Old Orchard
The Old Orchard is a take on an Old Fashioned, a classic spirit-forward cocktail. This variation uses apricot liqueur for a touch of sweetness and is accented by walnut bitters.Ingredients
Serves 1
2 oz (60 ml) Forty Creek Barrel Select Canadian Whisky
¾ oz (22 ml) Bols Apricot Brandy
2 dashes Walnut bitters
dried or fresh apricot, for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass with cubed ice, combine whisky, brandy and bitters. Stir to chill then strain into a chilled old-fashioned glass over cubed ice. Garnish with dried or fresh apricot on a cocktail pick.
Featuring
Whiskey & Nut Baked Camembert
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with an Irish-inspired brunch!Ingredients
Serves 8
oil, for greasing
1 x 16 oz (500 g) Camembert wheel
3 tbsp (45 ml) Irish whiskey
1 cup (250 ml) mixed nuts (such as pecans, almonds, cashews)
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves removed from stem
3 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed from stem
3 tbsp (45 ml) maple syrup
flaky sea salt, to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Irish soda bread, for serving*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C). With a neutral oil, lightly grease a small baking dish or pie plate, preferably one that can also be used for serving.
- Score top of Camembert cheese, cutting about ½-in (1 cm) deep. Place in prepared baking dish, scored-side up. Drizzle whiskey over top of cheese and set aside for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, roughly chop nuts and add to a small bowl along with rosemary leaves and thyme leaves. Toss to combine.
- Top cheese with nut and herb mixture. Drizzle maple syrup over top and bake in oven until cheese is warm and softened and nuts are fragrant, about 10 to 12 minutes. Check on cheese often while it bakes. If nuts start to brown too fast, cover loosely with foil. Season warm baked cheese with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt and black pepper. Serve immediately alongside slices of Irish soda bread.
- *Purchase store-bought or you can find this recipe with the Irish Coffee Soda Bread Pudding recipe.
Drink Pairings
Irish Coffee Soda Bread Pudding & Whiskey Caramel Sauce
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with an Irish-inspired brunch!Ingredients
Serves 6
INGREDIENTS FOR SODA BREAD
1½ cups (375 ml) all-purpose flour
2 cups (500 ml) whole wheat flour
1 tbsp (15 ml) baking soda
1 tsp (5 ml) baking powder
½ tsp (2.5 ml) kosher salt
½ tsp (2.5 ml) cream of tartar
3 tbsp (45 ml) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
1½ cups (375 ml) buttermilk, plus extra
1 large egg
INGREDIENTS FOR WHISKEY CARAMEL SAUCE
1½ cups (375 ml) granulated sugar
⅔ cup (150 ml) water
1 tbsp (15 ml) liquid honey
¼ cup (60 ml) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2 oz (60 g) cream cheese, cut into small pieces
¼ tsp (1 ml) kosher salt
¼ cup (60 ml) Irish whiskey
¼ cup (60 ml) whipping cream
INGREDIENTS FOR BREAD PUDDING
½ cup (125 ml) raisins
¼ cup (60 ml) Irish whiskey
unsalted butter, for greasing
1 tbsp (15 ml) espresso powder
1 tbsp (15 ml) boiling water
4 large eggs
¾ cup (175 ml) light brown sugar
2 cups (500 ml) whole milk
½ cup (125 ml) brewed coffee, chilled
1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
½ tsp (2.5 ml) kosher salt
2 tbsp (30 ml) demerara sugar
whipped cream, to serve (optional)
Instructions
- To make Soda Bread, position rack in centre of oven, then preheat to 350 F (180 C). Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together both flours, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cream of tartar. Add butter and, using your hands, rub in butter between fingertips until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Set aside.
- In a measuring jug or medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk and egg until thoroughly combined.
- Make a well in centre of flour mixture and add buttermilk mixture. Using a fork, incorporate liquid into flour mixture until just combined and a shaggy, sticky dough forms. Fine if a few dry patches remain. DO NOT overmix dough, as resulting loaf could become tough and dense. Turn out dough onto a floured surface and, using hands or a bench scraper, quickly and gently form dough into an 8-in (20 cm) round. Place on prepared baking tray and using a serrated knife, cut a large cross across top, cutting two thirds of the way into the dough. Brush loaf lightly with a little extra buttermilk. Transfer loaf to oven and bake until a wooden skewer inserted into centre comes out clean, about 45 to 60 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely to room temperature. Soda Bread may be made up to 3 days in advance.
- While Soda Bread cools, make Whiskey Caramel Sauce. In a medium saucepan, add sugar, water and honey, then cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar has completely dissolved. Stop stirring and allow mixture to simmer until golden, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in butter, cream cheese and salt, whisking constantly until thoroughly combined. Add whiskey and cream and continue to whisk, taking care as mixture may bubble up. If not all cream cheese incorporates into sauce, blend briefly with an immersion blender or in a blender until well combined. Transfer to a heatproof container and set aside to cool to room temperature. Whiskey Caramel Sauce may be made in advance and kept covered and refrigerated for up to 1 week. When ready to serve, warm gently in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring often.
- To make Bread Pudding, place raisins in a small bowl and pour whiskey over top. Set aside for 30 minutes, stirring once or twice. Drain raisins in a fine mesh sieve, discarding remaining liquid, and set aside.
- While raisins plump, preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Grease six 12 oz (355 ml) mini casserole dishes with butter and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together espresso powder and boiling water until powder has dissolved.
- In a large bowl, whisk eggs and brown sugar until well combined. Add milk, coffee, vanilla and salt and whisk again. Whisk in espresso mixture until well incorporated. Cut loaf of soda bread into 1-in (2.5 cm) cubes, then add to coffee mixture and toss well. Divide among prepared baking dishes, pouring any remaining custard mixture over plated puddings. Let puddings soak for at least 30 minutes.
- While puddings sit, preheat oven to 350 F (180 C).
- Place bread puddings on a baking tray, cover baking dishes with tin foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with demerara sugar and continue to bake until an instant read thermometer inserted in centre registers 165 F (74 C), about another 10 minutes. Let bread puddings cool for 10 minutes.
- Serve warm bread puddings with Whiskey Caramel Sauce and whipped cream, if desired.
Drink Pairings
Paddy Cap Collins
This refreshing drink is evenly balanced with the tartness of pink grapefruit juice, enhanced by the subtle sweetness of honey syrup and a hint of fresh lemon juice. Shaken together and strained over ice, this Collins will taste like finding a pot of gold, featuring Paddy Irish WhiskeyIngredients
Serves 1
1½ oz (45 ml) Paddy Irish Whiskey
1 oz (30 ml) pink grapefruit juice
½ oz (15 ml) Honey Syrup
¼ oz (7 ml) fresh lemon juice
2 oz (60 ml) grapefruit soda
grapefruit peel, for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker with cubed ice, combine whiskey, pink grapefruit juice, Honey Syrup and lemon juice. Shake gently and strain into a collins glass over cubed ice. Top with grapefruit soda. Garnish with a grapefruit peel expressed over surface of the cocktail.
Featuring
Irish Fiddle
This cocktail will have you doing the Irish Fiddle. It's a great spring cocktail for whisky lovers, with a hit fresh lemon juice. This drink features Amaretto Di Saschira Luxardo and Tullamore Dew.Ingredients
Serves 1
1½ oz (45 ml) Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey
¾ oz (22 ml) Luxardo Amaretto Di Saschira Liqueur
½ oz (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
1 cherry, for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker with cubed ice, combine whiskey, amaretto, lemon juice and bitters. Shake vigorously then fine strain into a chilled old-fashioned glass over cubed ice. Garnish with a cherry.
Featuring
Irish Oat & Potato Cakes with Whiskey-Cured Salmon & Herbed Crème Fraîche
Impress your brunch guests with these Whiskey-Cured Salmon, Irish Oat, and Potato Pancakes. Enhanced by a jalapeño-herbed crème fraîche, this hearty meal is guaranteed to receive much praise. For the salmon curing, opt for Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey and pair the meal with Veuve Du Vernay Brut Rosé for a truly delightful experience.Ingredients
Serves 6
INGREDIENTS FOR WHISKEY-CURED SALMON:
1½ lbs (750 g) skin-on salmon fillet, rinsed under cold water, patted dry, pin bones removed
1 cup (250 ml) kosher salt
½ cup (125 ml) dark brown sugar
2 tbsp (30 ml) black peppercorns
2 tbsp (30 ml) juniper berries
1 bunch fresh dill
1 bunch fresh thyme
½ cup (125 ml) Irish whiskey
INGREDIENTS FOR HERBED CREME FRAICHE:
½ cup (125 ml) packed fresh dill
1 cup (250 ml) packed fresh parsley leaves and tender stems
1 tbsp (15 ml) capers, rinsed
¼ cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
½ jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped
1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
¾ cup (175 ml) crème fraîche or sour cream
INGREDIENTS FOR OAT & POTATO CAKES:
3 medium baking potatoes, peeled
2 green onions, trimmed and finely sliced
¾ cup (175 ml) rolled oats
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp (5 ml) kosher salt
½ tsp (2 ml) freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp (5 ml) lemon zest
6 tbsp (90 ml) each unsalted butter and grapeseed oil, for cooking
Instructions
- To make Whiskey-Cured Salmon, line a baking dish large enough to hold salmon with plastic wrap and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together salt, sugar, peppercorns and juniper berries.
- Sprinkle half the salt mixture over bottom of prepared baking dish and spread half the dill and thyme on top. Lay salmon, skin-side down, on herbs and drizzle with whiskey. Cover with remaining dill and thyme and top with remaining salt mixture.
- Tightly wrap salmon with plastic wrap and weigh down with several tin cans. Refrigerate salmon for 24 hours. Turn salmon over, continue to weigh down with cans and refrigerate a further 24 hours.
- When ready to serve, remove salmon from plastic wrap and using back of a knife or a spoon, scrape curing mixture off fish. Place salmon, skin-side down, on cutting board. Thinly slice salmon into diagonal strips, leaving skin behind. Cured salmon may be made ahead and refrigerated, uncut, for 5 days.
- To make Herbed Crème Fraîche, place dill, parsley, capers, olive oil, jalapeño (seeded if you don’t want sauce to be spicy) and lemon juice into a food processor. Blend, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, until you are left with a slightly chunky sauce. Add crème fraîche to a medium bowl and ripple half green mixture throughout. Spoon remaining sauce into a bowl.
- To make Oat & Potato Cakes, shred potatoes using large holes of a box grater. Then place potatoes on a large tea towel and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
- Place drained potatoes in a large bowl along with green onions, oats, eggs, salt, pepper and lemon zest. Stir with a wooden spoon until well combined and set aside for 10 minutes.
- In a 5-in (12 cm) frying pan, heat 1 tbsp (15 ml) of both oil and butter over medium heat. Add potato mixture and spread evenly. Cook until bottom is nicely browned, about 8 to 10 minutes. Invert potato cake onto a plate and then slide it back into pan. Continue to cook until again nicely browned on bottom, about another 8 to 10 minutes*. Repeat this step 6 times for 6 cakes, keeping cakes warm in a 200 F (95 C) oven. *You can also make one large oat and potato cake, following the directions, in a non-stick, 12-in (30 cm) frying pan. When ready to serve, slice into wedges and serve as described.
- To serve, divide Oat & Potato Cakes among warm serving plates. Top with a good dollop of Herbed Crème Fraîche and thin slices of Whiskey-Cured Salmon. If desired, garnish with additional green onions, lemon zest, capers and thinly sliced red onion.
Drink Pairings
Celtic Sour
A perfect St. Patrick’s Day-themed cocktail. Fuse Jameson Irish Whiskey and McGuinness Crème de Menthe, and take this festive drink up a notch with a garnish of fresh mint or a four-leaf clover, if you’re lucky enough to find one!Ingredients
Serves 1
1 egg white
1½ oz (45 ml) Jameson Irish Whiskey
½ oz (15 ml) McGuinness Crème de Menthe Green
½ oz (15 ml) fresh lime juice
1 mint leaf, for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine egg white, whiskey, Crème de Menthe and lime juice. Shake vigorously and fine strain into a chilled cocktail coupe. Garnish with a mint leaf or a four-leaf clover, if you’re lucky enough to find one!
Featuring
GINGER OLD-FASHIONED
Spiced cocktails are truly having a moment this winter. It’s the ideal time to refresh seasonal flavours and festive favourites with a spike of heat from various dried, fresh and preserved ingredients, many of which might already be in your pantry!Ingredients
Serves 1
1-in (2.5 cm) piece fresh ginger root, peeled and sliced into ¼-in (0.5 cm) coins
1 tsp (5 ml) maple syrup
2 oz (30 ml) Angel’s Envy Bourbon
2 to 3 dashes ginger bitters
candied ginger or ginger candy (such as Gin-Gins or Chimes), for garnish
Instructions
- In the bottom of a cocktail shaker, use a muddler to crush fresh ginger until its fibers break down and it releases fresh juice. Add syrup, bourbon and bitters, then fill shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until thoroughly mixed and chilled, up to 30 seconds. Taste and, if desired, add more ginger bitters, shaking to incorporate. Strain through a fine cocktail sieve into an old-fashioned glass over a large cube of ice. Garnish with a piece of candied ginger or ginger candy.
Featuring
SPICE & EVERYTHING NICE
Sparkling cocktails are great for celebrating the different events and important moments in our lives. This sparkling cocktail can be served to celebrate the holidays, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, a birthday or any other reason to raise a glass to toast an occasion.Ingredients
Serves
1 oz (30 ml) Woodford Reserve Bourbon
½ oz (15 ml) simple syrup*
1 barspoon (5 ml) cherry brine (liquid from cocktail cherries)
5 dashes Agnostura bitters
2 strips orange peel, pith removed, save 1 for garnish
2 oz (60 ml) Segura Viudas Cava Brut
cherry and orange peel, for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass with cubed ice, express oils from 1 orange peel, then combine bourbon, simple syrup, cherry brine and aromatic bitters. Stir to chill and dilute. Strain into a flute and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a cherry and orange peel.
- * 1:1 ration of sugar dissolved in boiling water. Allow to cool before using.
Featuring
MENTHE DE CAFÉ
This cocktail is sure to please any coffee aficionado.Ingredients
Serves
1 oz (30 ml) sweetened condensed milk
1 oz (30 ml) Crown Royal Vanilla
½ oz (15 ml) McGuinness Peppermint Schnapps
2 oz (60 ml) strong coffee
fresh mint, for garnish
Instructions
- For a layering effect, add sweetened condensed milk to an old-fashioned glass, then fill glass with cubed ice. In a mixing glass with cubed ice, combine vanilla whisky, peppermint schnapps and strong coffee. Stir to chill and dilute. Strain over ice in prepared old-fashioned glass. Garnish with fresh mint.