Bruinwood Distillery Quince Liqueur

This ancient pear like fruit was highly regarded in the empires throughout the ages. Most notably used as a flavorful paste on cheese boards which inspired the tasting this week.

Alcohol - 25% / 50 proof

Color - Vibrant orange copper

Nose - Almost stewed apple on the nose

Taste - Quince on quince, from dry tannic peel to the rich quince paste. A little funky notes and aromatic quince notes.

Finish - Aromatic quince with a long drying finish of tannic peel

Best Enjoyed - Really interesting cocktail ingredient, also on it’s own with a cheese board

Marrow Dry Vermouth

From one of the province’s vermouthery comes the dry vermouth from Marrow. With drinking vermouths being the main focus of the label, this vermouth is aromatic with dry and rooty herbs and spices.

Alcohol - 19.5% / 39 proof

Color - Light straw

Nose - Dry provenance style herbs and spices, hints of sweet wine

Taste - Complex herbs and spices, from yarrow root to chamomile, hand foraged by Shawn and the team. Wine is the back bone here with the botanicals really shining through

Finish - Long herbal forward finish with that slightly oxidized wine coming through in the back palate

Best Enjoyed - Mix this with tonic and a slice of lemon

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #68 - Maple Leaf Spirits Pear Liqueur

The Maple Leaf Spirits Pear Liqueur is pear on pear, aromatic pear eau de vie paired with pear juice that gives a deep, cooked pair note. This is a super versatile liqueur that you can use in cocktails and cooking. I absolutely love this distillery. 

Alcohol - 25% / 50 Proof

Color - Deep golden pear / apple

Nose - Bright fresh Bartlett pear

Taste - Balanced pear, layering from fresh, ripe pear to slightly cooked pear danish

Finish - Clean, not cloying stewed pear with hints of spice on the back of your tongue

Best Enjoyed - On ice cream and pancakes, would love to see this whipped with butter for waffles

Ampersand Distilling Imperative Dry Vermouth

Imperative Dry Vermouth is made from organic Ortega & Auxerrois grapes from the Saanich Peninsula and fortified with Ampersand’s Per Se Vodka, made from organic BC grown wheat. The botanicals include wormwood grown on Ampersand’s farm, and roasted dandelion root, chamomile, marjoram, and orange peel.

Alcohol - 18% / 36 proof

Color - Medium Gold

Nose - Sweet wine forward with hints of herbs in the background

Taste - Complex deep herbal notes, very root forward profile balancing the hints of sweetness in the wine profile.

Finish - Very dry finish, chewy with the herbal notes lingering long after

Best Enjoyed - This was made for Martinis, grab a bottle of the Ampersand Gin as well

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #67 - Tofino Distillery Rose Hibiscus Gin

This is a great expression from Tofino Distillery. Gin forward with the rose and hibiscus in the background bringing sweet and aromatic flavors to the boisterous gin profile. Got to try this in a White Lady, would be epic

Alcohol - 45% / 90 proof

Color - Watermelon pink

Nose - Juniper and sea breeze forward with hints of floral wild rose and hibiscus

Taste - Big gin forward flavor with huge juniper burst, very Tofino with the conifers and sea air then comes through the floral notes of wild rose and the hints of sweetness from the hibiscus

Finish - A little burn at 45% but the big juniper lingers with the sweet and aromatic rose and hibisucs

Best Enjoyed - White Lady or collins

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #66 - Sheringham Distillery Barrel Aged Seaside Gin

Been a while since I tasted the Sheringham Distillery Barrel Aged Seaside Gin and I remember it fondly. It reminds me of the first time visiting the distillery in Shirley. Coniferous pine, brine sea air and bright high notes of juniper and citrus with the oak just folding itself into the liquid and becoming an added dimension. 

Alcohol - 43.5% / 87 proof

Color - Light gold

Nose - Menthol and coniferous juniper, hints of sarsaparilla and new cut oak

Taste - Coniferous pine, rich floral notes of lavender, spicy oak, bright juniper notes with almost grapefruit flesh

Finish - The oak is predominant in the finish with menthol and sarsaparilla notes, juniper is still prolific and long in the finish

Best Enjoyed - Play around with this one in a White Lady or Gimlet

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #65 - Jones Distilling Revelstoke Gin

Looking forward to tasting more from Jones Distilling n Revelstoke. Their gin is a malty, complex gin that screams classic London Dry style with bright notes of juniper and citrus complimented with balanced botanicals. A perfect plug and play for your favorite macro gin.

Alcohol - 37.5% / 75 proof

Color - Clear

Nose - Husky malts with hints of vanilla, sweet citrus fruit, lime peel and piney juniper

Taste - Rich palate for the lower alcohol content, piney bright juniper, citrus peel with complex musty botanicals underlying the whole palate

Finish - Juniper lingers with citrus peel and light botanicals

Best Enjoyed - Sub out for any of your macro made gins

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #64 - DeVine Slivovitz

This gorgeous and rare plum brandy from DeVine Spirits is like biting into a fresh plum, tannic skin and juicy flesh with all the aromatics of a beautiful slivovitz. Not sure if there is any of this in the world.

Alcohol - 50% / 100 proof

Color - Plum flesh

Nose - Aromatic plum with candied plums undertones

Taste - Like biting into a fresh plum, tannic skin, sweet flesh with aromatic eau de vie lingering

Finish - Aromatic plum and sweet plum linger

Best Enjoyed - If you can find it, neat

Wynndel Craft Distilleries Apple Brandy

A delightful smooth product from apple juice from our abundant crops of apples in Creston Valley. Double distilled and aged in a small oak barrels to maturity. We are using the solera system to improve quality and consistency

Alcohol - 40% / 80 proof

Color - Deep brown orange

Nose - a blend of fresh, raw oak and rich apple, stewed and spiced

Taste - Dry apple, hints of spicy new oak, sweet vanilla, almost menthol, a unique apple and oak profile to this distillery. The balance of oak and apple is amazing.

Finish - Spicy fresh oak and vanilla and rich apple

Best Enjoyed - Neat

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #63 - Copper Spirit Harmony Gin

Located on Bowen Island, Copper Spirit is a gorgeous distillery and cocktail bar that really is a pretty addition to the island. Their gin epitomizes the island, coniferous juniper, bright lime notes, and floral finish

Alcohol - 42% / 84 proof

Color - Clear

Nose - Conifer, key lime, bright juniper, hints of lavender

Taste - Citrusy juniper, lime pith, lavender, pine sap and hints of salinity

Finish - Floral forward, bright juniper and hints of citrus pith

Best Enjoyed - Gin Martini with Beaufort Vermouth

Wynndel Craft Distilleries Apricot Brandy

A delightful smooth product from apricot juice from our abundant crops of apricots in Creston Valley. Double distilled and aged in small oak barrels to maturity. We are using the solera system to improve quality and consistency.

Alcohol - 40% / 80 proof

Color - Light but deep orange

Nose - Dried apricots, autumn spice, hints of funky wood

Taste - Dry but sweet apricots, fresh and dried; subtle and balanced oak characteristics that doesn’t take away from the fruit.

Finish - A melding of fresh and dried apricots with the subtly of the oak

Best Enjoyed - Neat

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #62 - Stillhead Distillery Wild Blackberry Gin

Spring is definitely exploding and summer is just around the corner. The Stillhead Wild Blackberry Gin is the much needed addition to your Pimm's Cup. Fresh ripe berries on the nose but balanced dry gin notes with ginger and citrus spice and the richness of the berries on the palate. Must have summer purchase.

Alcohol - 36% / 72 proof

Color - Deep but translucent blackberry purple

Nose - Fresh ripe blackberries, light hints of juniper and citrus

Taste - Surprisingly gin forward with hints of juniper, citrus and spicy sweet ginger then balanced and deep blackberries follow through in the finish

Finish - Fresh blackberries with woody juniper and dusty gin

Best Enjoyed - Slide it into your Pimm’s Cup equal parts this and Pimm’s

Wynndel Craft Distilleries Cape Brandy

One of a kind South African recipe, top secret! Aged to perfection in oak barrels, using the solera system to improve quality and consistency!

Alcohol - 40% / 80 proof

Color - Dark burnt copper

Nose - Deep nose of caramel and vanilla oak, hints of stewed fruit, plums and stone fruit.

Taste - Sweeter than the traditional styles in BC, very fruity sweet, plums, apricots, with rich undertones of oak, vanilla and caramel

Finish - Hints of sweet fruit with a back bone of vanilla and caramel, round and big

Best Enjoyed - Neat

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #61 - Liberty Distillery Trust Whiskey Madeira

A retribution episode, after tasting this a few months ago; I realized I didn’t give the The Liberty Distillery Trust Whiskey Madeira enough credit. This is a very interesting single grain, single cask. 100% unmalted barley, triple distilled and aged for a bit over three years in a 220L Madeira cask. Grain forward flavor profile with spicy notes from the Madeira along with the addition of “old” wood. Out of stock at the distillery but available at Vessel Liquor still. 

Alcohol - 42% / 84 proof

Color - Light golden yellow

Nose - Compact barley, bright citrusy oak and a hint of spice

Taste - Youthful barley, floral notes of violets or rose, then comes the madeira concentration of spice and deep notes of toffee and vanilla

Finish - Bright and citrusy barley, subtle oak and hints of the madeira

Best Enjoyed - Neat

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" #60 - Okanagan Spirits Cherry Liqueur

Cherry is a love hate flavor but the Okanagan Spirits Cherry Liqueur gives you rich, deep sweet cherries complimented by an almost pastry like combination of vanilla and spice. Sub this for cherry herring everyday of the week.

Alcohol - 24% / 48 proof

Color - Dark red with pink edges

Nose - Cherry pie, filling and pastry

Taste - Fresh and stewed cherry pie filling with hints of that pastry. Good acidity

Finish - Sweet but balanced with acidity, long and fruity with a hint of cloying sweet

Best Enjoyed - Hit this up in a Blood and Sand, think it’s a great balance for the orange juice

Arbutus Distillery Grand Visco

A Vancouver Island aromatic grape brandy aged lightly in ex bourbon barrels, Arbutus take on the classic piscos from South America

Alcohol - 43% / 86 proof

Color - Light wheat gold

Nose - Definite aromatic grape on the nose, similar to a gewurztraminer with hints of vanilla and oak

Taste - Complex floral and fruit, grape leaf, lavender and violets, hints of oak and vanilla

Finish - Very aromatic finish, hints of floral but overall, rich grape notes

Best Enjoyed - Rock this out in a Pisco Sour

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #59 - Arbutus Distillery Barrel Aged Baba Yaga

I know I said I was going back to basics yesterday but this has been on my desk and I needed to try it. Arbutus Distillery is already famous for their Baba Yaga Absinthe, and their barrel aged just takes in up a notch. Rich anise, root beer and licorice is balanced with the spicy and smoke of the barrel. Must have.

Alcohol - 56% / 112 proof

Color - Deep green with copper orange hues

Nose - Sweet licorice, star anise and herbal undertones

Taste - Sweet root beer notes are complimented by star anise and licorice and spicy smoke from the barrel

Finish - Sweet licorice, earthy star anise and long notes or herbal smoke

Best Enjoyed - `1 part absinthe to 4 parts water

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #58 - Montis Distilling Alpine Gin

Wanted to take it back to the basics today with this fantastic gin from Montis Distilling, the only distillery in Whistler. Coniferous pine, resiny juniper and a fruity sweetness on the palate. This is a great versatile gin to try in your favorite cocktail.

Alcohol - 45% / 90 proof

Color - Clear

Nose - Coniferous high notes with resinous sap, hints of citrus and a light look into the base spirit

Taste - The base spirit hits you first, then a unique fruit sweetness, maybe stone fruit or pear then the juniper in the form of coniferous and light citrus notes

Finish - Clean, bright citrus notes and fir tips

Best Enjoyed - This is a perfect sub for traditional macro produced gins

BC Spirits "Spirit a Day" #57 - Woods Spirit Co. Amaro

The great Campari shortage of the mid 2010’s saw the creation of this BC craft substitute from Wood's Spirit Co. Grapefruit and Rhubarb forward with nice twangy bitterness. Get your favorite BC gin, this and Esquimalt Wine Co. Rosso and you are set for a tasty BC Negroni.

Alcohol - 28% / 56 proof

Color - Bright watermelon red

Nose - Bitter orange peel, grapefruit pith and fresh rhubarb

Taste - Bright notes of rhubarb, bitter orange peel and fresh grapefruit pith, hints of funky grand fir, all with balanced sweetness

Finish - Dry grapefruit pith with fresh sweet rhubarb and a definite bitter twang

Best Enjoyed - BC Negroni - Your favorite gin, this and Esquimalt Wine Co. Rosso