Cognac is the probably the most famous kind of brandy. Like true champagne, only brandy that is from the Charente and Charente Maritime areas, north of Bordeaux can be legally labeled Cognac. The chalky soil, climate and proximity to the ocean offer an interesting advantage for vineyards. This combination produces a thin, acidic white wine, which no one would want, but it is perfect for distilling brandy.
There are three grape varieties grown in Cognac – Ugni Blanc, Colombard, and Folle Blanche. The area itself is also divided up in to three sections – forest (bois), champs (fields) and champagne (open …read more

Now that the hangover from New Years Eve has gone away, it’s time to start looking towards the new year. If you’re like thousands of other people, and you want to lose weight or get in shape this season, but still have social commitments to keep, what’s your best option for a cocktail?
There are ways to keep the amount of calories you drink down, and Bethenny Frankel, author of the upcoming book, “Naturally Thin” and chef and star of The Real Housewives of New York City, has created “Skinnygirl” cocktails including her favorite, the Skinnygirl Frangelini. A refreshing, low-fat cocktail that contains …read more

Those who know me well, and who have known me for the past few years, know that this is not my “happiest time of the year” (for me, that’s summertime…. give me heat, give me sunshine!!)….*cough* sorry…. I got distracted. Right, where was I?
Oh yes… Christmas. Winter. Snow. Bleh. So, for me, staying warm, inside, with a good drink makes me happy. So, my 12 Drinks of Christmas (the 12 days being the ones that begin on Christmas night and end at Epiphany on January 5th)? Here it is….(recipes below)
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to …read more

In honour of Vancouver’s wicked winter wonderland we’re currently being subjected to, I bring you one of my favourite winter cocktails, all the way from the freak-deaky Dutch.
This one is one of those retro classics currently making its way up clubs with caché right now, alongside the Sidecars and the Whiskey Sours: it’s the Snowball.
Snowballs are made with Advocaat, a Dutch liqueur that’s the alcoholic equivalent of, well, egg nog. It’s a creamy, light liqueur with a hint of fruitiness (from brandy) and eggs. But there really is no other way to drink it unless mixed in a Snowball.
And the …read more

This new Thai spirit is made mostly from sugar cane and rice and is infused with a special blend of indigenous Thai herbs and spices. The highly secret Mekhong recipe delivers a distinctively rounder texture, delightful aroma and a smooth and more balanced taste than many golden spirits.
At 35% ABV, Mekhong makes some fun and flavourful cocktails. Mekhong has a golden, dark amber and reddish copper appearance and its flavour and aroma is both spicy and sweet with hints of ginger, honey, toffee, vanilla, floral, herbs and citrus.
If you’re lucky enough to have a bottle of Mekhong on hand, try …read more

The Maple Anjou was created especially for Drinks After Dark by Mark Brand, owner and mixologist at Boneta in Vancouver as a tribute to British Columbia winter.
You’re going to need a couple of items for your bar to create this drink, but it’s completely worth it, and you’ll totally impress your friends when you serve this.
You’ll need:
4 prong bar strainer
Small bar fine strainer (removes ice chips and other unwanted debris enhancing flavor and texture)
Classic Boston Shaker and Steel
Citrus Squeezer or Cheese Cloth for Lemon Juice
Very Sharp Peeler
Baking Trays
Baking Paper
If you can’t find a classic Boston shaker, use your regular shaker.
Ingredients:
1.5 …read more

I recently had the immense pleasure of being a judge at Finlandia Vodka’s “Vodka Cup“. It was there that I talked to Ryan from Hamilton Street Grill again, and met half of the Voya team and got to drink some fantastic new cocktails.

Each mixologist made 3 different drinks, using a maximum of 5 ingredients in each. The winner from the Vancouver competition went to the North American Shake-off in Colorado Springs, and then overall winner from Colorado Spings gets to go to the 11th Annual International Finlandia Vodka Cup, which will be held at the Lainio Snow Village, above the …read more

Typically, a tequila is classed as a sliver or gold. There are definitely other qualifications, but for the purposes of Maestro Dobel, those are the only two classes that matter.
Maestro Dobel Diamond Tequila is the world’s first ever diamond tequila, is a luxurious silver tequila with the complexity of an aged spirit. This exceptional blend of Reposado, Anejo and Extra Anejo tequilas can be judged, like a diamond, by four C’s: Clarity, Complexity, Crispness and Craftsmanship. Like I said in the Drinks After Dark Gift Guide, I find that this is smoother than many other tequilas, and is definitely …read more

I’ve been talking to Simon, one of my favourite bartenders at Voya a lot recently about their (and my) upcoming “12 Drinks of Christmas” specials and features. I’ve been thinking about playing around with mint and creamy flavours and so far, although we haven’t been “into the lab” yet, (but we’re hoping to go play sometime this week) here’s a few of the things that I’ve been talking about and thinking aout.
Peppermint Twist Candy Cane Martini
Vanilla ice cream
White Creme de Menthe
Giffard Vanilla Syrup
Blend and serve in a chilled martini glass with either a crushed candy cane rim, or just float …read more