Spirit of Toronto
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

The recent Spirit of Toronto is, by far, the best annual whisky based event that just gets bigger and better every year.  It’s also a good time to think of planning for those Dad’s who like a good whisky, either an old faithful or a new taste experience. Organizer and event creator Johanna Ngoh’s own book debuted this year at the event. In fact, this would make a great Father’s Day gift along with a bottle of whisky.

Single Minded 2013, a modest guide to really good whisky is her compendium of sharp shooting facts and witty banter, designed to bring the whiskies that she prizes for everyday sipping into clearly enjoyable focus. We aren’t dealing with the scientific tasting notes of white coats in a lab, but real mood focused pleasure on what makes a well priced whisky work. While it was impossible to sample everything at the event, here are some tasting highlights that would be good for gift giving for dear old Dad.

Benromach 10 Year Old, Scotland $75.00 #191817
From the smallest Speyside distillery, this sherried gold malt delivers smoky sweet marmalade aromas leading to creamy orange infused chocolate and cinnamon spiced flavors carrying into a long lasting, satisfying finish. 93 PN

Allt a Bhainne, 1996  #303156 $99.95
This makes for a pleasing, lighter aperitif style single. It’s a light gold malt from central Speyside, with floral honey and apple freshness. Mouth filling fruitiness and peppery spices lead into the finish of this malt, classically used for blending into the famed Chivas Regal blended scotch.  While it’s a bit pricier than the blend, it might be interesting to see if Dad appreciates a dram that he might usually consume in a blend. 88 PN

The Glenrothes Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 750mL, #307579, $199.95
Rich amber with enticing, spicy fruitcake and molasses aromas. Explosive clove, ginger and cinnamon in a big finish with quite a masculine edge to it. The Glenrothes malts tend to be on the pricier side, but many of the special bottling do have an age designation. 93 PN

And…it’s always nice to taste the latest expression of Glenfiddich.
The Glenfiddich Distillery Edition 15 Years Old 750 ml #291773, $74.95
Orange -gold with fruity orange peel and chocolate aromas, this is a weighty, rounded, voluptuous malt with gingery, cinnamon, clove spiced flavour and bitter chocolate carrying into the  finish. Luscious stuff. 93 PN

In time for Father’s day, Glenfiddich has announced that $2 donation from every bottle of Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Solera sold throughout 2013 and beyond will benefit Wounded Warriors Canada, a charity dedicated to the needs of returning Canadian soldiers and their families.
Lot No. 40 Single Copper Pot Still Canadian Whiskey, 750mL, #291468, $39.90
Lovely aromas of spiced apple and dried fruit with a vanilla-butterscotch edge to this full flavoured rye pot still offering.   From Master Blender Michael Booth. 90 PN

Chivas Brothers Blend 12 Year Old Scotch Whisky,1000 ml, #315325, $38.90
A bright gold dram with aromas of pear, vanilla and lemon cream. Racy on the palate with a smoke spiced finish. Always a dependable blended whisky and good value. 93 PN

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Spirits Update - April 2013
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver, 750mL $36.60, +308387
Lemon peel with herbaceous, green peppery notes, a silky mouthfeel and refreshing bite. Typical herbaceous flavor replays into a fiery finish.

Gran Centenario Reposado, 750mL $46.95, +320333
Pale gold with faint vanilla aromas and delicate herbaceous lemon pepper notes leading into a silky spirit with a fiery oak spiced finish. 89 PN

St Remy Reserve Privee,750mL $39.95, +313288
This brandy is an intense burnished buckwheat colour. Loads of butterscotch vanilla, dried fig, orange marmalade, honeyed flavours with intense cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon oak spice in a velvety delivery. Seems more like an Armagnac…93 PN

St Remy VSOP (Pet), 1750mL $56.95, +309773
Amber gold, dried plummy fruit, cherries, citrus…nice fruitcake mix.  Smooth with fruity-vanilla replays into the finish.  89 PN

Marie Duffau Bas Armagnac Napoleon, 750mL $43.75, +313304
Burnished amber, full fruity butterscotch spirit with equivalent fruit spiced flavor through and through. Lengthy finish. Great value. 91 PN

Papidoux Calvados, 700mL $39.95, +319756
 Orange flecked gold with classic apple cider notes along with ripe pear. Silky and light with a fiery ginger and cinnamon spiced finish. 89  PN 

Canadian Club Reserve, 1750mL $58.70, +312009
Coppery-gold, apple-pear, corn husk and vanilla complexity. Creamy smooth with a big nutmeg spiced finish. ** 89 PN

Woodford Reserve New And Aged 2 X 375 Ml, 750mL $139.95, +306795
The spirit in the new oak is a deep russet with plumy, nutty, pecan, butterscotch vanilla  and new sawn oak. Oily, mouth filling and explosive spice with that intensity carrying into a big ol finish. 91 PN

 Old Forester Birthday Bottle, 750mL $69.95, +321349
Russet, with nice clean corn husk, vanilla perfumed sweetness. Silky, racy, pecan and oak spice into a lean, dry finish. 89 PN

Old Charter 10 Year Old Bourbon, 750mL, $34.20, +307702
Gold with vanilla, corn syrup and honeyed pear. Oaky with taught nutmeg and spice cabinet delivery. Long finish and good value for the bucks. 88 PN

Jack Daniel's White Rabbit Saloon, 750mL, $32.90, +323873
Deep amber with vanilla, maple and nutty sweetness to the nose. Full flavours with a ginger and minty spiced finish.   88 PN

Nikka Pure Malt Black, 500mL $72.80, +307603
Amber spirit, slightly medicinal yet fruity malt with honeyed citrus and pear on the nose. Silky on the palate with well integrated oak spice. 88 PN 

Penderyn 41 Portwood Finish Welsh Whisky, 700mL $69.90, +307595
Lovely rose colour with fruity raspberries and oak spice on the nose. Velvety and luscious with fruity and spice melding with dark chocolate into a dry spiced finish. Much more improved from what I can remember from a previous tasting. Cask selection is so important, and this time around, it’s much better. 91 PN 

The South Island Single Malt 18yo, 750mL $99.00, +307801
Delicate iodine notes with honeyed lemon biscuit, developing into floral lily-of-the-valley beauty.
Gingery drying spice finish this firm malty dram from New Zealand. 90 PN

Glengoyne 12 yo Highland Scotch , 700mL $62.55, +180166
Orange flecked gold, citrus honey spice nose with a voluptuous mouth filling weight. Apple and spice replays into the finish. 89 PN

Caol Ila 12 Year Old Islay Single Malt, 750mL $79.95, +602029
Palest gold, smoke, peat, pear and honey cake. On the palate, silky spiced fruitcake elegance. Replays of intense cloves and ginger into a lengthy finish. 95 PN

The Glenrothes Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 750mL $199.95, +307579
Rich amber with enticing spicy fruitcake and molasses aromas. Explosive clove, ginger and cinnamon in a big finish with quite a masculine edge to it.  93 PN

Connemara Cask Strength Single Malt (Cooley) 700mL $96.70, +91340
Pale straw, mild lemon, smoke and vanilla perfume. Big, mouth filling weightiness, from this 57.9 % cask strength Irish malt. Velvety fruity, spice integration of clove, nutmeg, cinnamon spices and even licorice notes into the extended finish. Excellent value. 90 PN

Connemara Turf Mor, 700mL $86.70, +315317
This reminds me of my grandfather’s kitchen in County Cork, with the warming, hearth aromas of peat moss briquettes! Velvety fruitcake and Dubbin boot polish smokiness adds to the flavour replays carrying into the spiced finish. Big ABV at 58.2%!!  91 PN

Mount Gay Eclipse Silver, 750mL $28.95, +318667
Clear, clean and slight banana tinged sugar cane nose.  Light delivery, clean, racey finish.88 PN

Plantation Grande Reserve, 750mL $24.45, 318612
Nice gold rum, with coconut vanilla, candied orange peel and peachy aromas. A perception of fruity sweetness on the palate and fruit flavor replays including lemon and vanilla bean infused sugar into a velvety finish. 89 PN 

Seve By Gautier, 500mL $39.95, +313312
Gold liqueur with fruity floral aromas, spice tea. Creamy with citrus cream biscuit and vanilla flavours. * 89 PN

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Spirits Update - March 2013
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

Skinnygirl Bare Naked Vodka, 750ml, $29.05, +312983
Clear, clean, soft, basic. The bottle advertises 40 calories, but doing the math, that’s based on a 25 ml shot. Add the fact that you are paying extra for 30% ABV and this just makes your wallet skinny! 84 PN

Stradivarius Fine Moscato Grappa, 700mL$29.95, +317248
Clear, sweaty, delicate orange peel aromas with hints of pepper on the palate in a soft creamy delivery. Long, lightly spiced finish. 89 PN 

Stock 84 Vsop Brandy, 750mL, $23.90, +4481
Amber fruity, orange peel, very faint vanilla. Fiery on the palate, with lots of peppery heat. 84 PN 

Buton Vecchia Romagna Brandy, 750mL $24.40, +286807
Burnt amber with a light, dried citrus peel. Silky, racy mouth feel with a raisin peppery spiced finish. 85 PN 

St Remy Brandy, 750mL, $23.95, +8888
Amber gold, dried plummy fruit, cherries, citrus…nice fruitcake mix.  Smooth with fruity-vanilla replays into the finish.  89 PN

E&J XO Brandy, 750mL, $24.95, +314286
Buckwheat colour, with a grapey aroma, some citrus peel, grapey flavor replays, smooth but a drying, vanilla bitterness in the finish.  84 PN

Hennessy Vs Cognac W/Flask, 200mL, $19.40, +146498
Brilliant amber, vanilla, orange peel aromas, racy and peppery spice on the palate
Lively oak spiced finish.  90 PN

285957, Damblat Armagnac 10 Year Napoleon, 700ml, $71.65 +285957
Nutty dark gold, almost brown, which isn’t what I usually expect from, even an aged Armagnac.
Plummy, peel, butterscotch aromas, but rather light mouth feel. Spicy on the palate and a drying, ginger spiced finish.  88 PN

Canadian Club Reserve, 750ml $25.95, +311977
Coppery-gold, apple-pear, corn husk and vanilla complexity. Creamy smooth with a big nutmeg spiced finish.  89 PN

Johnnie Walker Red Label, 200ml $10.95, +217984
Light gold with a slightly smoke and honeyed pear nose.
Smooth with a cinnamon, nutmeg spiced finish.  89 PN 

Chivas Brothers Blend 12 YOld Scotch Whisky, 1000mL $38.90, +315325
Bright gold dram with aromas of pear, vanilla and lemon cream. Racy on the palate with a smoke spiced finish. Always a dependable blended scotch whisky and good value. 93 PN

The Famous Jubilee, 700mL $39.95 +306878
Gold with a fruity apple-pear and faint smoke with a lighter mouth feel.  Alcoholic heat in the finish, which drops of quickly. 86 PN

Hudson Manhattan Rye Whisky, 375mL$74.95, +289421
Cereal and faint perfumed vanilla in this deeply coloured russet hued rye. Vinyl notes are perplexing. Smooth weighty mouth feel but those vexing vinyl notes come out into the otherwise cinnamon spiced finish. Although this is a small batch, labour intense product, I expect a lot more bang for the buck. 85 PN 

Hudson Baby Bourbon, 375 mL$74.95, +286500
Deep, rich mahogany with corn husk, cereal and pecan spiced aromas. Spicy with nutty sweet replays into a dry ginger spiced finish. 86 PN

Tullibardine Port Finish,700 ml $73.45, +213306
Pinkish gold with plumy aromas, faint smoke, sweetish velvety plum and dried cherry replays into a nicely oak spiced finish. 89 PN 

 Glenfiddich Cask of Dreams, 750mL $99.95, +28664
Yellow gold, perfumed dried peel, vanilla, medicinal notes, and voluptuous weight with cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger into a lengthy finish. 89 PN

Smith and Cross Traditional Jamaican Rum, 750mL $38.50, +282111
Yellow gold, with a very honeyed, almond and plum aroma , but nothing remotely like rum or sugarcane to me! Big alcohol, at 57% ABV otherwise known as Navy strength. Chocolate-cherry flavor in this, so on the surprise side of things altogether. 85 PN

The ‘Why Bother Section” aka WTF?

Skinnygirl Tangerine Vodka, 750ml, $28.95, +315887,
Smells like a bottle of over ripe tangerines, tastes like watery flavoured Tang. Why bother?

Grey Goose Cherry Noir, 750ml, $48.95, +313007
I am totally floored. Super sickly sweet, over-the-top black cherry aroma. I was too afraid to taste this. We are definitely not in Vodka country anymore, Toto. Clearly designed for entry level drinkers. I wouldn’t even let my teen drink this! He wouldn’t want to anyway…

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January 24, 2013
Robbie Burn’s Day: The Art of Living 2013
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

Robbie Burn’s day is all about the poet, the haggis and the whisky of course! And where would scotch be if it hadn’t been for the blending process? It’s wonderful to experience the diversity of the Scottish regions through a tasting glass, but when there’s a Burn’s Day party going on, then a blended scotch is a party in a glass. It gives you all the regions with a highlight of a few distinct single malts, married up with grain whisky from the Lowlands. And the master blender maintains the profile of the blend year in and year out, so the consumer always knows what to expect. Chivas 12 Year Old, for example, uses many single malts and even if they are from a ‘silent’ distillery, where production has ceased, it’s still possible to replicate the desired profile with the expert ‘nose’ of the master blender. My Burn’s Day party happened at The Gardiner Museum with a Chivas 1801 inspired event, The Art of Living. Along with cocktails, food from star chef, Jamie Kennedy and music from Grammy nominee K-OS, we sipped Chivas from all three age expressions
.
Chivas Regal 12 Year Old
A golden whisky with honey,butterscotch vanilla, grain with smooth apple cinnamon spiced finish.

Chivas 18 Year Old
Amber gold, the 18 year old sports caramel, apple, spice and a wisp of smokiness. Smooth with lovely depth of flavor, including vanilla replays, nutmeg, cinnamon and mild clove notes into the finish.

Chivas 25 Year Old
Opulent  gold with caramel, dried citrus, honeyed spice nose. Big velvety mouth feel with intense spice and baked fruitcake flavours. This is a 2007 re-launch of the original Chivas 25 Year Old from 1909!

The  award winning cocktail, by George Kaplun (Weslodge Saloon) featured at the event.

“CHIVALRY”  
Ingredients
2 oz of Chivas Regal 12 Year Old
¼ oz of Pedro Ximenez Cherry Nectar
10 drops of homemade chocolate, vanilla & walnut tincture
¼ oz of water
Applewood chips

Method
Add a few applewood chips to a mixing glass and pour in 2 oz of Chivas Regal 12 YO. Stir together to infuse the flavours. Add the sherry nectar and the drops of the chocolate, vanilla and walnut tincture, and then continue to stir. Double strain into an old fashioned glass, add a dash of water and garnish with a Hungarian oak chip. (You can also age this entire mixture for 24 hours if you wish to really infuse the flavours into the Chivas.)

Slainte

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2012 Holiday Gifting
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

Pravda Vodka Gift Package with 2 Glasses, 375mL +131565 $24.95
Clear, pristine with clean, soft barely-there citrus notes. Velvety mouth feel with a clean crisp, finish.
Michael Vaughan loved this vodka!
95 *** PN

 Jazz Vodka, 750mL +593533 $29.95
Clear, slightly alcoholic, medicinal aroma, smooth delivery with some heat in the finish.
*1/2 PN

Belvedere Red Special Edition, 750mL, +249102 $48.95
Clean, crisp, with a very smooth, voluptuous mouth feel.
A no-detour for Michael Vaughan!
** PN

Belvedere Red Metallic, 1750mL, 286872 $108.95
Clean, crisp, with a very smooth, voluptuous mouth feel.
A no-detour for Michael Vaughan!
** PN  

259432, Belvedere Pure Vodka, 1750mL $108.95
Clear with a fruity, grainy nose, velvety mouth feel and a gently spiced heat into the finish.
** PN

Courvoisier Vs Gift Pack With Snifter, 750mL +184721 $59.95
Gold with aromas of vanilla, orange peel, faint prune and spice notes of cinnamon. Fruity upfront with a youthful, spiced warming finish. Good value for a cognac gift pack.
**1/2 PN

Canadian Club Premium, 750mL +42 $24.95
Bright gold, with fruity notes of apple, pear, followed by cinnamon spice notes. Classic, solid value for sipping on its own or mixed into cocktails or for hot toddies of your choice.
**1/2 PN

Canadian Club Premium Gift Pack with 2 Glasse, 750mL +287045 $29.95
Bright gold, with fruity notes of apple, pear, followed by cinnamon spice notes. Classic, solid value for sipping on its own or mixed into cocktails or toddies of your choice.  Good value gift pack.
**1/2 PN 

Skate 750mL +265934 $49.95
Gold, with lots of vanilla notes and ripe fruit, it’s a little over the top to start up and then ends with a short, mildly spiced finish.  The skate shaped bottle has a hockey puck stand, so the bottle won’t tip over.
A no-detour for Michael Vaughan!
* 85 PN

Crown Royal W/Glasses Gift Tin 375mL +461962 $18.45
Rich amber gold with corn syrup, mild vanilla and stone fruit aromas. Very light spice notes into the finish. *1/2 PN

Crown Royal Black Hockey Canada Pack 2013, 750mL +296764 $34.95
Walnut brown with pronounced caramel aromas which replays into a smooth whisky with mild fruit and vanilla flavours. Slightly more alcoholic than the regular CR, but frankly, I find the colour off putting!
*1/2 PN

 Wiser's Deluxe W/GlassesGift Pack, 750mL +450064, $29.95
Amber with dried fruit, especially plum and orange peel, caramel aromas with a full flavoured, rounded mouth feel carrying into a cinnamon, clove spiced finish.
**1/2 PN

Centennial 10 Year Old Limited Edition Rye, 750mL +387209 $26.95
Rich gold, this ‘rye’ whiskey is a mix of wheat and rye, with an incredibly smooth delivery. Gentle spice notes into the finish.
** PN  

Lot No. 40 Single Copper Pot Still Cnd Whiskey, 750mL, 291468 $39.90
Lovely aromas of spiced apple and dried fruit with a vanilla- butterscotch edge to this full flavoured pot still offering. Michael Vaughan likes it!
**1/2 PN

Jack Daniel's Sour Mash Traveln'Tin & 2 Gls, 750mL, +248237 $34.95
Orange gold, butterscotch dominates followed by big spiced tropical fruit with drying spiced flavour.
*1/2 PN

Wild Turkey 81 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 750mL, +281824 $28.95
Charred American oak is the legality that makes bourbon so likeable. It adds that big butterscotch vanilla
and oak spiced flavor to make it last.
** PN

Jameson Irish Whiskey with Flask Gift Pack, 750mL, +600130 $35.95
Rich gold with stone fruit  and vanilla spiced aromas and flavours, it’s smooth with an elegant finish.
** PN

Disaronno with 2 Designer Glasses, 750mL, 245068 $33.75
Rich, amber hue with pronounced fruity aromas of ripe apricot, almond and spice.  Fleshy sweetness upfront with a mouth filling flavor that lasts.  This is great mixed in so many different cocktails and also added to coffee or desserts. I tried replacing the Grand Marnier in a B52 and renamed it a D 52!!
** PN

Gianduia Crema Fior DiLatte E Grappa, 500mL+604181 $24.95
Pale almond white colour with a faintly grappa like aroma, its light and smooth instead of a mouth coating cream style liqueur.
*1/2 PN

Tolon-Tolon Leche Cream W/Glasses Gift Pack, 700mL, +8464, $27.95
Milky white and mostly a butter cookie aroma. Very mild flavor and lighter creamy mouthfeel.
* PN

Dooley's Toffee Six Appeal Gift (6x50ml) 300mL +601393 $14.95
A slightly mocha coloured cream liqueur with lots of butterscotch toffee aroma and flavor.
**1/2 PN

Bailey’s Irish Cream W/Glasses Gift Pack, 750mL +643619 $32.95
Classic creamy liqueur with distinctive whisky aroma and flavour, with that wonderful creamy element which makes it great for mixing, layering or simply sipping on its’ own.
*** PN

Tequila Rose with Glasses Gift Pack, 750mL +3236 $29.95
The thing I love about tequila is that herbaceous tang. It’s lost in this Pepto-shaded cream liqueur, but as a cream liqueurs go, it tastes…well creamy. Maybe they should make this into a pie, the way they did with that old fifties classic, the Grasshopper cocktail. It could be the fitting end to a tequila themed party.
*1/2 PN

Kahlua with 2 Glasses, 750mL +286930 $29.95
Rich, chocolatey brown, brown sugar, coffee, vanilla aromas emerge. Mouth filling viscosity and sweetness, but not cloying. Nice on its own or as classic cocktail mixer.
** PN

Kahlua Cinnamon Spice, 375mL +286914 $15.95
Rich in colour and flavour like the original, but gets the wow factor with the added cinnamon kick.
**1/2 PN

Forty Creek Barrel Select w Glasses, Canada 750ml +603688 $29.95
Rich gold, with notes of corn, vanilla, sherry, and a faint nuttiness. Smooth flavours of apple, pear and baking spices…the classic trio of baking spices, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
**1/2 PN

Amrut Single Malt Whisky, India 700 ml +306803 $55.75
Yellow gold with candied lemon peel, hints of smoke and medicinal aromas reminiscent of a Highland malt. Mouth filling smoothness with flavor replays of Dubbin boot polish smokiness with a warm spiced finish. **1/2 PN

Chivas Regal 12 Year Old w/glass, Scotland,  750 ml+601344 $42.95
 A golden whisky with butterscotch, vanilla, grain with smooth spiced finish, especially cinnamon.
** PN

Islay Mist 17 year Old Scotch, Scotland, 750 ml +286581 $78.95
Orange flecked gold, the Islay Mist is a smoky, pear spiced dram with a smooth, harmonious finish. **1/2PN

The Glenlivet 12 Year Old w/2 glasses. 750 ml +287581 $49.95
A reliable Speyside malt, the honeyed fruit hints of pear and citrus and it’s quite smooth on the palate with gentle oak spice into the finish.
** PN

El Dorado 12 Year Old Gift Pack w/2 glasses 750 ml +287102 $39.95
A lovely russet coloured rum , El Dorado has aromas of burnt demerara, banana, orange peel and spice with fruity spice flavours leading into a balanced spicy finish.
***1/2 PN

Trader Vic’s Roasted Chestnut Liqueur 750 ml +285924  $29.95
Rich brown with nutty sweetness and a syrupy viscosity, the alcohol is more pronounced than the actual nutty flavor in the finish.
* PN

Forty Creek Cream Liquor 750 ml +281378 $28.95
Creamy mocha colour, this tastes like a cream filled chocolate!
*1/2 PN

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Hotel Bar Hopping
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

I’ve always loved a well put together hotel bar. Sure, the cocktails can be pretty expensive but sometimes it’s all about treating yourself to that plush, elegant service experience. It’s almost like fooling your brain into thinking you’re on vacation. In fact, it’s like taking a mini vacation. Think of all the mini-vacations you have to choose from, starting with just these two hotel bars…

Toronto’s Tundra, at the Hilton, is expansive, earthy and modern. Manager Rob Galbraith has just launched a new selection of cocktails and they include the Tundra Manhattan and the Celtic Scarf. The Manhattan is interesting because they’ve traded up the red vermouth used in a traditional Manhattan and use Taylor Fladgate Late Bottled Vintage Port instead, plus a dash of maple syrup. The Celtic Scarf is actually a beer cocktail Rob added Drambuie and Southern Comfort to a sleeve of Guinness. Unusual, delicious and different…

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Drink like a Star at The Drake Hotel
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

OK, it’s TIFF time so you know that means parties. And parties mean cocktails.
The Drake came up with a movie star themed cocktail list with stellar ingredients; from classic spirits like Hennessey Black, Green Chartreuse,  Gordon’s Gin and Bourbon to Sailor Jerry Rum, these cocktails were created by bar staff and they came up with a slew of interesting names to boot.  James Dean, Dennis Hopper, Marlon Brando, to name a few…but the only female movie star drink that was on the list was The Brigitte Bardot, created by Tabytha Towe. While the cocktail looks pretty ‘blonde’, it sure packed serious bombshell flavor. ( Plus, no animals were harmed in the production of this drink!)

The Brigitte Bardot
Ingredients
1 oz Hennessy Black cognac
1 oz Drambuie
¼ oz Green Chartreuse
¼ oz fresh lemon juice
½  tsp of grated ginger
Candied ginger and lemon zest for garnish

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Jump Up Canadian Caribbean Punch with a Twist
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

Demerara Distillers Limited of Guyana, the representative of El Dorado Rum, is proud to be the “Official Rum of the 2012 Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Toronto”.

If you’ve ever baked with Demerara brown sugar from Guyana, you’ll probably never go back to using any other brown sugar. With depth of flavour and aroma, it’s no wonder that Demerara rum, like the El Dorado 12 year old, is the best selling Deluxe Amber rum available at the LCBO. But for a great deal and also, for mixed drinks, but I suggest that you stick to the El Dorado 5 Year Old Rum!

This is the drink concocted to showcase the official rum for this years’ Caribbean Carnival.

“CANABBEAN” PUNCH

Fill a highball glass with ice followed by the ingredients.

2oz (59ml) El Dorado 5 Year Old Rum
½oz (15ml) maple syrup
½oz (15ml) grapefruit juice
½oz (15ml) Triple Sec
3oz (29ml) pineapple juice

Top with Ginger Ale. Garnish with slices of orange and grapefruit.

Rum Tasting Notes

El Dorado Cask Aged 5 Year Old Rum
Burnished gold rum with brown sugar, vanilla creme brulee and dried peel aromas. Sweet tropical fruit flavours of tangerine, pineapple, lime peel and classic rum flavor from the Demerara molasses. Lovely mouth filling weight with a mix of baking spice flavours like clove, nutmeg and ginger into the finish.  PN **1/2 out of 3 stars

El Dorado Deluxe Silver Aged 6 Years
Palest straw, this oak aged ‘white gold’ rum is almost clear due to the double filtration by the master distiller. Hints of banana and vanilla cream open up to a slight sweetness up front with essential oil flavours of lime and grapefruit filling the palate. The mouth feel is quite velvety smooth, almost creamy, with lingering flavours of fruit and gentle oak spice flavours into the finish. PN ***
The El Dorado Deluxe Silver is great in a mojito, but also  mixed with tonic and lime on the rocks for easy summer refreshment!

Cheers!

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Cocktails with a Fallsview
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

Windows by Jamie Kennedy is the most recent restaurant opening at The Sheraton Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls. And, the JK culinary touch extends even to the cocktails. The farm-to-table concept that’s a J.K. motto is as simple and elegant as finishing classic cocktails like a Martini or a Kir Royale with signature house made syrups to add that special touch. I was able to sample the most luscious, aromatic strawberry and rhubarb syrups used in the JK Martini, mixed up by the sommelier and barman, Tony Alfarano.

J.K. Martini
Strawberry Rhubarb

Chill martini glass
Add ice to cocktail shaker
2-1/2oz vodka
3/4oz house made strawberry syrup
3/4oz house made rhubarb syrup
Shake and strain into chilled martini glass
Garnish with a fresh or preserved strawberry

J.K. Kir Royal

Chill flute glass
Fill glass with 5oz Ontario sparkling wine
Add 1/2oz house made Cassis

Cheers!

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ST PATRICK’S DAY SIPPERS
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

It’s that special time of year again, when Guinness sales go wild and any bar or pub tries to capitalize and go ‘Irish’ for a day. Can’t blame them though…

Of course there are all kinds of other libations and naturally, the original uisce beatha, (Irish, for water of life) that helps with all the hoopla. Thank God for those wandering Irish monks who learned the art of distillation and brought their knowledge back to the Emerald Isle and Europe.
While it’s easy to go for the usual suspects like Jameson’s and Bushmills in the sipping department, it is a special day so please consider some of these other gems.

GREENORE 8 YEARS OLD SINGLE GRAIN IRISH WHISKEY (Cooley Distillery)
CSPC #27953, 700 mL, $58.95
Soft, placid gold, this single grain spirit sports sweet vanilla cream with lemon rind aromas. Silky smooth mid weight with gentle spice flavours. The aromatic development moves forward with notes of maple sugar and harmonizes into an elegant sipper. **PN

CONNEMARA PEATED SINGLE MALT IRISH WHISKEY (Cooley Distillery)
CSPC #27946, 700 mL, $55.95
A richer gold with orange glints, the smoky iodine aromas give way to perfumed orange peel with hints of vanilla. Lush on the palate with vibrant lemon-pepper spice flavours sews this malt up nicely. Smooth long lasting finish. ***PN

CONNEMARA CASK STRENGTH PEATED SINGLE MALT (Cooley Distillery)
CSPC #913400, 700 mL, $99.95
Pale straw, the cask strength aromas are subtle smoke and vanilla perfume. Big, mouth filling weightiness, with clove, nutmeg, cinnamon spice and even licorice notes into the extended finish. That’s excellent value for this cask strength sipper, which clocks in at 57.9% ABV. ***PN

INISHOWEN IRISH WHISKEY
CSPC #656017, 700 mL, $34.95
This is a bright gold coloured whiskey with subdued vanilla, honey and notes of corn syrup. Medium weight with a seamless, even finish. *1/2PN

'GREEN SPOT' IRISH WHISKEY (Mitchell & Son)
CSPC #699827, 700 mL, $84.95
Yellow gold, vanilla notes with grassy notes, corn syrup. Velvety, mouth filling whiskey with a gingery, crisp clean finish, a nice counterpoint to the initial vanilla-lemon cake aromas and flavours. **1/2 PN

Slainte!

* * *
Robbie Burn’s Night at Quinn’s
with the Bowmore Collection
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

Like wine snobs, there are also whisky snobs. They’re the ones who say to drink your malts neat and don’t ever mix them with anything else. That’s what blended whiskies are for…
Well, I like to think of Hugh Johnson when the need to argue arises. Johnson‘s famed one liner was, “Have what you want with what you want.” I know that it was a reference to food and wine but I like to think of it in conjunction with whisky as well.

The Burn’s Night Dinner, held at Quinn’s Steakhouse in Toronto, the pairings were obviously whisky with food and to delicious effect. Guest speaker was Jamie MacKenzie, the eloquent master distiller from the Bowmore group. He addressed each of the four single malts that were paired with each course - two Islay selections from the famed Bowmore Distillery and two Lowland malts from Auchentoshan. Chef Paul Pisa produced an excellent Burns-inspired multi-course dinner. Getting back to Johnson, the thing that made these whiskies pair with the different courses lay not only in the selection, but by ‘liberating’ the malts with a little water allowing them to develop in the tasting glass and work more effectively with the food (at least for some).

The Tasting

Auchentoshan 1999 Bordeaux Cask Matured (254987 - $78.95)
Pinkish gold with delicate fruity notes, vanilla cream biscuits, cocoa and slightly oxidative wine notes from the cask. On the palate, the malt is smooth with clove spice character leading into a lengthy finish.

This is an obvious superb match paired with a Scottish smoked salmon; quite fabulous with the house made walnut bread.

Auchentoshan Three Wood (720532 - $76.95 A Best Buy)
Rich gold with dried fruit aromas of orange peel, raisins, dried plums. Quite plummy, spiced malt with a fruity big oak-spiced finish.

After the haggis was ‘addressed’ by Jamie MacKenzie, we had a very modern presentation of ‘tatties, neeps and haggis’. Chef Paul plated a small scoop of each, allowing us room for the next course

Bowmore Islay 15 Years Old Darkest (503649 - $89.95)
Amber gold malt with oily, rich, dark bitter chocolate-vanilla smoke aromas.  Spicy with smoky Dubbin boot polish replays on the palate. Gentle fruitiness into the sophisticated sherry finish.

The lamb-filled Cornish pastry arrived with a striking grilled pear, in my view, a perfect fruity match for the whisky. As well, the spiced lamb filling wasn’t overpowered at all by the malt, but rather stood up to the spice components of the wood.

Bowmore Islay 18 Years Old (250399 - $116.35)
Mahogany malt, delicate smoke, vanilla, cocoa with creamy texture and smoky, bitter chocolate and ripe cherries on the palate. Delicious, lingering finish.

An incredibly dense and rich chocolate whisky cake was the finale. I’m not exactly sure how to say amen in Gaelic so I’ll just end with ‘Slainte’!

******
And one more thing, in the theme of Scottish drams, here are three well-priced malts from McClelland’s, which is owned by Bowmore.

McClelland’s Speyside Malt (572227 - $33.10 with 20 bonus airmiles until February 25)
Gold, fruity and perfumed with gentle vanilla and spice notes. Smooth with spice cabinet flavours, especially freshly grated nutmeg.  It’s very feminine and elegant. A Best Buy!

McClelland’s Highland (259333- $32.60)
Rich gold whisky with butterscotch, shortbread, heathery honey floral aromas.  Tropical fruit with candied orange peel flavours and spice carrying into a smoked spice finish with this malt. Good value
.
McClelland’s Islay (404160 - $33.15 with 20 bonus airmiles until February 25)
Golden malt with Dubbin boot polish, iodine, peaty burnt smoke with similar flavor replays and a fiery spice clove flavor, which softens into the finish. 

* * *
Wiser’s Legacy: A Whisky to Remember
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

I grew up in a Wiser’s Deluxe Whisky household. My Dad, always appreciative of a good Irish whiskey, (being from County Cork, Ireland) became staunchly loyal to his adopted country and the talk was always  about how great the value was and how smooth it made everything else go down, conversation included.

 At special times of year, Dad cracks the Wiser’s 18 Year Old and who can blame him? At ageing times equivalent to XO cognacs without the bling price tags, we always know we’re getting a great buy.

The most recent whisky in the portfolio to re-launch is J.P. Wiser’s Final Recipe, Wiser’s Legacy. With a higher proportion of rye grain in the blend, complex flavours are due to the use of both malted and unmalted rye.  The rye is malted by letting it just start to sprout, and then drying it to stop the growth. Malted rye not only boosts the floral notes in whisky, it also emphasizes a range baking spice flavor elements;  cloves, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Malting rye grain is a costly step in the whisky making process but the flavours are well worth the final effort.

Wiser’s Legacy
An amber gold whisky with butterscotch, vanilla, baked apple and cinnamon following with a velvety smooth, voluptuous texture. Flavours range from toffee to apple and loads of spice elements from the rye, carrying the whisky through from start to finish. PN**1/2  $49.95

Wiser’s Small Batch
Orange highlights the gold while this whisky offers up vanilla toffee, cinnamon and apple aromas and flavours. Slightly racy on the palate with classic baking spices; cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and mace give a drying finish. PN ** $29.95

Wiser’s Deluxe
Vanilla butterscotch leads to apple-pear aromas in this gold whisky. Spicy caramel, with an oily mouthfeel carry the baking spice and peppery flavours into the finish. An all around good value sipper. PN** $25.95

At The Harbord Room in Toronto, co-owner Dave Mitton aka ‘Mitty’, came up with a new cocktail, the Pear Cinnamon Sour, which really isn’t a sour, but it looks like one. His other twist came out with a wonderful rendition on a Vieux Carré using Wiser’s Legacy.

Wiser’s Legacy Cocktails by Dave Mitton

Pear & Cinnamon Sour
(Michael Vaughan loves it and calles it a Legacy Pearlicious)

Recipe:         
1.5 oz Wiser's Legacy
1.5 oz Fresh Pear Juice
.75 oz Cinnamon Syrup
1 Egg White
Dash of Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters
Hard ice cubes
Garnish: Freshly grated nutmeg

Method:        
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, dry shake for about one minute.Then add ice to shaker and shake until well blended and fine strain into an Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.

Vieux Carré

Recipe:         
1 oz Wiser’s Legacy
1 oz Martell cognac
1 oz Carpano Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth
Teaspoon of Benedictine
2 dashes of Peychaud’s bitters
2 dashes of Angostura bitters

Garnish: lemon zest

Method:        
Stir all the ingredients over ice and strain into ice filled Old Fashioned glass.
Garnish with lemon zest.

Cheers!

* * *
Bangkok Garden- The Sparkling Hibiscus Flower
October 8, 2011
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

I’ve always countered that sparkling wine can go with almost anything. At a recent event, I tested my theory quite happily, with some of the best Thai dishes from Toronto’s first Thai restaurant, Bangkok Garden. Typically, the easy route for Pacific Rim cuisine is a beer or perhaps an off dry white or fruit forward reds. At Bangkok Garden, the champagne style cocktail served is a visual delight.  The Sparkling Hibiscus Flower cocktail is made using a wild hibiscus flower sourced from Australia. When I asked where to purchase them, Shawn Rusich, who arranged the food and wine pairing event that evening, said I could find them at Pusateri’s, that fabulous  specialty food market with several locations in Toronto.
 The hibiscus is placed into the bottom of the glass and the syrup it’s preserved in colours and flavours the drink after it’s topped up with sparkling wine.  The slightly sweet sparkler is a great match to offset spicy food, and it’s a great conversation piece too.  The dead-easy factor in drink making is ideal for anyone who wants to make a fabulous cocktail to impress guests, but with a minimum of fuss. Other interesting cocktails and cooking preparations for the wild hibiscus flower can be found at www.wildhibiscus.com.

* * *
Labour Day reading with drinks added!
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

Summer is winding down and with Labour Day approaching, it doesn’t get any better when you have a good book, a free afternoon and a cool drink. I must admit, my preferred drink was lemonade with Nancy Drew mysteries in grade two, but I’ve been grown up for quite some time so I like to add different cocktails to match my reading material. My latest page turner was Christine Sismondo’s historically fascinating look at the political significance of bars, taverns and saloons in her recently launched book, America Walks into a Bar.The chapters define the times explored in this mind boggling compendium of historic boozy-political lore; Sismondo’s book really does give a lot more weight to the relevance of the ‘three martini lunch’ and how many politically loaded changes came about in the aforementioned bars and speakeasies of the good old USA. While at the book launch, Sismondo’s recommended choices of historic beverages were classics from the emerging cocktail era of the 1800’s. I chose the Martinez for a step into the past, and also because it is, in my humble opinion, the precursor to the martini of the 20th century.

 

Ingredients

1 oz gin, preferably Brokers Gin
2 oz dry vermouth
1 dash Bokers Bitters
2 dashes Maraschino Liqueur

Method
Add ice to cocktail shaker.
Add ingredients and stir or swirl.
Strain into chilled cocktail glass

Lemon garnish

Of note;I recently tried a gin offering from Jim McEwen of Bruichladdich fame. Jim’s last visit brought him to The TorontoTemperance Society for a tasting of this extraordinary offering of Islay gin. The Botanist  Islay Dry Gin makes use nine of the classic botanicals but the McEwen whammy is the ‘heady harvest’ of 22 additional botanicals native to the windswept hills, bogs and shores of a most unique Hebridean island. This is a one of a kind gin, available at Vintages for $44.95.

Cheers!

* * *
Grant’s Family Reserve tells True Tales at The Drake Hotel
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

Interested in story telling? Well get down to The Drake on Tuesday nights this summer and listen up or dive right in with a story of your own. The inaugural night was hosted by our own scenester from CBC, Jian Ghomeshi. Grant’s Family Reserve added an award winning tale teller from New York to the mix. Peter Aguero of Moth, got a few of the evenings started and well, you know that a cocktail or two can help loosen things up. From joining a cult, to catching a cab, the stories are entertaining along with the $5.00 special price for the Grant’s signature cocktails to imbibe during the event. If you get up and deliver a story, you get a Grant’s gift bag!

Each week, the featured drink will be different because mixologists at the Drake are running a competition where each one makes their own Grant’s cocktail. The mixologists will be telling a story to accompany their beverage at the finale of the storytelling series on October 1st.
Here are recipes for cocktails I enjoyed on two separate weeks.

CAMERON’S KICK

Ingredients
1 oz Grant’s Family Reserve Scotch
1 oz Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey
½ oz lemon juice 
½ oz orgeat syrup 
Garnish Orange Zest
Method
Shake and strain into a coupette glass. Gently twist the orange zest to release the oil from the peel and rub around the rim of the glass. Drop the zest in the glass.

BLOOD AND SAND

Ingredients
1 oz Grant’s Family Reserve
1 oz Orange juice
¾ oz cherry brandy
¾ oz sweet vermouth
Garnish with a cherry
Method
Shake and strain into a coupette glass.
Garnish with a skewered maraschino cherry.

Cheers!

* * *
July 10, 2011
The Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix Rises this Summer
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

Master Blender Brian Kinsman blew into town to showcase the special single malt bottling that was a result of a massive amount of snowfall in the highlands of Scotland.  Wait a minute…how can that be? Well, the Snow Phoenix is a very unusual story.  It certainly does snow in the highlands. In fact, it can feel like winter in June there sometimes. But voluminous amounts of snow? Not usually. And how would that affect maturing whisky anyway? Brian explained it all over a comparative tasting at the Rooftop Lounge of The Park Hyatt Hotel.
“We had an exceptionally bad 2009-2010 winter in Scotland,” explains Kinsman, The Glenfiddich malt master. “It would snow heavily day after day with no wind to blow away the snow. Eventually the roof started to buckle and we were fearful of losing huge quantities of ageing spirit.”

The casks were exposed to the elements for one week when Kinsman, the sixth malt master in Glenfiddich’s 124-year history, decided to create a special commemorative vatting from the surviving casks. The Snow Phoenix, as the name suggests, is a whisky of transformation, created by blending non-chill filtered casks of different ages and finishes, including oloroso sherry and American oak. Single malts in this vatting range from 13 to 30 years in age.

Glenfiddich 12 Year Old
This gold whisky opens with pear, apple and honey on the nose. A velvety mouth feel with sweetness upfront, it finishes with dry and gently oak spiced. **PN

Glenfiddich 15 Year Old
Pinkish gold, the honey, vanilla, orange peel and plummy fruitcake nose leads to a richer, creamy cinnamon spiced dram with a ripe fruitiness; cinnamon, ginger and mild clove spices into a gently crisp drying finish. The whisky is matured in three different types of oak cask; sherry, bourbon and new oak. **PN

Glenfiddich 18 Year Old
Rich gold with a voluptuous vanilla, honey, fruity spiced nose and a mouth feel to match.  There were also floral hints reminiscent of lily-of-the-valley. It has a weighty, velvety feel on the palate, finishing with drying spice elements from cloves, ginger and cinnamon. ***PN

Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix
This limited edition malt was bottled in 2010. It shows butterscotch-vanilla aromas with spiced pear and citrus marmalade. Big, mouth-filling voluptuous weight on the palate, with bitter chocolate, cloves and ginger flavours carrying into the finish.  ABV 47.5% $89.95***PN

* * *
June 25, 2011
Sweet, Strong and Savoury with Dimi Lezinska
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

Sometimes, people just don’t know what to try when they’re holding a newly created drinks list in their hands. Well, Dimi Lezinska, Global Brand Ambassador for Grey Goose vodka to the rescue. The always charming Lezinka is world travelled, or should I say bar travelled, and what he hears most from top notch bar keeps is this; that patrons become a little overwhelmed when a bevy of new beverages are revealed. So, the ever erudite Lezinska  devised a new system to help his ‘pour masters’ divine what you might like. It’s what I call a cocktail map. It starts out like a game where you choose your taste theme and work your way through.

Dimi made me several cocktails but I adored the savoury cocktail below, and it was really easy to recreate at home. ( I cheated and used ruby red grapefruit..) I also love the star anise as a garnish and flavouring agent.

This summery cocktail combines the clarity of grapefruit and ginger with sharp, peppery accents. It is perfect to sip under the stars!

Savoury: GREY GOOSE L’Orange As Night Falls

Ingredients
2 parts GREY GOOSE L'Orange
1 part white grapefruit juice
2 coriander leaves
7 red peppercorns
Small piece of ginger
1 1/2 tsp white sugar

Method:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and finely strain into a chilled coupette. Garnish with orange zest and a star anise.
 
 Sante!

* * *
June 9, 2011
Shaking it up at Le Germain!
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

Mixologist Nick Leverty is shaking things up with new twists on classic cocktails. While I like exploring new bars, there’s nothing like the swishy feel of a well appointed hotel bar. Boutique hotels like Le Germain keep things ‘boutique style’ at the bar, with quality all the way. Nick uses all fresh squeezed juices, (organic if possible) and the latest spirits to re-invent classics.
While I couldn’t make opening night to try Chef David Chrystian’s latest dining offerings, it was great to linger at the bar another time with Nick and explore four modern takes on classics. Here are a few drinks on offer, starting with Nick Leverty’s riff on a champagne style cocktail, the French ‘75’. Nick switches the gin to Absolut Elyx, super premium vodka made with single estate winter wheat.

Copper Royal
Ingredients
1oz Absolut  Elyx
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
Dash of angostura bitters
Method
Serve in a champagne flute topped up with sparkling wine
Garnish with a lemon twist 
The Vesper is of course, a martini, from the world of James Bond,Casino Royale, to be exact. Nick nixes the Lillet in exchange for icewine to keep things locally inspired.

Victor's Vesper
Ingredients
1oz Absolut Elyx 
1oz Beefeater 24
1/2 oz Icewine
Method
Dash of Angostura Bitters
Shake and serve in a martini glass
Garnish with a lemon zest


 
Leverty loves the Negroni but switches the gin for Absolut  again, adding  the pomegranate tequila liqueur for some international flair.



Elyxer La Pinta
Ingredients
1oz Absolut Elyx
1oz La Pinta pomegranate tequila
1oz sweet vermouth
1oz angostura bitters
Method
Stir and pour over ice in a rocks glass
Garnish with an orange zest

 
Clas Azul Manhattan
Ingredients
1 1/2 oz Clas Azul Reposado
1oz sweet vermouth
Method
Dash of Angostura bitters
Stir and pour over ice in a rocks glass
Garnish with brandied cherries or an orange zest

* * * *
posted June 2, 2011
Pencer Brain Trust-Disco Ball
with a retro cocktail to match!
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

The traditional Tequila Sunrise made popular in the late 70's and 80's was actually created at the Arizona Biltmore hotel in the 1930's. This was the signature cocktail to get the party started at The Pencer Brain Trust Disco Ball on May 26th, 2011, which raised funds for The Pencer Family Centre at the Princess Margaret Hospital. As I was at a tequila show sampling products recently, I would suggest saving the primo reposados and anejos for straight sipping and get the silver or blanco tequila for mixing into cocktails.

Tequila Sunrise

Ingredients
1.5 oz Tequila
3 oz orange juice
2 oz lemon juice
½ oz grenadine syrup
Club soda

Method 
Add tequila to sling or Collins glass
Add crushed ice over the tequila.
Top with orange juice followed by lemon juice.
Slowly add the grenadine syrup so it pools at the bottom of the glass.
Top with club soda
Garnish with a slice of orange and two straws

If you can find those kitschy little umbrellas, go for it. They make  the drink  look like it should be at a beach party

The cocktail is named for the way it looks after it has been poured into a glass. The density of the liquid ingredients causes gradations in color that create a sunrise effect. Instead of using grenadine syrup, you can also try Crème de Cassis and then the cocktail is known as a Tequila Sunset.  I’m a big fan of Boudier Crème de Cassis.

About the Centre
The Gerry and Nancy Pencer Brain Tumor Centre is dedicated to improving the lives of people living with brain tumours. This unique and innovative Centre combines the expertise of medical specialists and support staff from various departments to provide many different kinds of care, all in one location. The Centre offers complete ambulatory care, a full range of psychosocial services, educational activities, and patient and family support programs.

* * * *
posted May 25, 2011
Spirit of Toronto Revived!
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

Just when I thought things were becoming a little too predictable with any kind of ‘drinks’ show,  the best annual tasting event of spirits in town upped the ante for everyone else. The 2011 Spirit of Toronto expanded with a selection of rum and cognac to the already large and ever changing portfolio of world whiskies.

The lines were big and the buzz was bigger. This years’ show was the most interactive one I’ve seen yet and the crowds loved it.  All of the master classes were sold out and it was jammed inside Roy Thompson Hall, arguably the nicest venue for an event like this compared to the sterile MTC. The event organizer is not constrained to use the house caterer either, so sticks with the tried and true taste of Daniel et Daniel and while the food hasn’t changed, the selection is good for whisky pairing. Maybe next year there will be an oyster / smoked salmon station…that could prove lovely for the lighter blends and many of the whisky styles.

The new whisky podcasts created a lot of excitement. Then, Regis Le Maitre had us all engaged in a ‘blind’ whisky tasting and sounded like a regular con man, with his non-stop facts on single malt, blends and grain  whiskies. He aimed to confuse us as we tried to guess, one glass at a time. We were not allowed to compare one whisky to another which made it harder and I know exactly how he ‘played’ us to make it tough.  I’m a good sport though…

Whisky producers obviously come up with new products and whisky expressions. Joseph Cassidy, Via Allegro Ristorante sommelier and whisky specialist to the largest whisky collection in the world, shared a few of his top choices for the event, so I followed his lead. Here’s my focus, with Cassidy’s invaluable input.

Gibson’s Finest Rare 18 Year Old Whisky LCBO 469114 - $64.95
Rich gold, the Gibson’s Rare starts out with  aromas of honey, vanilla biscuits, ripe baked cinnamon spiced apple and follows through with  lush, mouth filling,  gently spiced fruity sweet flavor upfront followed by cinnamon, nutmeg and mild cloves spiking the delicious, lingering  finish. *** PN

Wiser’s Legacy Canadian Whisky LCBO 179721 - $49.95
Deep gold whisky with a very fruity, vanilla and cinnamon spiced nose. Velvety smooth baked apple and tropical fruit flavours follow on the palate. It’s quite spicy with caramel warmth into a lingering finish. **1/2 PN

Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve Whisky LCBO 195651 - $69.95 
Deep gold whisky with initial nose of caramel-vanilla with a mix of sour cherry and smoke. Sweet upfront orange peel, smoky notes of oak, but hints of smoked bacon too. Silky on the palate, there is lots of peppery spice into the finish. Whisky maker John Hall used tightly porous Canadian oak from the time of Confederation, hence the name. This just may be the next hot Canadian gift to take abroad. **1/2 PN

Glenrothes 1995 Single Malt Whisky, Scotland. LCBO 543694 - 700 ml - $89.95
Red fruit along with dried citrus peel on the nose, with butterscotch to follow. Delicious, mouth filling weight with bitter chocolate, cloves, orange peel and the same spicier replays of aroma and flavor in the finish. This was the single malt highlight, on Joseph Cassidy’s recommendation and I agree with him wholeheartedly. Outstanding! *** PN
Ronnie Cox, The Glenrothes Brand Heritage Director says:
“Another dangerously ‘more-ish’ offering”

The bar scene changed this year, and for the better too. Japanese whiskies played centre stage with Japanese champion mixologist Yuki Yamazaki, who took a break from Guu Sakabar, to wow us with his creative takes on classic cocktails using Nikka Yoichi 10 Year Old Single Malt, from Japan.

 
Hokkai (Japanese Northern Sea)

Ingredients

1oz Yoichi 10 Year Old
½ oz Grand Marnier
1/3 oz Brown crème de cacao liqueur
 1/6 oz (or splash) Cinnamon liqueur
Cinnamon stick garnish

Method
Stir or swirl ingredients in a cocktail shaker and pour into an Old Fashioned glass with a hand carved ice ball, or fill glass with ice.

* * *
Tequila and more…
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

Most people have had at least one wild tequila story to tell.  And that means that they might end up disliking the stuff. Not me, though. Even though I did have one wild tequila night many moons ago, it was more  my own little mystical experience, zoning out with a Van Morrison sound track while a bunch of other yahoos partied in another room. But I digress…

 Everything Tequila and more just had its second annual event at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. While it was small as far as drinks events go, there were several tequilas that are either very new or privately imported along with the usual suspects. To be honest, I think I could probably get more selection at Reposado, the tequila hotspot on Ossington Avenue, in Toronto. (The owners were there, to flog their place and the house brand of tequila they use, which was cool.)

So here are several products I had a chance try.
Gran Centenario Reposado Tequila, Mexico, LCBO 224691  $ 46.95
Pale amber, the herbaceous aroma is mixed with obvious vanilla and it’s quite smooth with gently spiced oak on the delivery.  The use of Limousin oak lends a very elegant touch. Sophisticated packaging and well priced. **PN

Tromba Tequila, Mexico LCBO #433549
It’s a blanco with classic herbaceous and citrusy aromas, and much softer on the palate than I expect, but possibly due to the 36 % abv. Sweet lemon flavours on the palate follow with essential oil of lime carrying into a nice clean finish. Expect this bottle to ring out at less than $50.00 when it becomes a general list product.**PN
Currently a private import, this should be changing sometime soon. The same master distiller for Don Julio is actually the master distiller for this tequila, which is made from agave that is grown at a higher elevation.
When I asked about the alcohol-by-volume being 36%, Eric Brass, the representative for this product answered, “Our Master distiller determined  36% would best compliment Tromba's sweet taste and crisp velvet finish. At Tequila Tromba, we are a small, boutique produced tequila. We let our world famous master distiller produce Tromba according to time honoured traditions and his 30 years of experience making tequila. “

Corzo Silver, Mexico, #69500
This private import is definitely in the luxury category with a classic, almost Chanel-style perfume bottle look. Clear with classic herbaceous aromas and a mild citrus kick but one sip and this is a definite wow. Big mouth feel, like drinking heavy silk. It’s slightly lemon-peppery with an outstanding finish replaying all the aromas. This is known as a ‘highland agave’spirit, so, like Tromba, the agave is cultivated at a higher elevation. This is a private import but available at Reposado Bar.**+PN

 Los Arango, Mexico. LCBO# 47316 $43.15
 Los Arango was distinctive in that it had a hint of smokiness along with the classic herbaceous aromas, pepper and then vanilla notes. Smooth, yet delicate with a long distinctive finish. **PN

Ted Land was pouring this product and paired it with a cactus candy-like paste …
The product is actually dried cactus with some chili pepper, lime and sugar.  It’s available at select Mexican Specialty Food Shops in Toronto.

 I tried the Reposada Margarita because, well, I love when they’re made properly, with fresh lime juice. Their twist on this mainstay? Agave syrup as the sweetening agent Just dilute the agave syrup 50/50 with water so it won’t be too sweet.

Acapulco Margarita

Ingredients
2 parts Cazadores (Blanco or Reposado)
1 part Cointreau
1 part diluted Agave Syrup
2 parts fresh lime juice

Method
Combine ingredients in cocktail shaker, strain into chilled glass with ice or a chilled martini glass.

Proprietor Sandy Macfadyen says, “We have approximately 70 tequilas and 5 mezcals with more on the way, ranging in price from 6.50 (Cazadores Blanco) to 45.00 (Herradura Selecion Suprema Etra Anejo.)

Cheers!

* * *
Spirit of Toronto 2011
Vintage Assessments - In the Spirits

It’s coming up …April 4th, 2011, tickets will be on sale for the 7th annual Spirit of Toronto, taking place on Saturday May 14th at Roy Thompson Hall.

This year, you can sign up online for any of the 12 master classes offered or simply attend and enjoy the spirits, food from Daniel et Daniel and of course, the live jazz.  (Usually it’s the wonderful Mark Eisenman but this year we’ll be enjoying a Bossa Nova groove with the Lee Wallace duo and Dave Restivo’s trio in the north lobby of Roy Thompson Hall.)

Oh yeah, this is really about whisky and other fabulous libations…
Several of my favourite malts are represented. The Glenrothes, Highland Park and a selection of independent bottlings from Gordon & MacPhail will be presented.

Of course John Hall will be present with his great value Forty Creek, but what I’m really looking forward to is time travelling with Davin de Kergommeaux, at a tasting of Canadian whiskies of the 1950’s to the 1960’s. All I need is Don Draper to hold my hand…

And just to get a little more Bossa into your Nova, there will be a rum ‘malternative’ tasting with Ian Burrell, UK Rum Ambassador.

Tickets are $129 in advance, $145 the day of the show (HST included) and may be purchased from Roy Thomson Hall’s box office as follows:

St. Patrick’s Day means spirited drinks in my Favourite Irish Pubs!
by Patricia Noonan
 .

It’s that Irish time of year again…St. Patrick’s Day. And Irish whisky is what it’s all about for the spirits lover. And beer of course…But what if you just can’t handle beer or a drop of the hard stuff? Well, than you would be wanting a cocktail of some description. So I asked around town at a few of my favourite Irish inspired watering holes and here’s what’s on.

Quinn’s Steakhouse & Irish Bar