March Spirits

BY TOM FIRTH AND LINDA GARSON E HAVE WHISKY ON OUR MINDS WITH FOUR SCOTCH WHISKIES to share, and most rather new to our market. But at the same time, we have a W unique, notable, and locally made gin from Alberta, and a remarkable, limited-edition cognac to help celebrate the Year of the Tiger. So in the spirit of who really knows what

March will bring – from the weather to the world.

Anohka Gin, Alberta

Anohka (Sanskrit for ‘rare’) is a new distillery just 20 minutes west of Edmonton, and it’s unique. Gurpreet Ranu’s family has been farming for generations, so they’re growing their own grain and using only natural local ingredients. Their London-style Tempest Dry Gin has more than 10 times the botanicals of a typical gin, and the oils from them make it translucent when chilled. It’s delicious: citrus, juniper, and cardamom forward – and perfect with a splash of tonic. CSPC +859308 $54-58

Highland Park Cask Strength No. 2 Orkney, Scotland

The wild and woolly, windy Orkney islands are closer to Oslo than they are to London – and this is the home of Highland Park since 1798. Now their Cask Strength Release No. 2 has arrived on our shores, and it has a beautiful sweet and spicy nose of rose, pepper, and pear that follows through to the palate with a hint of honey and licorice – and of course the toasty oak and light smoky peat too. You’ll need to find your level with a few drops of water as it’s 63.9 percent ABV, and I suspect you’ll really enjoy finding that level! CSPC +1186224 $135-140

Lindores MCDXCIV Single Malt Whisky Scotland

The commemorative first release of Lindores Single Malt bears the date 1494, which is when the first recorded distillation in Scotland took place at the Lindores Abbey. It might be something in the water, or that the Lindores Distillery also wins competitions for its newmake spirit, but look for abundant citrus, dried apricot, pepper spices, almond and apple. Very palatable in the mouth with a tiny bit of water, and darn refreshing too. CSPC +858745 $78-84

Macallan “The Harmony Collection” Rich Cacao Single Malt Whisky, Scotland

Something new under the “whisky sun”? The Harmony Collection at Macallan is trying a few different things, including this one - drawing inspiration from cacao. Using cask and batch selections chosen for their cacao characters, the resulting whisky is rife with dates, leather upholstery, antique desk drawers, and yes, loads of dark, bitter chocolate-type characters. On the palate it’s rather smooth and graceful with a fine balance of cacao and whisky fruits - intriguing and tasty too. CSPC +1186779 $215-240

Talisker 10 Year Old Single Malt Whisky Isle of Skye, Scotland

Talisker used to be marketed as part of the “Classic Malts of Scotland.” To be fair, they were all owned by the same company, but on the other hand these classic malts were very much paragons of the broader styles of different malt whiskies. A fine expression of an island malt with abundant salinity and some smoky, slightly oily peat notes. Not too peaty by most measures, its citrus and cereal characters still shine through. Bottled at nearly 46 percent, water is not required for best enjoyment. CSPC +249680 $100-110

Hennessy X.O, France

We love extravagant and creative packaging for special occasions, and Hennessy has it down to a fine art. To celebrate the Year of the Tiger, the cognac house collaborated with renowned artist Zhang Enli for this vibrant, special edition Hennessy X.O package (which comes with red envelopes too!). One for art lovers and cognac enthusiasts, X.O is the original 'extra-old' cognac - a rich and complex blend of 100 eaux-de-vie, with notes of plums and orange peel, toffee and dark chocolate, and a long, smooth finish. CSPC +727452 around $325-$340