Mint Cucumber French 75

Cucumber Mint French 75. Photo courtesy of The Gull

Recipe courtesy of Phil Tapping, general manager, The Gull.

Pair with: Fresh spring greens.

• 1 oz mint-infused gin (see note)

• 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice

• 0.25 oz simple syrup  (see note)

• 2 dashes cucumber bitters (such as Bitter Truth)

• Sparkling wine to top

• Garnish: Cucumber slice

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Citadelle Gibson

Tableau Bar Bistro’s Citadelle Gibson. Joanne Sasvari photo

Partnered with lightly cured seafood during VCW, Tableau Bar Bistro‘s briny Gibson proved that cocktails are as perfect for pairing as wine.

• 2 oz Citadelle Gin

• 1 oz Dolin dry vermouth

• 0.5 tsp salty cocktail onion brine

• Garnish: 3 cocktail onions

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Gin Paloma

Copperpenny’s Gin Paloma. Photo courtesy of Copperpenny Distilling Co.

This easy, patio-ready cocktail comes from the tasting lounge at North Vancouver’s Copperpenny Distilling. The fresh citrus and rosemary accentuate the notes of Egyptian coriander and Moroccan grains of paradise in their Social Project Gin 005. 

• 2 oz Copperpenny Social Project Gin 005

• 2 oz freshly squeezed grapefruit juice (strained)

• 0.5 oz freshly squeezed lime juice

• 0.5 oz rosemary-infused simple syrup (see note)

• Garnish: Himalayan pink salt rim, dehydrated grapefruit and/or sprig of rosemary

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Don’t Let Them See You Bleed

Don’t Let Them See You Bleed cocktail. Photo courtesy of Laowei

This large-batch cocktail was created by Alex Black, co-owner of Laowai, for the Vancouver Cocktail Week gala; keep it in the freezer to serve as desired. Note that you will need a digital scale to measure some of the ingredients, as well as a vacuum sealer.

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Choose A Woman-Made, Woman-Led Spirit Day

Celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8 by buying or drinking a woman-made spirit, such as these global brands that have women master blenders, distillers and more.

At Ron Zapaca in Guatemala, master blender Lorena Vasquez is credited for pioneering the a “solera” aging method in rum. Photo courtesy of Ron Zacapa
Supplied photo

Though countless women contribute to the vibrant local, national and international distilling industry, for International Women’s Day each year we give a nod to some of the trailblazers in top production, management and ownership positions at distilleries.

For a fresh perspective on the hidden history of women in spirits and cocktail, we highly recommend the recently released book Girly Drinks: A World History of Women and Alcohol by Mallory O’Meara.

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20th Century

20th Century cocktail. Getty Images photo

The original recipe from 1937 called for Kina Lillet, which is no longer available—Lillet Blanc makes a good substitute in this Art Deco cocktail.

• 1.5 oz gin

• 0.75 oz Lillet Blanc

• 0.5 oz light crème de cacao

• 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice

• Garnish: Lemon twist

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Aviation

Aviation cocktail. Getty Images photo

Many recipes leave out the crème de violette, but it is essential, not just for the blue colour it gives the drink, but the way it balances the other ingredients.

• 2 oz gin

• 0.25 oz maraschino liqueur

• 0.25 oz crème de violette

• 0.5 oz lemon juice

• Garnish: Flamed lemon peel or brandied cherry

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Band-e-Amir

Band-e-Amir. Photo courtesy of Afghan Kitchen

The blue hue of this cocktail from Afghan Kitchen comes from Victoria Distillers Empress 1908 gin and is inspired by the six deep blue lakes in Afghanistan.

• 2 oz Empress 1908 Gin

• 1 oz fresh lemon juice

• 1 oz Giffard passionfruit syrup

• 1 egg white or 1 dropper of vegan foamer

• Optional garnish: Dried butterfly pea flower

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Geraniol Gin Cosmo

Geraniol Gin Cosmo. Nick Halim photo

Recipe from Stillhead Distillery, created by Mitch Poirier and reprinted with permission from The BC Spirits Cocktail Book by Shawn Soole.

• 3 snap peas

• 1.75 oz Stillhead London Dry Gin

• 0.25 oz Arbutus Limoncello

• 0.5 oz cranberry cordial

• 0.5 oz lemon juice

• 1 dash of Ms. Better’s Black Pepper Cardamom Bitters

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