ORINOCO JULEP

The Four Seasons’ cozy Sidecut Bar, adjacent to the hotel’s verdant courtyard terrace, recently elevated its cocktail game with a new collection of drinks inspired by mountain ranges around the world and created by Lauren Mote, a multi-award-winning bartender from Vancouver. Perfect for summer sipping at crisp altitudes, this warmly rounded spin on the Mint Julep (named after the Upper Orinoco River in the Andes) switches out bourbon for a shot of Johnnie Walker Black that has been infused with the sweet notes of tonka bean and allspice. The main herbal component comes from a refreshing, simple syrup made with Mountain Mint tea from Whistler’s own Namasthé Tea Co., which hand-harvests its wild spearmint in the nearby Pemberton Valley. But it also contains an essential dash of Green Chartreuse, a French herbal liqueur made by Carthusian Monks, which blooms earthy on the finish. Head Bartender Richie Small adds his own perfumed touch by smacking the silver smash cup with fresh mint and rubbing the leaves around the rim. “It wakes up the oils,” he explains, “and gets it right onto your hands.”