June Spirits

BY TOM FIRTH AND LINDA GARSON

How on Earth is it June already? Did the first half of the year just fly by for everyone – or just us? By now, we should be firmly enjoying our summer months, our jacket-free, growing season for garden and glade, but also enjoying our natural environment too. This month, we had so many things we wanted to cover, we couldn’t narrow our lists down to a single page, so we’ve recommendations from local and far-ranging whiskies to weird and wonderful English gins, but also some summer sippers of a sort for the campsite, poolside, and backyard too. Enjoy!

Spirit of Harrogate, Slingsby Marmalade Gin, England

Harrogate, in North Yorkshire, England, is a spa town - its fame coming from the benefits of the natural spring water, discovered by William Slingsby in 1571. Slingsby gins use water drawn from the Harrogate Aquifier, along with local botanicals, single grain spirit, and in this case, Yorkshire orange marmalade to create a really delicious, almost mandarin, sweet citrus gin, that sips as well on its own as it does in cocktails - try a Marmalade Martinez!

CSPC 847269 $49-$54

Cinder & Smoke Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Founders Select

The Bard Distillery, USA

Thomas Bard is the 4th great grandson of one of brothers who founded Bardstown, Kentucky, (aka the Bourbon Capitol of the World), and their Founder’s Select is their choice of just three barrels of their Cinder & Smoke - corn, rye, and malted barley bourbon - blended (and signed). With just a few drops of water this outstanding, eminently sippable whisky opens up to reveal flavours of vanilla, baking spice and soft mandarin peel.

CSPC 864286 $145-165

Spirit of Harrogate, Slingsby Gooseberry Gin, England

My dad loved gooseberries, and as kids in England, we all hated ‘goosegogs’ as we called them. They’re tart and would be made into tarts, fools, and crumbles – but I think I’ve found a way to enjoy them! Spirit of Harrogate have cleverly added them to their citrusy London Dry Gin (that has a grapefruit base) to produce a sweeter, tangy version – fresh and fruity on its own, really good with tonic and a little apple garnish, or with fino sherry for a terrific martini!

CSPC 847274 $49-$54

Creag Dhu Single Malt, Speyside, Scotland

Ooh ooh ooh, I’m in dreamland when I just smell this whisky. Made by master distiller, Chris Molyneaux, in Speyside, and aged for a minimum of eight years, this is a super smooth, and totally delicious whisky where the proceeds go to restore the peatlands (and you get your very own carbon offset certificate), as 94 percent of UK peatland has been damaged or destroyed - yet it covers 20 percent of Scotland. Creag Dhu is toffee and buttery - and you’re not sharing mine!

CSPC 854544 $81-84

Glenmorangie 10-Year-Old, Highlands. Scotland

It’s a brave move to take a much-loved whisky that’s 180 years old and change the appearance of the bottle, and it takes a certain confidence to unleash this vivid, bold design to enthusiasts. Yet here’s the new curvaceous bottle with the giraffe moved to the back of the bottle (they are the tallest stills in Scotland!), and the same peachy lightness and finesse, with those soft, creamy vanilla notes we enjoy and expect of this classic Highland Single Malt.

CSPC 750257 $75-80

Patrón El Cielo, Jalisco Highlands, Mexico

What happens when you take a tripledistilled iconic tequila and distill it a fourth time? You might expect there’d be little to no flavour left, but after more than 150 tasting sessions, luxury tequila brand, Patrón, have pulled it off and elevated their Silver tequila to yet another level –then dressed it in a beautiful bottle and box. It needs nothing but a little ice and a slice of orange for a stunningly smooth and mouth-filling, bright, fresh and sweet sip of joy this summer.

CSPC 884387 $250

Blackwater No 5 Small Batch Irish Gin, Ireland

From Ireland’s oldest city, Waterford, in the south-east of the country, comes this London Dry style, small batch gin from the Blackwater Distillery. It has an intriguing nose; we can identify the juniper, and then there’s layer upon layer of cinnamon, coriander, and citrus, that combine to produce more floral notes. No. 5 is a soft gin in the mouth that is just perfect with a splash of tonic to tone down the peppery finish.

CSPC 782716 $47-$49

Burwood Espresso Martini, Calgary, Alberta

I know we’re supposed to drink white drinks (champagne, gin, vodka, and tequila) before dinner and brown drinks after (think whisky, Cognac or other brandy, rum) but honestly, if it isn’t too risqué, I’d start my day with this collaboration between local distillers Burwood, and local coffee roasters, Phil & Sebastian! Just add a croissant and you’re all set – and just in time for National Martini Day on June 19!

CSPC 880531, around $25

Wild Life Rye Whisky, Canmore, Alberta

It’s a great time to be a whisky lover in Alberta! Coming of age, this Rye is Wild Life’s second whisky release – and it’s going for it, all guns blazing! From 88 percent rye and 12 percent barley, this whisky has been quietly snoozing for three and a half years, and is now showing all the signs of “look at me, I’m here!” in the best sense possible. Open it up with a few drops of water and you’ll be rewarded with a spicy dram full of figs that demands your attention!

CSPC 886180 $78

The King’s Ginger Liqueur, England

The label says, “A unique and revitalizing spirit”, and yes, 120 years ago the Royal Physician called upon Berry Bros. and Rudd to create a warming liqueur for King Edward VII’s health, yet we’d drink this any time! It’s viscous and mouth-filling, with warming heat from the ginger, and there’s a sweet citrus too. It has a Royal Warrant; add it wherever you’d add ginger beer to make you smile – in a Mule, a Ginger Cup… and often in your whisky!

CSPC 880353 $46-48

Bull Run 6-Year-Old Single Malt, Oregon, USA

Hands up! How many single malt whiskies have you tasted from Oregon? Well, this Portland distillery, founded by Lee Medoff (who started Aviation Gin), has been making sensational whiskies for the last 12 years, and you’re in for a treat when you taste the Bull Run (named for the local water source) single malt! Made from local malted barley, you’ll recognize the toasty, roasted grain and burnt brown sugar on your first sips that leave you with a happy mouth of full of cocoa and caramel.

CSPC 798816 $81-84

Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.3 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Scotland

After the significant praise about the first two releases, it was looking entirely likely that we’d see No.3 and we weren’t disappointed. A meaty 64 percent ABV, it’s best with a splash of water to let the rich smokiness of the peated grains show through but also some almost delicate tropical notes, and a sultry, slightly salty finish. A beautiful spirt to roll around the mouth while savouring and relaxing.

CSPC 1196278 $140-150