BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #56 - Taynton Bay Spirits Blueberry Rooiboos

Not a massive fan of flavored vodkas usually but these tea infusions from Taynton Bay are delicious. Can be used as a modify or a base, very versatile ingredient, I would be doing a collins style buck; a little lemon juice and topped with ginger ale or beer would be a refreshing start to summer.

Alcohol - 14% / 28 proof

Color - Deep red purple

Nose - Under steeped tea forward with fruity notes of blueberry and hibiscus

Taste - Acidic blueberry, hints of spices, bright and sweet hibiscus

Finish - Dry, not overly sweet, fresh blueberries, hibiscus flowers and hints of tea

Best Enjoyed - Over ice, splash of lemon juice, topped with ginger ale or beer

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #55 - Odd Society Spirits Mia Amata

It’s cold and wet outside so I wanted to do something that screams autumn. The Odd Society Spirits Mia Amata is deep spices and dried roots blended with sweetness that accentuates the rich chocolate and vanilla notes. Do a Odd Society Negroni with Wallflower, Bittersweet Vermouth and this, knock out!

Alcohol - 30% / 60 proof

Color - Deep coffee brown

Nose - Complex dry roots, deep floral notes and hints of cacao

Taste - Mouthfeeling chocolate and vanilla leads to dry herbal notes of cola and menthol and then finishes with spicy depth

Finish - Finish lingers long after the sip, complex herbal tones are balanced by vanilla and cacao.

Best Enjoyed - Odd Society Negroni - Wallflower, Bittersweet Vermouth and this; equal parts

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #54 - Phillips Fermentorium Small Talk Whisky

It’s #worldwhiskyday so why not explore Phillips Fermentorium first release whisky. Aged in BC Pinot Barrels and American Bourbon Oak Ex Dark Beer Aged. The color doesn’t do it justice, on the palate, rich and complex with notes of chocolate, spicy vanilla and funky Pinot tones.

Alcohol - 41% / 82 proof

Color - Light copper, gold edges

Nose - Hints of dry cocoa, spicy vanilla and underlying grain

Taste - Rich grain profile, funky pinot notes, deep dry chocolate and spicy vanilla, hints of hoppy twang

Finish - High grain notes are complimented bu deep cocoa and spicy but soft vanilla

Best Enjoyed - Neat

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #53 - Marrow Amaro

I love the eccentricities of Shawn from Marrow Vermouth. This is no different, if you love amari this is a must have. Dry, fragrant, aromatic, balanced and complex sweetness, got to try this in a Negroni or even a Toronto.

Alcohol - 22.9% / 45.8 proof

Color - Light cola brown

Nose - Dry aromatic botanical, very sweet root nose

Taste - The balance of sweet wine and dry herbs is spot on, menthol, sarsaparilla, mint and sweet roots and herbal leaves. Complexity of honey and wine give it a unique backbone

Finish - Textural root forward palate with hints of honey sweetness and wine complexities

Best Enjoyed - Got to try this in a Negroni or a Toronto

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #52 - Legend Distilling Black Moon

The Black Moon from Legend Distilling is like nothing else, amazing gin backbone from the gin with the blend of fresh and charred wild rosemary. Love this in a Collins style highball, play around with the sweetener and soda and you are good to go.

Alcohol - 40% / 80 proof

Color - Dark reddish hue

Nose - Fresh rosemary, hints of flinty smoke and juniper

Taste - Gin botanicals as a backbone with the spread of fresh rosemary and charred leaves, complex, a little dirty smoke and bright rosemary

Finish - A mix of fresh rosemary and smoky herbal

Best Enjoyed - Collins and experiment with sweeteners and flavored soda

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #51 - Merridale Distilling Pear Brandy

I just am in love with Merridale's fruit brandies, this is their 7 year old pear brandy, triple distilled and aged in French oak. A gorgeous blend of fresh Bartlett pears and toasted oak, both so complimentary that neither pushes the other out of the way. A blend of fragrant pear, tannic skin and toasted dry vanilla and spice.

Alcohol - 40% / 80 proof

Color - Very light gold

Nose - Fresh bartlett pear, flesh and tannic skin, hint of dry vanilla

Taste - Dry, slightly spicy, aromatic pear notes with a mix of flesh and tannic skin. The dry vanilla oak plays well with the strength of the pear and compliments it perfectly.

Finish - Pear on pear with a dry finish of toasted oak and vanilla

Best Enjoyed - Neat

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #50 - Fermentorium Distilling Stump Gin

Go old school on today's 50th episode, showcasing the very first spirit I helped develop, Stump Gin. The goal was always to create a gin that tasted like a West coast forest after rainfall, and I think we achieved that. Bright grapefruit notes from the hops and grand fir along with gorgeous texture and floral notes from the lavender and bay laurel. Try it with tonic or in a martini with Marrow Vermouth and Bittered Sling Moon Dog bitters.

Alcohol - 42% / 84 proof

Color - Clear

Nose - Fresh pomelo grapefruit flesh and fresh skin, hints of pine

Taste - Grapefruit, lavender and grand fir give elevated notes with the bay laurel helping to give a backbone with the bright juniper. Floral, subtle herbs and bright citrus

Finish - Grapefruit flesh and skin, hints of grand fir sap and bright floral notes

Best Enjoyed - With tonic or in a martini with Marrow Vermouth

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #49 - Wayward Distillery Depth Charge

This fantastic coffee liqueur from Wayward Distillery combines heavy roasted coffee from Royston Coffee Roasters with cacao nibs. The coffee is reach and dark and the cacao nibs compliment and add complexity but don’t overtake the coffee. Must try in a White Russian.

Alcohol - 33% / 66 proof

Color - Deep, dark brown

Nose - Heavy, dark roasted coffee with hints of dry cacao

Taste - Minimal sweetness, heavily roasted coffee, very old school, dry and slightly chocolate, hint of smoke

Finish - Very dry, complex chocolate bolstering up the coffee

Best Enjoyed - White Russian

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #48 - Marrow Bianco Vermouth

Brand spanking new from Marrow Vermouth. Shawn is notorious for chasing down interesting vermouth styles and recreating them, this one is no different. The balance between apple distillate, wine base and botanicals is perfect; fruity sweet, high notes of bright botanicals and gorgeous wine profile. This is a must have especially with only 150 bottles made. 

Alcohol - 16% / 32 proof

Color - Cloudy peach

Nose - High notes of botanicals, sweet cicily, orris root, hints of fruity apple and wine notes

Taste -Balanced fruit forward notes with drying botanicals. Apple, peach fruit is complimented by bright, high notes of chamomile, sweet cicely and lemon peel

Finish - Dry with a hint of sweetness on the back palate, apple and botanicals are the predominant flavors

Best Enjoyed - Neat or with tonic

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #47 - Arbutus Distillery Birch Liqueur

We already know my love for the Arbutus Distillery liqueur line and this one is no different. A Birch Liqueur, rich and bold with a kick of nuttiness and caramel along with hints of oak. This is made to pair with whisky, slide a little into your sour or old fashioned.

Alcohol - 25% / 50 proof

Color - Deep orange

Nose - Burnt sugar, hints of vanilla and oak

Taste - Such a rich whisky tone, burnt sugar, oak, vanilla and caramel; like a liqueur that has been made to imitate whisky notes.

Finish - Caramel, vanilla, hints of oak and just a smidge of cloying sweetness

Best Enjoyed - Add 1/2 -3/4 oz to your whisky sour or old fashioned

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #46 - Victoria Distillers Cacao

Victoria Distilers are more famous for their Empress 1908 Gin, they also make some fantastic little oddities like this Cacao using Sirene Chocolate. Very multidimensional with bitter, dry cacao notes and sweetness from the husks. If you use this in a cocktail, you may need some sugar as it’s not overly sweet.

Alcohol - 25% / 50 proof

Color - Deep chocolate brown

Nose - Cocoa powder and high cacao chocolate

Taste - Like a 65% cacao chocolate bar. Rich, but not overly sweet chocolate with bitter dry cacao notes

Finish - Dry and dusty cacao powder with hints of chocolate

Best Enjoyed - Grasshopper with a smidge of simple syrup

Kir Royale Off - Elephant Island Cassis

Distinguished flavor ... the Pavlovian desire to drool after you get the first taste ... not quite so elegant! Embrace it and be rewarded the black currant bomb of nuclear proportions

Alcohol - 26% / 52 proof

Color - Deep dark purple almost black

Nose - Fruity cassis, floral notes and hints of green leaves

Taste - Rich and complex cassis, being a fortified blackcurrant wine, it have a broader flavor profile from fermentation

Finish - A little funky, dry blackcurrant and green leaf

Best Enjoyed - Kir Royale obviously

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #45 - Roots and Wings Sidekick

I felt bad for missing this one in the whisky liqueur episode a few weeks ago but this is a win win as they get a dedicated episode. The Roots and Wings Sidekick is their cinnamon corn whisky and while I don't love cinnamon, this is great warm, real cinnamon, almost autumn spice with hints of honeycomb.

Alcohol - 40% / 80 proof

Color - Deep copper orange, burnt sugar

Nose - Woody cinnamon, corn whisky, hints of caramelised honey

Taste - Earthy, real cinnamon, great corn whisky backbone and hints of honey but no sweetness

Finish - Autumn spice, cinnamon, honeycomb and spice

Best Enjoyed - Play around with this in an old fashioned with bourbon 50/50

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #44 - Sons of Vancouver No. 82 Amaretto Barrel Aged in Westland Peated Single Malt Casks

This little crazy number from the minds at Sons of Vancouver is one of the only examples I know in the world. Who barrel ages amaretto. The peated whisky from Westland Whisky is a strong backbone to the natural sweetness of the amaretto. To me it’s liquid s’mores.

Alcohol - 26% / 52 proof

Color - Deeper translucent brown with copper edges

Nose - Rich almond with a hint of smoky wood

Taste -S’Mores all the way, rich amaretto, campfire smoke, marshmallow and dark honey

Finish - Lingering smoke and oak with complex spices and almond

Best Enjoyed - Double down on a Morgenthaler Amaretto Sour on this one

Review #45 - Kir Royale Off

With special guest this week, my lovely wife Jillian; we tackle Kir Royales. After a comment on a post earlier this week, I decided it was a good time to do a cassis Kir Royale off featuring Odd Society Spirits, Rathjen Cellars, Okanagan Spirits and Elephant Island. Between us, we both liked completely different ends to the spectrum.

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #43 - Long Table Distillery Marc du Soleil

I don’t think we make enough grappas and marcs in BC with such a rich wine culture. The Long table Distillery Clos du Soleil collaboration gives an amazing example of aged Marc. Funky and fruity, tastes like you are drinking a delicious cheese board.

Alcohol - 43% / 86 proof

Color - Light wheat gold

Nose - Dried fruit, quince, pear, apricots, hints of warm oak and funky cheese notes

Taste - Like a liquid cheese board, subtle vanilla backing with dried fruit, quince, hints of funky cheese.

Finish - Soft oak, slight fruit and funk

Best enjoyed - A perfect pairing for the above

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #42 - Merridale Distillery Cowichan Rhumb

I have gone into depth about BC “Rum” before but wanted to dive in with the Merridale Distillery Cowichan Rhumb. Rich with stone fruit, spicy vanilla and hints of smoky oak. Want to throw this is with classic rums in a blind tasting to see if people can pick it out.

Alcohol - 43% / 86 proof

Color - Light copper with golden edges

Nose - Stone fruit, spiced vanilla and toasty oak

Taste - Stone fruit, smoky vanilla, toasted caramel, hints of oak and spice

Finish - Round vanillas and spicy oak, just a subtle smoke undertone

Best Enjoyed - Neat or in a cocktail calling for calvados

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #41 - Gillespie's Raspberry Gin

It’s gorgeous and sunny outside so I thought let’s do a spring time tasting with Gillespie's Fine Spirits Raspberry Gin. Balanced between the gin and real raspberry flavors. Try in a classic Clover Club or on its own topped with Fever-Tree Sicilian Lemon.

Alcohol - 28% / 56 proof

Color - Medium rose pink

Nose - Fresh and underripe raspberries, a hint of green pits, floral notes

Taste - Floral raspberries, fresh and juicy, the gin and flavor is balanced without either taking over. Gin is classic citrusy London Dry style.

Finish - Citrusy gin botanicals with juicy ripe raspberry

Best Enjoyed - In a classic Clover Club or in a highball with Fever-Tree Sicilian Lemon

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #40 - Stillhead Apple Brandy

For the 40th episode, I thought I would do a taste off between the two Stillhead Distillery apple brandies that I have. Amazingly similar but different. Love this product from them. The first is heavy vanilla in the finish while the second gives strong tannic apple, floral notes and spice.

#1 Apple Brandy

Alcohol - 40% / 80 proof

Color - Deep burnt orange

Nose - Stewed apple, maple syrup and oak

Taste - Stewed apples, maple syrup, subtle oak but punches of vanilla with hints of spice

Finish - Round with deep cooked apple, maple syrup and subtle oak

Best Enjoyed - Neat or in a cocktail calling for calvados

#2 Apple Brandy

Alcohol - 40% / 80 proof

Color - Medium copper orange

Nose - Burnt maple, spicy oak and complex apple

Taste - Complex apple, brighter tones than the first, more broad apple profile, skin, pulp and floral apple blossoms. The maple is subdued but the spicy rye barrel comes through moreso.

Finish - Bright complex apple flavors with spicy oak and hints of burnt maple

Best Enjoyed - Neat or in a cocktail calling for calvados

Elder Bros. Farms Elderflower and Cherry

Alcohol - 30% / 60 proof

Color - Light translucent pink

Nose - Cherry comes through first with floral elderflower after

Taste - Cherry pie filling, slightly spiced, hints of tannic skin and pits with floral notes of elderflowers

Finish - The cherry and elderflower linger on the palate with no cloying sweetness

Best Enjoyed - Try as a modifier in a cocktail