MEET THE DISTILLER Contd from page 19
The results from Rick‘s inspiration and creativity have won multiple prestigious awards at competitions held by the American Distilling Institute and Artisan Distillers Canada. This, despite the fact that Rick‘s spirits are 47% ABV, which judges can find “hot”.
Rick in the distillery
Looking ahead, Merridale’s upcoming Distillery & Brewhouse in Victoria will create whiskies from grain. The tasting room will allow guests to sample beers made from the same wash the whisky will be made from, so guests can taste the source.
Rick reveals that there is a way to speed up the process of aging whiskies, by using a controlled-environment barrel room which mimics the four seasons. Each season will only be a month long, so one year will be the equivalent of three years of aging. Since whisky must stay in the barrel for a minimum of three years, Merridale’s product should have characteristics of a nine-year-old whisky when ready. Follow their progress at merridale.ca/distillery. In the meanwhile, I must say I will be checking my local specialty stores to find his amazing craft brandy. - Brian K. Smith
20 WHAT'S BREWING S P R I N G 2020
BC CIDER FEST Contd from page 13
Q: One of the great things about Cider Fest is that attendees get to meet the actual producers and orchardists. Will you have some industry people participating in the outdoor portion as well? A: Yes, it’s definitely an important part of the event, and we want to continue that to the public event as well. We are planning to have some experts on grafting and apple varieties.
Q: What are you looking forward to most at this year’s Cider Fest? A: The chance to taste all the new season’s ciders in one place. The quality of cider in the province has exploded over the last few years, and each year I’m excited to see how the cider makers have continued to raise the bar.
BC Cider Fest 2020
Sunday May 24th, 2-6 pm @ Pipe Shop, North Vancouver The 4th Annual BC Cider Festival takes place in the heart of North Van's new Shipyards brewery district. Whether you’re attending indoors, outdoors, or both, it’s the place to be for craft beverage lovers. www.bcciderfest.ca
