HOLIDAY SPIRIT
Sometimes, the easiest gift is the one you pick up at the liquor store. The good news is that sometimes it’s also the gift that’s most appreciated. Whether you’re in search of something for your boss, your party host or that impossible-to-buy-for person
Rum is a spirit that often doesn’t get the respect it deserves. The
Bacardi 8 Year Old is one to prove the haters wrong. Aged a minimum of eight years in white American oak, this soft, aromatic rum tastes of exotic tropical fruits, apricots, raisins and sweet spices. Fans who love both whisky and the CFL will enjoy Gibson’s Finest 100th Grey Cup Limited Edition. This smooth and mellow allCanadian whisky has sweet, soft flavours of vanilla and butterscotch with a lush maple syrup finish. For a vodka that is anything but neutral, there is
Prairie Organic, a luscious corn-based spirit made from grain grown by 900 farmers in Minnesota. It is certified organic and kosher, with a sweet, smooth grainy flavour that is delicious straight up or in cocktails
Some people love nothing so much as the clean, crisp neutrality of vodka. Jazzing it up a little is
Absolut’s “Unique” limited edition line. Each of these vibrantly coloured bottles comes in a one-of-a-kind design inspired by street art. And vodka lovers will enjoy the subtle flavours of this wheat-based spirit.
For some of us, Christmas means cognac, with all its gorgeous dried fruity, floral, chocolate and spice complexity. For something extra special, Remy Martin XO Excellence is an opulent blend of 300 eaux de vies that have been aged 10 to 37 years in oak. It’s beautifully floral on the nose, with dark chocolate and orange flavours on the palate, like a Terry’s Chocolate Orange in a glass, only much, much better. If that’s a little rich for the budget, then perhaps the
St-Remy Extra Old Reserve Privee brandy might be a solution. St-Remy’s cellar master, Martine Pain, has created a sophisticated and complex brandy from a special 10-year-old eau de vie, with flavours of apricots, dates, figs, nuts and a whiff of vanilla. Every numbered, limited edition bottle of Crown Royal
Extra Rare comes with a chaser of Canadian history. It’s possibly the most expensive whisky ever produced in Canada, a lusciously creamy and spicy blend that contains the last precious drops rescued from the legendary Waterloo Distillery that was destroyed by fire. Expect flavours of butterscotch, toffee, vanilla and soft spices packaged in a gorgeous keepsake bottle.
Gin has seen a huge comeback the last few years, thanks to the craftsmanship of a handful of passionate distillers who are creating gorgeously complex aromatic spirits. If you think gin is all about juniper and wicked hangovers, you couldn’t be more wrong. The lovely Hendrick’s gin from Scotland, for instance, is a fragrant bouquet of rose and cucumber, and comes in an elegant bottle that makes a beautiful addition to any home bar. If there is such a thing as a whisky for all palates, then
The Balvenie DoubleWood might just be it. Balvenie is one of the few distillers that still hand-crafts its spirit according to the traditional techniques, making it a favourite among the scotch cognoscenti. But it is also a beautifully approachable, palate-pleasing liquid. The DoubleWood is a special treat: a 12-year-old single malt finished in sherry casks that add juicy, fruity flavours to a lush, softly spicy whisky.