Day 7: Seven Swans a-swimming Liqueurs
Liqueurs are often thought of as distilling’s ugly ducklings. In the late 1970s, the syrupy over-sweet artificial concoctions that were flying off store shelves gave liqueurs a bad rap. Leisure suit-wearing dentists made a fortune from this craze, but the reputation of the category suffered. Thankfully, this description no longer fits Canadian liqueurs! Microdistilleries have flipped the tradition to create glorious spirits made from high-quality local ingredients and half the sugar of yore. No longer ugly ducklings, here are seven Canadian liqueurs that show Canada’s distillers now produce flocks of giftable swans.
Shelter Point Distillery Barrel of Sunshine Liqueur (30%)
This Vancouver Island distillery, located in Campbell River, is renowned for its whisky. For their holiday-friendly Sunshine Liqueur, the distillery team infuses single malt whisky spirit with orange, maple syrup and spices. This liquid sunshine, in its keepsake barrel-shaped bottle, fairly bursts with honey, maple, mandarin orange and sweet vanilla. A complex blend of exotic spices rewards the palate right to the end as it slowly dries into a zesty orange peel.
750ml $29.99
Junction 56 Mint Smoothie (23%)
Rhéo Thompson Candies has been making chocolates in Stratford Ontario since 1969, using old-fashioned recipes and techniques. Down the road, Junction 56 Distillery makes vodka using local grain and modern methods. Each, in its own way allows the flavours of the ingredients to sparkle.
For this liqueur, the folks at Junction 56 infuse their vodka with Rhéo Thompson’s melted unsweetened chocolate. The mixture is then redistilled and infused again, this time with Rheo’s signature mint blend from their famous Mint Smoothie candy. The liqueur balances a light sweetness with soft and natural chocolate mint flavours. A smidgen of grain pokes through just enough to add a layer of complexity to this luscious and silky spirit.
375ml $23.95
Odd Society Crème de Cassis (23%)
Vancouver’s Chef Hervé Martin has a storied career. He was the personal chef to Belgium’s Late King Leopold III. In France, Martin earned three Michelin stars at two French restaurants, where a lucky few sampled his secret recipe for crème de cassis. Now we’re all lucky. Odd Society Spirits has partnered with chef Hervé to make this crème de cassis using British Columbia blackcurrants. This ultra-creamy, nectar-rich spirit shows bright blackcurrant, floral and cherry notes and a dash of vanilla with some tart citrus notes, taking luxuriousness to a new level.
375ml $19.13
Ampersand Distilling Company – Nocino!
Distiller Jeremy Schacht makes this Italian green walnut liqueur from raw green walnuts harvested nearby and soaked in the distillery’s British Columbia wheat spirit. Then he enhances the walnut flavours with cinnamon, allspice and lemon peel, and sweetens it with local honey. Nocino’s deep brown hue hints at the depth of flavour Schacht captures. The liqueur’s nose exudes aromas of roasted spices, green walnut and citrus. Bitter notes on the palate bring complexity and structure to the Nocino along with layers of citrus-spritzed baking spice. Sensational!
375ml $28
Les Subversifs Crème De Menthe Isabelle (24%)
Les Subversifs have named this liqueur in honour of Madame Isabelle Montour (1667-1752). Montour was a diplomat who defended First Nation’s interests and acted as an interpreter for the British, speaking Huron, Algonquin and Iroquois. For Isabelle, organic Quebec peppermint leaves are infused into a neutral spirit then gently sweetened. A gust of icy peppermint hits the nose without overpowering. The spirit appears syrupy at first, but when it touches the palate, it is enveloped in a decadent creaminess. Fresh peppermint flavours are carefully balanced through the long, soft finish.
750ml $33.50
Dillon’s Distillery Peach Schnapps
Simple and honest. Dillon’s has taken their neutral rye base spirit, fresh Niagara peaches and a pinch of cane sugar to make this North American style liqueur that just bursts with natural flavours. There is no fakery here, just light years of depth that capture the taste of a perfectly ripe peach – mellow with the slightest tang and just a pinch of sweetness. It seems Geoff Dillon has discovered how to take the core of an entire orchard and trap it in a bottle.
750ml $22.95
Barreling Tide Distillery Arctic Kiwi Liqueur
Nova Scotia’s Colleen and Russ Murphy have unlocked the flavours of arctic kiwi in this splendid liqueur. Arctic Kiwi, as everyone knows, is a hardy plant that can withstand Canadian winters to produce grape-sized fruit that’s slightly sweeter than the famous kiwis from down under. Barreling Tide captures the distinct tart note of the kiwi and balances it perfectly with a cross between pineapple and strawberry flavours. Very aromatic with a spot-on natural sweetness and a spritz of citrus. A true testament to how innovative Canadian liqueurs have become.
www.barrellingtidedistillery.com
375ml $23.39
Join us tomorrow for Day 8: Cream Spirits suggestions. Or, if you’d rather figure it out on your own, there are many more spirits to be found in our book The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries – a gift suggestion in itself and one that’s worth its weight in five gold rings.