Sesawi
Ingredients
Serves Serves 1
¼ oz (7 ml) Green Tree Absinthe
1 lime wedge
Sesame-Kiwi Rim*, for garnish
4 fresh basil leaves
½ oz (15 ml) Simple Syrup**
1 oz (30 ml) Sesame-Kiwi Purée***
1½ oz (45 ml) Long Table Texada Vodka
½ oz (15 ml) fresh lime juice
½ oz (15 ml) Cointreau
fresh herbs, for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a rocks glass with ice, add absinthe and stir for 20 seconds, then discard ice and absinthe. Wipe edge of glass with lime wedge. Scatter Sesame-Kiwi Rim on a plate and dip edge of glass into mixture to coat. Set aside. In a steel cocktail shaker, muddle basil leaves until leaves are crushed. Add remaining ingredients to shaker and fill with ice. Cover and shake until outside of shaker becomes frosty, about 15 seconds. Fill prepared glass with ice and strain contents of shaker into glass. Garnish with fresh herbs.
- * To make Sesame-Kiwi Rim, dehydrate reserved kiwi skins from Sesame-Kiwi Purée in a dehydrator on medium, or in an oven at 165 F (74 C), for 2 to 3 hours, until no moisture remains. In a blender, combine dried kiwi skins with ¼ cup (60 ml) sea salt and blend until it becomes a coarse dust. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside. In a small, dry frying pan over low heat, toast 1/8 cup (25 ml) black sesame seeds until seeds start to pop, about 5 minutes. Add to bowl and stir to combine. Makes enough for 8 cocktails. Will keep for up to 1 month in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
- *** To make Sesame-Kiwi Purée, peel 6 kiwis (reserve skins for Sesame-Kiwi Rim) and transfer to a blender. In a small, dry frying pan over low heat, toast ¼ cup (60 ml) black sesame seeds until seeds start to pop, about 5 minutes. Add to blender along with 3½ oz (100 ml) Simple Syrup. Blend for approximately 30 seconds, until smooth. Makes about 2 cups (500 ml). Will keep for up to 4 days in refrigerator in an airtight container.
Featuring
To the Beet
Ingredients
Serves Serves 1
1 large egg white or 2 dashes Ms. Better’s Bitters Miraculous Foamer
1½ oz (45 ml) White Owl Whisky
1 oz (30 ml) Beet Marmalade*, plus extra for garnish
1 oz (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
½ oz (15 ml) Odd Society Bittersweet Vermouth**
drops of cassis, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a steel cocktail shaker, dry shake (without ice) egg white or foamer until foamy. Add remaining ingredients to shaker and fill with ice. Cover and shake until outside of shaker becomes frosty, about 15 seconds. Fine strain into a coupe glass and garnish with Beet Marmalade and cassis, if using.
- * To make Beet Marmalade, preheat oven to 400 F (200 C). Peel ¾ lb (340 g) beets (about 3 to 4 medium beets) and cut into wedges. Place on a lined baking sheet, drizzle with ½ tbsp (7 ml) organic Canadian canola oil and toss to coat. Roast for 50 mins, until fork-tender. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. In a food processor, pulse beets until finely chopped. Transfer to a large saucepan and add 2 tbsp (30 ml) water, ½ cup (125 ml) brown sugar, ¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup, ½ tbsp (7 ml) finely chopped ginger, a pinch of sea salt, 1 tbsp (15 ml) lemon juice, ½ a cinnamon stick and 2 whole cloves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for about 1 hour, or until thickened. Remove from heat and let cool. Makes about 2/3 cup (150 ml); will keep for up to 1 week in an airtight container in refrigerator.
- ** Can substitute same quantity of Montenegro Amaro if unable to find the vermouth
Drink Pairings
Falernum Syrup
Ingredients
Serves 2 1/4 Cups
1½ cups (375 ml) water
40 whole cloves
zest from 2 limes
1 oz (30 g) chopped ginger
1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
1½ cups (375 ml) sugar
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except sugar to a blender and pulse to chop. Transfer to a saucepan and heat to around 140 F (60 C). Add sugar and stir to dissolve. Remove from heat and let cool. Strain through a fine mesh sieve, then bottle and store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Use in a Stormy Swizzle (recipe on bcliquorstores.com) or any other cocktail that calls for Falernum Syrup.
Featuring
In the Late Afternoon
Ingredients
Serves 1
1¼ oz (37 ml) Tio Pepe Fino Sherry
½ oz (15 ml) Vecchia Romagna Brandy
¼ oz (7 ml) Pernod
1 oz (30 ml) Spiced Apricot Jam Syrup
1 oz (30 ml) lemon juice
½ oz (15 ml) simple syrup
4 dashes Bittered Sling Kensington Bitters or other aromatic bitters
lemon slice and star anise, for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine all ingredients. Shake, then strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with lemon and star anise.
Featuring
Roasted Peach & Campari Cocktail
Ingredients
Serves 4
2 medium ripe peaches, peeled, halved and pitted
1½ cups (375 ml) Campari
¼ cup (60 ml) sweet white vermouth
¼ cup (60 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice
2 tbsp (30 ml) freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tbsp (15 ml) syrup from Amarena cherries*
soda water and ice, to serve
4 Amarena cherries, for garnish*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C). Slice each peach half into 4 pieces, place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, pitted-sides up. Roast until lightly caramelized, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
- In a large glass container, combine Campari and roasted peaches. Cover and let peaches infuse into Campari for 4 to 6 hours at room temperature, or overnight in refrigerator. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a jug, reserving peaches.
- To infused Campari, add vermouth, lime juice, orange juice and cherry syrup. Stir well to combine. Divide between 4 ice-filled cocktail glasses. Add a peach slice to each glass, top with soda water and garnish with an Amarena cherry. Serve immediately.
- *Available at specialty stores or online.
Featuring
Green Gold
Ingredients
Serves 1
black salt, for garnish (optional)
1½ oz (45 ml) Los Siete Misterios Doba-yej Mezcal
¾ oz (22 ml) lime juice
½ oz (15 ml) Chartreuse Green Liqueur
¼ oz (7 ml) agave nectar
¾ tsp (4 ml) yuzu kosho*
1 dash Bittered Sling Cascade Celery Bitters
shiso leaf, for garnish
Instructions
- Rim a rocks glass with salt, if using: sprinkle a handful of black salt on a small plate. Moisten rim of glass and dip into salt. Combine remaining ingredients in a cocktail shaker over ice and shake. Fine strain through a mesh strainer into prepared glass, fill with ice and garnish with a shiso leaf.
- *A type of citrusy Japanese chili paste. Available at most Asian grocery stores.
Drink Pairings
Que Padre
Ingredients
Serves 1
1 oz (30 ml) cranberry-infused Don Julio Blanco Tequila*
¾ oz (22 ml) Aperol Aperitivo
¾ oz (22 ml) Martini Bianco Vermouth
2 dashes orange blossom water
grapefruit zest, for garnish
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice, and stir until chilled and diluted. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with an expressed grapefruit zest.
- *Combine 1 cup (250 ml) Don Julio Blanco Tequila and a heaping 1/3 cup (about 75 ml) cranberries in a non-reactive container. Break up cranberries using a muddler or spoon. Cover and let sit at room temperature for 24 hours, then strain out cranberries. Store in refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 1 year.
Featuring
Meadowland Tonic
Ingredients
Serves 1
1½ oz (45 ml) Noilly Prat Extra Dry Vermouth
½ oz (15 ml) St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur
¼ oz (7 ml) cherry blossom tea syrup*
2½ oz (75 ml) craft tonic water, such as Fever Tree
rose water and lemon wheel, for garnish
thyme sprigs, for garnish
Instructions
- Combine vermouth, St-Germain and tea syrup in a wine glass, add ice and stir to combine. Add tonic and garnish with a spray or drop of rose water, a lemon wheel and thyme sprigs.
- *In a saucepan, heat 1 cup (250 ml) water almost to a boil and add 1 cherry blossom green tea bag. Keep over heat for 20 minutes, being sure not to let it come to a boil. Add 2 cups (500 ml) sugar and stir well to fully dissolve. Remove tea bag and transfer syrup to a sealed container. Syrup will keep, refrigerated, for up to 6 weeks.
Featuring
Rosita
Ingredients
Serves 1
1½ oz (45 ml) Camarena Reposado Tequila
½ oz (15 ml) Campari
½ oz (15 ml) Martini Rosso Vermouth
½ oz (15 ml) Noilly Prat Extra Dry Vermouth
1 dash Angostura bitters
grapefruit twist, for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass with cubed ice, combine all ingredients. Stir to chill and dilute, then strain into a rocks glass over new cubed ice. Express oils from grapefruit twist over surface, then use twist for garnish.
Featuring
Manhattan
Ingredients
Serves 1
2 oz (60 ml) Canadian Club Chairman’s Select 100% Rye Whisky
1 oz (30 ml) Cinzano Rosso Vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
coin-sized round of orange zest
all-natural maraschino cherry, for garnish
Instructions
- Place a Martini or stemmed cocktail glass in the freezer. In a mixing glass, combine rye, vermouth and bitters with cubed ice. Stir until well chilled and strain into chilled glass. Express oils of orange zest over surface and discard, then garnish with a cherry.