June Spirits:
Fire & Ice
Anyone that has been around a Culinaire meeting would know that we both frequently have different ideas and different approaches for any number of topics. Which brings us to our June spirit picks. To oversimplify our choices this month, we are evenly split between whiskies and gin. Call it “fire & ice” if you wish, but we have some excellent spirits that show exceedingly well by the fire, and some that refresh like no other as a clean cocktail – with a little ice. Enjoy!
McLoughlin & Steele Canadian Rye Whisky, British Columbia, Canada
Always love to see what is coming from distillers, and this one is blended by Orchard City Distilling in Kelowna. Not quite sure who is the distiller, but in many cases, the skills going into the final blend and any additional aging or barrel treatment can be just as important as the base product. Clean citrus and cereal notes with lighter spice, and restrained barrel notes move into a flavour profile that has some heat on the mid palate, but also a lighter expression too. Very easy to enjoy neat or on the rocks.
CSPC 751618 $50-55
Bridgeland Distillery Taber Corn Berbon Whisky 101 Proof, Alberta, Canada
Any Albertan should be aware of Taber Corn (and love it!) so it’s a natural progression to see this “Berbon” utilizing it, and who better than Calgary’s Bridgeland Distillery? Bourbon, of course has to be made in the USA, so “Berbon” isn’t a typo. Rich and sweet aromas on the nose with hints of wax, honey, and vanilla and so much more. On the palate, that 101 makes for some burn, but it’s honestly a fine bottle in its own right, or for transitioning to a well made, local alternative.
Distillery and select merchants $55-60
Palisson Batch 01 Single Malt Whisky, France
Delightfully French through and through, double distilled, then aged in Limousin oak barrels that were used to age cognac. So, no sherry or bourbon casks to speak of. Deep and earthy on the nose with subtle, pears and grapes, tar, and honey aromas underneath. Brassy and bold on the start with excellent textures, and an almost tannic grippiness holding up some malty flavour. Best enjoyed neat, but a splash of water does open it up a bit more.
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CSPC 893651 $80-85
Hendrick’s Oasium, Scotland
Here we go… Hendrick’s have released their latest Cabinet of Curiosities – limited releases where master distiller Lesley Gracie gets creative, building on the distinctive rose and cucumber flavours of Hendrick’s Gin – and for Oasium, she’s in the desert and using an oasis for inspiration. Boy oh boy, this is one flavourful and intense gin! Easily apparent are recognizable flavours of sweet lemon, melon, a hint of grapefruit, some green herbs, and… is that papaya or passionfruit we detect? Of course it’s good with tonic but get the martini glasses out for me (oh, and one green olive, thanks!)!
CSPC 121831 Around $65
Height of Arrows Gin, Holyrood Distillery, Scotland
It may be distilled in Scotland, but its heart is Canadian. Founded by Calgarians Rob and Kelly Carpenter, Holyrood Distillery is known for whisky, but their Height of Arrows gin (the furthest distance an archer could fire an arrow – literally, aiming higher and breaking boundaries) has had a beautiful facelift! Now this lovely, layered gin made from a barley spirit distilled with juniper, sea salt, and natural beeswax, comes in a gorgeous sea-glass green bottle.
CSPC 877100 $59-68 700 mL
Winestillery London Dry Gin, Italy
So here’s a thing – the first (and only) independent craft distillery (and part of the Chioccioli winery) in Gaiole in Chianti, in the heart of the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany. There can’t be too many gins distilled from sangiovese grapes using Tuscan botanicals either! Cardamon is evident, followed by orange peel and rosemary; and as a London Dry, it can’t be sweetened, so we get to enjoy the mouth-coating viscosity and pure herbal qualities of this unique gin.
CSPC 111705 $83 700 mL