reason their handcrafted vodka exists.

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B.C. Distilleries

Roots and Wings Distillery

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Rebekah Crowley and Rob Rindt built a distillery and tasting room on their Fraser Valley farm where they crop 30 acres of potatoes and corn.

7897 240th St., Langley
778-246-5247
RootsAndWingsDistillery.ca

Read more about Roots & Wings Distillery

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

• Field work: potatoes fuel the spirit at Langley’s Roots and Wings Distillery

PRODUCTS:

• Vital Vodka
• Double Vice Coffee Infused Vodka
• Renegade (Horseradish-infused vodka)
• Dill Pickled Vodka
• Peachy Keen Vodka
• Jackknife Gin
• Encore Gin
• Rebel
• Sidekick
• Johnny Handsome
• Old Fashioned Spirit
• 5th Element Absinthe

TASTING NOTES:

Vital Vodka

FRAGRANCE: Vanilla, cream corn, créme brulée.
FLAVOUR: Custard, funky earth notes, white pepper, this IS a potato and corn vodka.
FEEL: Slightly viscous, but buttery in a very good way.
FINISH: A load of spice stays around for a minute.
BEST ENJOYED: Will make a buttery Martini that packs a spicy finish, or a Moscow Mule.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Surprisingly ballsy finish after a sweet nose, cool product. —Shaun Layton, February 2017

Hops and Honey Vodka

FRAGRANCE: Malty, resiny, touch of buttery corn.
FLAVOUR: Faint coriander spice, danky, dry pepper, honeysuckle.
FEEL: Creamy on the palate.
FINISH: Nice subtle black pepper, piney, slightly bitter.
BEST ENJOYED: Would make a great collins style drink, looking forward to this in a Michelada or a Caesar.
THE BOTTOM LINE: I wouldn’t put it in the vodka category, theres a lot going on. A very intriguing spirit. —Shaun Layton, July 2017

Rebel

FRAGRANCE: Cooked corn and orange.
FLAVOUR: Corn comes through with playful citrus notes and a touch of smoke.
FEEL: Mild creaminess.
FINISH: A little baking spice on the front, a touch of smoke on the back. 
BEST ENJOYED: Could sub into a sour or Old Fashioned with some ease.
THE BOTTOM LINE: An interesting take on a young (soon-to-be) corn whisky. —Trevor Kallies, October 2017

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