Debbie’s Spring Picks
Buskers Triple Cask Whiskey
Celebrate St Paddy’s Day with a bottle of Busker Triple Cask Irish Whiskey. This interesting blend is produced using three different styles of whiskey – single grain, single malt, and Ireland’s unique pot still whiskey. The whiskey is matured and finished in bourbon, marsala and sherry casks which adds both aromas and flavours to the final blend.
The Busker’s whiskey opens with aromas of rich caramel and honeycomb notes with balanced flavours of dark chocolate, apricot, and mango. Its great for toasting with your favorite leprechauns or added to an Irish whiskey cocktail.
Tipperary
Ingredients- 1 1/2 oz Buskers Whiskey
- 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
- 1/2 oz Green Chartreuse
- 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
- Garnish: orange twist
- Add the Irish Whiskey, Sweet Vermouth, Green Chartreuse and bitters into a mixing glass with ice. Stir until well-chilled.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Express the oils from an orange twist over the glass and discard.
Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon
Of the brown spirts of the world, bourbon is known for its sweet aromatics, floral, spice and wood notes. These qualities make it a tasty component in spirit forward cocktails like old fashions or mint juleps.
A Mint Julep needs a bourbon with a little more kick, 90 proof or higher, to stand up to crushed ice and the warmer temperatures of spring days. The award-winning Elijah Craig Small Batch is a 94-proof classic Kentucky bourbon perfect for this classic spring cocktail.
For a refreshing twist, try adding a dry sparkling wine to a traditional Mint Julep recipe. The wine provides a pleasant brightness and effervescence that plays well with the rich, caramelized tones of the Elijah Craig whiskey.
Prosecco Mint Julep
Ingredients- 6 mint leaves, plus more for garnish
- 3/4 oz simple syrup
- 1 oz Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon
- Crushed ice
- 3 oz dry prosecco
- 1 dash of Angostura bitters
- In a mint julep cup or highball glass, muddle mint leaves and simple syrup until mint is dark green and has lost its shape.
- Add bourbon, then ice, prosecco, and bitters, and gently stir to combine. Garnish with more mint.
Piattelli Reserve Cafayate Torrontés
Get ready to spring into love with the beautiful and expressive Torrontés Riojano grape, a crisp and complex indigenous grape from Argentina. This Torrontés bursts with tropical aromas of pineapple, peach, and orange blossom. Aromatic notes continue in the mouth with fresh apricot, lychee, and a hint of orange zest. Acidity is well-balanced in the mouth with a citrusy medium finish.
Aromatic white wines are always a great option for refreshing brunch drinks made even more enjoyable when paired with the right dishes. Piattelli Reserve Torrontés is a fantastic Easter brunch wine pairing for dishes like avocado toast, bagels with smoked salmon lox any brunch salad, and herb-loaded frittatas.
Château Routas Rosé
Pink could become your favorite Spring-time shade after experiencing the refreshing and delicate flavors of Château Routas Rosé. This expertly crafted wine is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon which is produced in the famous Provence region of South East France.
Routas Rosé is an award winning wine that should be part of your warm weather wine line up. It opens with aromas of freshly cut watermelon, wild strawberries and pink grapefruit. The palate is dry and light with refreshing acidity and a creamy delicate palate. Routas is a great stand alone wine but pairs well with seafood dishes, veggie pizzas and soft cheese like brie and goat cheese.
La Marca Prosecco Rose
La Marca Prosecco Rosé offers the bright crisp fruit and floral essence of a traditional prosecco with the delicate elegance of Pinot Noir. This fresh and slightly sweet bubbly opens with classic aromas of citrus, pear and honey blended with and ripe red cherry and raspberry notes. The palate is light and lively a perfect pairing for weekend brunch.
Don Julio Blanco
Tequila, like Scotch and Champagne, is a “Denomination of Origin” beverage, meaning that legally it can only be produced in certain regions in Mexico using Blue Weber Agave. Don Julio Blanco comes from the Valley of Tequila located in the western state of Jalisco. The Valley’s rich volcanic soil and warm climate provide an ideal growing environment for growing blue agave.
Don Julio has fresh agave aromas with lemon and grapefruit notes. Pear, citrus and smoke flavors with pepper and agave on the finish. This tequila is great served on the rocks or in a classic margarita but works well in a variety of cocktails.
Cherry Blossom
- 1.25 oz Don Julio Tequila
- 1 oz lime juice
- 1 oz grapefruit juice
- .25 oz grenadine
- Grapefruit slice or maraschino cherry for garnish
Rossignol Marachal Foch
Rossignol Winery’s Marachal Foch and aged Island beef is a tasty example of the wine adage “what grows together goes together.” Foch, as it’s affectionately called, is a cold hardy disease resistant grape that is well suited to our cool Prince Edward climate. Rossignol Foch is a dry full-bodied red wine with aromas of blackberry, smoke and spice. Jammy, dark-fruit flavors and earthy notes are well integrated on the palate.
For an unforgettable Island experience pair with BBQ meats, charcuterie or chocolate desserts.
No Boats On Sunday Cider Variety Pack
Summertime and the sipping is easy with a can of No Boats on Sunday Cider in your hand. Crisp and off-dry with light carbonation and lower alcohol content are a few reasons why ciders are one of the most refreshing hot weather drinks.
Joining the original No Boats on Sunday apple cider the variety pack features both a pear and a peach cider. Cider pairs beautifully with food and the rule of thumb is to think about what ingredients go well with the fruit in the cider. With three fruit profiles in the pack the combinations of cider and food are plentiful.
Why not consider a cider punch at your next backyard BBQ? Mix equal parts of cider and ginger beer with a good splash of vodka, squeeze in some lime juice and a dash of bitters.
Island Honey Mead
Share some Island pride this Easter with gifts from Island Honey Wine Company. For the uninitiated, it can be surprising to discover the wide variety and styles of mead that are produced. Drinking Island mead is really a snapshot of time and place of PEI’s unique honey terroir and wouldn’t be the same if it were made anywhere else.
There are two meads that are a must to try, the Wildflower Mead and the Haskap Mead. The Wildflower is a good introduction to a traditional off dry table mead, it tastes different with every sip as the complexity of honey reveals itself on the palate. Wildflower has earned a place on many Island tables when poultry or creamy seafood dishes are served.
Haskap berries have been enjoyed in Japan for hundreds of years for its supposed health benefits. Honey is blended with the meadery’s own organic Haskap berries in a style called “mellomel”. The taste profile includes notes of raspberry, blueberry, and black current. This mead shares its big fruity presence and ruby color while retaining a serious commitment on the table with BBQ meats, lamb and dark chocolate.
Cointreau
Cointreau is a premium brand of triple sec created in France, famous for its tangy orange peel aroma and bittersweet orange flavor. It is a simple blend of sugar, water and bitter Caribbean and sweet European oranges. It is well regarded as having a perfect balance of warm spices and alcohol. The unique blend of sweet and bitter makes it a great addition to many creative cocktails and a key ingredient for Margaritas and Cosmopolitans. Cointreau surged in popularity during the Golden Age of Cocktails, first appearing in mixology manuals as early as 1922. Cointreau is not limited to a supporting role in mixed drinks,it is wonderful served as either an aperitif or digestif.
Cointreau is a definite asset to any home bar but it is also useful in the kitchen of many at home chefs. Planning for Easter family gatherings is a great opportunity to experiment with Cointreau’s many culinary talents. Use Cointreau in flavoured whipped butter, on warmed breakfast bread or croissants with morning coffee, its a great start to any day. For an unforgettable Easter dinner try roasting your turkey or ham with a pepper and Cointreau rub, the combination of sweet and spice will amaze your guests. It is also great alongside chocolate and fruit inspired salads and dessert.
Spring can be a busy social season with Easter gatherings Mothers Day Brunches and graduations. Having a quick and delicious cocktail recipe that’s also spring inspired is a great treat for your guests. The Cherry Blossom Tini is a Cosmo inspired drink with an interesting addition of Sake and bitters.
Cherry Blossom Tini
INGREDIENTS
- 1.5 oz of Gekkeikan Sake
- ½ oz Cointreau
- ½ oz cranberry juice
- Dash each of fresh orange and lime juice
- 3 dashes of Angostura Aromatic Bitters
METHOD
- Pour ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice
- Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass
Grand Marnier
Grand Marnier was first produced in France around 1850 and has become a staple for professional and home mixologists around the world. This bright topaz liquid sparkles with gold and amber tints. The nose opens with a complexity of orange and toffee notes. Flavors of sweet citrus and orange rind with touches of spice and brandy notes linger on the finish.
Grand Marnier is not just a dessert beverage it can be successfully paired with several appetizer and main course dishes. Beet and Kale Salad with aged balsamic and orange vinaigrette would be a beautiful addition to any spring brunch table. A main course featuring seared scallops with bacon jam and fennel lemon risotto requires a bit more time in the kitchen but the flavors are amazing and well worth the effort.
Grand Marnier’s versatility makes it a great choice to serve at an Easter or Mother’s Day brunch. This golden liquor can be served on the rocks, in your favorite blend of coffee or as a great complement to all the chocolate your Easter Bunny treated you to! Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge blends easily with many different dishes, try adding some to a festive Easter Cosmo recipe.
Grand O Pitcher
Yield 10 servings.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups of Grand Marnier
- 2 cups of Orange Juice
- 2 cups Soda Water
- Hand full of Fresh Raspberries
- Lemon cut in half
- Pour all ingredients into pitcher half filled with ice.
- Squeeze half lemon into pitcher
- Stir
- Serve in rocks glass filled with ice
- Garnish with lemon and raspberries