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

Episode #18 - Clay Potter from Moon Under Water

Had a great chat with Clay Potter from Moon Under Water about his love of beer, the need to distil interesting spirits and his plan for whisky in the near future. If you have missed the episodes on the Shiso Vodkas, head over to YouTube to check them out. 

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

Review #46 - Brandy Part 2

I go back to one of my favorite categories along with tasting some brand new, never tasted brandies from Wynndel Craft Distilleries out of Creston Valley along with the Narrative Single Cask from Okanagan Crush Pad and the Grand Visco from Arbutus Distillery.

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

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

Strait and Narrow Pear Rhubarb

Refreshing and flavourful. Made with a custom handcrafted gin distilled with rhubarb harvested from a farm in the Fraser Valley.

Alcohol - 5% / 10 proof

Color -Very light yellow

Nose - Very light pear and rhubarb

Taste - Very light pear, twang of rhubarb and then the citrusy aromatics of the gin follow through

Finish - Aromatic rhubarb and pear skin with hints of the gin

Best Enjoyed - Kayaking on the lake

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

Strait and Narrow Grapefruit Rosemary

Aromatic, fresh, and made with a custom handcrafted gin distilled with rosemary sourced from Ravenhill Herb Farm on Vancouver Island.

Alcohol - 5% / 10 proof

Color -Light pink

Nose - Grapefruit peel, fresh garden rosemary

Taste - Floral Rosemary forward, with pithy grapefruit following with the gin in the background holding everything together

Finish - Grapefruit pith and rosemary garden

Best Enjoyed - On your back deck

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

Strait and Narrow Lemon Lavender

Fragrant, zesty, and made with a custom handcrafted gin distilled with lavender from Ravenhill Herb Farm on Vancouver Island.

Alcohol - 5% / 10 proof

Color - Light yellow

Nose - Bright citrus with hints of lavender

Taste - Definitely get the gin to start, then bright lemon peel and hints of juice with the fresh floral lavender

Finish - Refreshing lemon peel with hints of lavender

Best Enjoyed - Beside a West Coast beach

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

Episode #17 - Josh McLafferty from Monashee Spirits

I have seen and chatted to Josh at trade tastings etc. but never got to the crux of his passion and I am really glad I did. This is a really deep dive, figuratively speaking into his background into his passion and WHY; which is so important in this game. Great hyperlocal distillery, amazing cocktail bar and a defined direction on how they do everything. 

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

Review #46 - RTDs Part 2

An interesting episode this week as we delve into RTD's again but specifically the new brand Strait and Narrow canned gin cocktails produced at Victoria Distillers. Great flavors and perfect for the West Coast outdoor living.

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

Kir Royale Off - Odd Society Creme de Cassis

Our crème de cassis is based on the secret recipe of our dear friend and Odd Society fellow, master Chef Hervé Martin.

Once the personal chef to the Late King Leopold III of Belgium and a chef in two Michelin 3 star restaurants in France and Switzerland, Hervé has criss-crossed the globe setting up award-winning restaurants where he treated his most loyal guests to gifts of his homemade crème de cassis.

Alcohol - 23% / 46 proof

Color - Deep purple

Nose - Stewed Blackcurrant, hints of floral notes

Taste -Rich and sticky blackcurrant, hints of vanilla and violets, just a twang of acidity in the finish

Finish - Strong, sweet blackcurrant that sticks to you tongue

Best Enjoyed - Let me think? Kir Royale.

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