BC Spirits "Spirit a Day' #39 - Wayward Distillation House Krupnik

A traditional spiced honey liqueur from Poland. The Wayward Distillation House leans into bright orange, complex spice and that beautiful honey that they are famous for. Usually a fall / winter liqueur, I think you should embrace this for summer; add it to your daiquiris and make dark and stormys with it.

Alcohol - 40% / 80 proof

Color - Rich orange copper

Nose - Dry Christmas spice, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg with hints of caramelised honey in the background

Taste - Rich runny honey and honeycomb with those dry spices prickling the palate and then the storn round orange peel giving bright tones in the finish

Finish - Warming spice, bright acidic orange and honeycomb

Best Enjoyed - In a Daiquri or a Dark and Stormy

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" Odd Society Society Prospector Rye

I don’t think I have ever had this in a tasting so it was a perfect candidate. Odd Society Spirits Prospector is 100% BC Rye aged in heavily charred American Oak barrels. It’s spicy, complex stone fruit and subtle caramels and vanilla. This is a must have for your classic rye cocktails.

Alcohol - 46% / 92 proof

Color - Light to medium wheat

Nose - Dried apricots, rye spice, hints of sweet vanilla

Taste - The intense complex rye hits you first with floral violets, fresh rye bread, stone fruit and hints of vanilla and caramel

Finish - That amazing spicy rye just lingers on the palate along with vanilla and caramel.

Best Enjoyed - Sazerac or Manhattan

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #37 - Rathjen Cellars Creme de Cassis

An island contender to compete with the ever popular Odd Society Cassis. The Rathjen Cellars Creme de Cassis is a fortified black currant wine which gives it a unique flavor profile, gorgeous black current, hints of acidity, great in a Kir Royale.

Alcohol - 20% / 40 proof

Color - Dark purple, almost black

Nose - Gorgeous black currents, fragrant and deep

Taste - The taste is different to macerate liqueurs, it’s complex from the making of the black currant wine then being fortified. Giving a broader flavor of black currant with hints of green and great acidity.

Finish - Almost zero residual sugar, bright acidity and left with gorgeous black currant in the finish

Best Enjoyed - Kir Royale

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #36 - Okanagan Crush Pad Narrative Brandy

This one from Okanagan Crush Pad is their aged Spirit of the Vineyard. Triple distilled and aged for 3 years in neutral French oak. It’s still aromatic, floral and an amazing eau de vie. I hope that have some more laying down with more age.

Alcohol - 50% / 100 proof

Color - Light copper, almost orange

Nose - Aromatic grape notes, subtle oak and vanilla

Taste - Rich oak, gorgeous stone fruit, hints of vanilla and grape blossoms

Finish - Dry, complex but not over reductive oak, hints of spice, cinnamon, cloves and hints of vanilla bean.

Best Enjoyed - Go for a classic sidecar with this one.

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #35 - Sons of Vancouver Coconut Rum

Another "April Fool's" release from the gents over at Sons of Vancouver. I absolutely love the way that they take what most companies would see as an April Fool's prank and actually create it. This is definitely a caramelised honey rum forward spirit at 40%, this is big and then resides to toasty coconut on the finish.

 Alcohol - 40% / 80 proof

Color - Light slightly cloudy off white

Nose - Distinct honey rum with subtle coconut notes

Taste - Rum is first, that honey rum is mouth filling with gorgeous clean caramel notes, then comes the toasted coconut, reminding you of what coconut rum should taste like

Finish - Toasty coconut with that strong honey rum still lingering, hints of sweetness

Best Enjoyed - Pina Colada baby

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #34 - Legend Distilling Wyatt Whisky

A real rarity in BC, 90% wheat, 10% rye whisky aged in red wine and cherry port casks. Gorgeous palate of spice balanced with nuanced red wine. Great example of innovation from Legend Distilling.

 Alcohol - 46% / 92 proof

Color - Dark translucent copper

Nose - Funky wine notes, spicy wheat tones

Taste - Deep, musty grain, almost barn wood, funky red wine notes and nice rye spice

Finish - Grain forward with hints of rounded red wine

Best Enjoyed - Neat

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #33 - Okanagan Spirits Rhubarb Liqueur

It's spring time regardless of the lock down, the Okanagan Spirits rhubarb liqueur just kicks you in the mouth with gorgeous sweet, fresh rhubarb. Deep fruit, but not stewy, bright acidity and a clean fruity finish.  

Alcohol - 24% / 48 proof

Color - Light watermelon pink

Nose - Fresh uncut rhubarb, in the garden, leaf and all

Taste - Gorgeous slightly cooked rhubarb but with fresh, bright acidity. Not overly stewy or sweet

Finish - Fresh rhubarb with amazing acidity

Best Enjoyed - In a spritz

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #32 - After Dark Distillery Monashee Mountain Whiskey

A brand spanking new first time release whiskey from After Dark Distillery and it doesn't disappoint. A blend of corn, barley and oats aged for 3 years in smaller American Oak casks. Deep, spicy and complex oak, very reminiscent of nouveau bourbons coming out of the US. Really great first release from the distillery.

Alcohol - 40% / 80 proof

Color - Dark burnt copper

Nose - Rich toasted oak, spice and dry corn aromas

Taste - Dry caramel, complex spice notes and sweet corn that is dried out by gorgeous toasted oak flavors

Finish - Dry spiciness, mellow corn and toast

Best Enjoyed - Limited run, buy it now, enjoy it neat

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #31 - Arbutus Distillery Elderflower

I still feel that all the Arbutus Distillery liqueurs are super underrated and this little number is no different. We have great elderflower on the island and they use it perfectly, herbal green, lychee and melon on the nose and palate.

Alcohol - 22% / 44 proof

Color - Translucent orange

Nose - Lychee, melon and green, fresh tarragon

Taste - Bold elderflower translates to a mixture of the flower, lychee, melon and green herbal notes

Finish - Not cloying, leaving palate clean with bright, floral elderflower

Best Enjoyed - Sub for St Germain, do a spritz with 1 1/2 oz. of this and Unsworth Charme de Lile

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #30 - Devine Spirits Poire

What an amazing poire from Devine, I believe it is extinct for now with a few ounces kicking around on back bars in the city. Rich and balanced, the pear eau de vie sits on local figs in the aging process which gives it an amazing backbone and depth but still lets the pear sing with rich fresh fruit from skin to stewed pear danish.

Alcohol - 40% / 80 proof

Color - Medium yellow with golden edges

Nose - Stewed pears in pastry, very subtle hints of figs

Taste - The pear is sliding scale of fresh, skin on pear, rich flesh and deep stewed fruit characteristics, the figs add a base note that is not obvious but very stated

Finish - Fresh pear rules on the finish with hints of the figs and stewed fruit, but overall clean pear

Best Enjoyed - If you can find it, neat.

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #29 - Bohemian Spirits Forester

A great little number that I decided to revisit, Bohemian Spirits Forester is their Single Malt Oaked Gin. I love barrel aged gins that use the oak flavor as an additional botanical, this one epitomizes that. Deep spicy wood paired with a gorgeous West Coast gin.

Alcohol - 40% / 80 proof

Color - Light copper

Nose - Spicy oak, dry, woody juniper

Taste - The gin has amazing backbone of dry spice and woody juniper, then the barrel comes in as an addition to the botanical mix, not overtaking anything, just soft but spicy oak melded perfectly.

Finish - Subtle oak and spice with whispers of the gin profile int he background

Best Enjoyed - Try it in an old fashioned style

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #28 - Alchemist Distiller Green Frog Absynthe

Haven’t been able to showcase the Green Frog Absinthe from Alchemist Distiller. A great example of the style in the province. Spiking anise and licorice straight but when diluted, you get the apple spirit base, dry herbal tones from the wormwood and the lofty bright notes of the anise and licorice.

Alcohol - 65% / 130 proof

Color - Light emerald green

Nose - Bright sweet licorice and fresh anise

Taste - Undiluted, the sweet licorice and anise comes through strongly but with a splash of water, the apple spirits begins to shine with the dry, musty herbal notes of wormwood followed by the playful anise and licorice

Finish - Clean but mouth filling classic French style absinthe notes

Best Enjoyed - Diluted 1:4 with water or in a Absinthe Frappe

DeVine Spirits Ancient Grains Strath Single Cask Strength

We distilled Organic BC barley, spelt, emmer, khorosan and einkorn - the ancesotrs of all modern grains - into one of the most unique and flavourful whiskies you’ll ever taste. Candied fruit and macadamia nuts combine with spicy notes of clove, allspice and smoke from American oak quarter casks.

Alcohol - 57.7% / 115.4 proof

Color - Dark cola brown with deep copper edges

Nose - Deep reductive toasty oak, subtle tones of candied fruits and spice

Taste - This is a beast, rich caramelised fruit with allspice and clove, complex toasted oak but not overly reductive.

Finish - Toasted oak, dry cocoa, hints of candied red fruit and the hit of cask strength

Best Enjoyed - Neat

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #27 - Honey Comb Cream Oat + Honey

A dairy free cream liqueur from Honey Comb Cream. Their Oat & Honey is a delicious alternative, still that amazing whisky backbone along with vanilla, fresh honeycomb and the oatiness of oat milk.

Alcohol - 20% / 40 proof

Color - Off white cream

Nose - Vanilla, subtle whisky oak, fresh honeycomb

Taste - A balanced melange of honeycomb, vanilla and oatiness backed with subtle but bold whisky backbone, not as thick as their classic expression

Finish - Surprisingly clean, gorgeous coating of honeycomb and oat milk but not cloying

Best Enjoyed - Sub in your favorite cocktail with Baileys

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #26 - The Spirit of Tea Vanilla Rooibos Liqueur

The sister product to the Earl Grey Gin from #15. The The Spirit of Tea springs with vanilla and hints of tea on the nose and then doesn’t disappoint on the palate with rich vanilla and complex tea as the backbone. Try equal parts of this and the earl grey gin with lemon juice and egg white, tasty twist on the Earl Grey Martini.

Alcohol - 20% / 40 proof

Color - Reddish copper

Nose - Big whack of vanilla with hints of subtle tea aromatics

Taste - The complexity of the tea hits first, aromatic with pleasant tannins, then the sweet vanilla comes rolling through

Finish - Balanced sweetness, not cloying, sweet vanilla and tea aromatics

Best Enjoyed - Equal parts with the Earl Grey Tea Gin in a twist on the Earl Grey MarTeani

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #25 - One Foot Crow Lavender Gin

One Foot Crow Craft distillery out of Gibsons is a relatively new distillery but they make some fantastically eclectic products. The Lavender Gin is a balanced take especially with the love hate feeling that a lot of people have for lavender. Try it in a lavender white lady with honey syrup.

Alcohol - 40% / 80 proof

Color - Clear

Nose - Progressing from sweet malt to classic gin forward notes then finishes with subtle lavender

Taste - Bright, citrusy juniper and subtle botanicals flowing through to fresh lavender, both leaf and flower; like walking through lavender field

Finish - Bright gin botanicals of juniper and citrus are balanced with lavender without being soapy.

Best Enjoyed - White Lady with honey syrup

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #24 - Okanagan Crush Pad Narrative Spirit of the Vineyard

Was pleasantly surprised revisiting this one, Okanagan Crush Pad is famous for their wine but they make some delicious spirits as well. The Spirit of the Vineyard is an amazing unaged grape brandy that shows beautiful aromatics and great grape structure. This is the closest thing to a South American brandy or pisco in the province, a must have for the pisco sour lover.

Alcohol - 40% / 80 proof

Color - Clear

Nose - Funky aromatic grapes, honeycomb, grape leaf, stone fruit and pits

Taste - Grape fruitiness, higher alcohol than expected, musty Germanic aromatic grapes, rain on concrete

Finish - Clean, bright and aromatic, leaving the palate wanting more

Best Enjoyed - In a pisco sour

BC Spirits "Spirit a day" #23 - Wayward Distillation House Drunk Hive

Honey "rums" have become a big part of the BC distillery landscape, with a number of distilleries producing some fantastic examples. Wayward is the OG in honey distillation in the province and their caramelised Drunken Hive is a perfect example on how honey can behave. Rich, not overly sweet with hints of spice, I would love to have this in a blind tasting with a number of big name rums.

Alcohol - 42.5% / 85 proof

Color - Rich copper gold

Nose - Clean bright tones of honeysuckle with a little funk

Taste - Rich oak, with caramelised sweetness, hints of honeysuckle on the palate but really leans into a clean, fresh spirit

Finish - Subtle oak with fresh rain on concrete

Best Enjoyed - In a daiquiri

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #22 - Sons of Vancouver Coffee Liqueur Sucks

I love coffee and I love liquor so why not combine my two favorite things into one. This one is from Sons of Vancouver "April Fool's" releases. Partnering with Moja Coffee, it is rich and deep roasted coffee notes with bright acidity, not overly sweet and smooth.

Alcohol - 26% / 52 proof

Color - Coffee brown

Nose - Medium roast coffee, a little New Orleans chicory and a hint of brown sugar

Taste - Really nice roast, deep coffee tones but with bright acidity, balanced and complex with hints of brown sugar

Finish - Like a lightly sweetened espresso

Best Enjoyed - Behold the dude my friend

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #21 - Wood's Spirit Co. Limoncello

Influenced by a post from a friend, wanted to revisit the Wood's Limoncello. The uniqueness of the Wood's products is their use of the vacuum distillation which allows the liquid to boil at a lower temperature and to keep the delicate flavors of base ingredients to stay intact. Full of candied lemon flavor with hints of spice box with the addition of peppercorn and chili peppers.

Alcohol - 30% / 60 proof

Color - Cloudy yellow

Nose - Lemon candies with hints of spice cupboard

Taste - Candied lemon, the whole thing, peel, rind and flesh, giving flavors from sweet to slightly bitter. Spicy peppercorns and chili pepper accentuate the lemon sweetness like seasoning.

Finish - Sweet but not cloying lemon with hints of the spice in the back palate

Best Enjoyed - Serve chilled or try it in a Lemon Drop of all things