Debbie’s Canadian Picks
Park Distillery Maple Rye
Park Distillery, nestled in Banff, Alberta, crafts their Maple Rye using traditional Canadian maple syrup and the spicy warmth of Alberta rye grain. Smooth, bold, and unmistakably Canadian, it’s perfect neat, over ice, or in cocktails like a Manhattan or a Maple Rye Sour. A must-try for whisky enthusiasts, it’s a true Canadian classic.
Maple Rye Sour
Ingredients
- 2 oz Park Maple Rye Whiskey
- 1⁄2 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1⁄2 oz fresh orange juice
- 1⁄4 oz Luxardo Amaro Abano
- Orange Peel, for garnish
Method
- Combine whiskey, juices and amaro in a cocktail shaker, fill with ice, and cover; shake vigorously until chilled.
- Strain into a chilled sour glass and garnish with orange peel.
Benjamin Bridge NV Brut
Celebrate the return of longer days with a bottle of NV Benjamin Bridge Brut Sparkling wine! This Méthode Classique sparkler draws upon reserve wines going back nearly fifteen years. Beautiful aromas of citrus, flint and sea salt lead into a palate that is crisp and tart with an amazing supply of fine bubbles. A quintessential seafood wine, this Maritime sparkling wine pairs well with a plate of freshly shucked PEI oysters.
JD Shore Canadian Rum Cream
This Nova Scotia cream liqueur has quickly become one of the Maritimes’ most beloved rum cream beverages. It opens with aromas of fresh butterscotch, coconut, and caramel cream pie. The palate is rich with chocolate, delicate fruit, and warm baking spices on the finish. JD Shore is perfect added to coffee, mixed into a favourite cocktail recipe, or enjoyed on its own, poured over ice.
Nk’Mip Cellars Winemaker’s Chardonnay VQA
Nk’mip Cellars is the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America and has earned a reputation for producing some of the best chardonnays in Canada. At the 2024 National Wine Awards of Canada, Nk’Mip Cellars was named one of the top wineries in British Columbia and awarded a gold medal for their Winemakers Chardonnay. This well-crafted wine was fermented in both stainless steel and oak, giving it a crisp, fruit-forward flavour with a smooth, slightly creamy finish. Let’s raise a toast to West Coast Canadian Chardonnay!