May Spirits

BY TOM FIRTH AND LINDA GARSON May is a beautiful month in Alberta. It’s often warm enough to venture out to the mountains, or spend a day wandering around the neighbourhood, and it’s likely that our gardens are getting underway too. In the spirit of the great outdoors and beauty around us, we’ve found some lovely products that are just as suitable in an afternoon cocktail as they’d be neat or on the rocks in the early evening. A pair of tasty Canadian vodkas, some smooth and easygoing whiskies, and a pair of floral and very different gins make up our spirit recommendations this month.

Park Distillery Vanilla Vodka, Alberta

There is simply no denying the presence of vanilla in this vodka (about the equivalent of a half Madagascar vanilla bean per bottle), but most surprising is how “authentic” the vanilla character is. No corners are cut here! Vanilla dominates most of the aromas, but on the palate, it’s a fine balance between vanilla and smooth, quality-focused vodka characters. Think good vanilla ice cream with a kick. Excellent on its own, it’s quite versatile in cocktails too. CSPC + 778454 $50-55

The Busker Triple Cask Triple Smooth Irish Whiskey, Ireland

Triple cask and triple smooth appears on the label of the Busker, and it’s a bold claim – in a way like the cajones that a good busker might have. Aged in bourbon, sherry, and marsala casks, a little of each cask comes through in the glass, but on the palate, things come together nicely with a touch of tropical fruits, vanilla, and cereal character, but a filling and creamy finish – that is damn smooth too. CSPC +847593 $35-40

Mighty Moose Vodka, Ontario

Brand new in Alberta is Mighty Moose Vodka from Ontario. With stripped down, simple packaging, it’s a clean, triple-distilled and charcoal-filtered vodka, with nothing added after distilling making it glutenfree too, and with a slightly sweet smell of Saskatchewan Winter Wheat on the nose. Try as a Mighty Caesar; or with just a squeeze of lime and topped up with soda; as a Mighty Mule with ginger beer and lime; or on a hot day as a simple Screwdriver with lots of ice topped with orange juice. CSPC +849507 $38-40

Yours Truly Whisky, Eau Claire Distillery, Alberta

Created to honour International Women’s Day, Yours Truly is Eau Claire’s latest limited release single malt whisky, and it’s a collaboration by three women distillers: Master Distiller Caitlin Quinn, Distiller Thecla Wiart, and Apprentice Distiller Alicyn Campbell. They’ve created a beauty - it’s smooth, with dark chocolate, raspberry, and vanilla on the nose, giving way to notes of honey veering to dark brown sugar on the palate, and a long, warming finish. $10 from each bottle goes to Women In Need too! $80 at distillery outlets and eauclairedistillery.ca.

Six Dogs Pinotage Stained Gin, Western Cape, South Africa

Now for something completely different! Six Dogs distill their gin in small batches with plenty of juniper and fresh citrus, and when it’s ready, their winery neighbours in De Wet Valley zip up the road after they’ve picked and destalked their pinotage grapes, and place whole grapes into the tanks with the gin to macerate for a few weeks. It has a lovely sweet plum nose and notes on the palate, and the grapes adds a delicate salmon colour to the gin too. Something new for both gin and wine lovers! CSPC +856793 $68-72

Sorgin, Bordeaux, France

In 1880, the grandfather of internationally acclaimed French winemaker, François Lurton, inherited a distillery, but it wasn’t until 2016 that Lurton decided to relaunch it and create a beautiful, complex, gin with his favourite grape too – sauvignon blanc! Sorgin (meaning witch or sorcerer) is very aromatic, and you’ll recognise lifted aromas of juniper, along with grapefruit, lemon and lime zests, and the grassy, herbaceous notes of the grapes. I’d suggest sipping Sorgin ice cold in the sun, neat or as a martini… CSPC +848476 $53-56