Photo: Katie Huisman

We drank plenty of interesting craft spirits at BC Distilled last month, but the big takeaway for us was Sons Of Vancouver‘s superb No. 82 Amaretto. Made with vanilla beans, apricot kernels, and local blackberry honey, it’s shockingly complex, long-lingering, easy-sipping (26% ABV), and not the least bit saccharine in its honey-nutty sweetness.

On its origins, one of the “sons” in Sons Of Vancouver, James Lester, explained that he and partner Richard Klaus “were inspired to set out and make it our way and try something new and that balanced differently than anything we could find.” In this, the two driven 20-somethings succeeded, albeit after 81 batches (hence the name).

Right now, they’re trying to keep up with demand. “We kinda fell into being an amaretto distillery,” Lester admits, adding that he and Klaus are totally fine with that. “We still make 25 bottles at a time but are scaling up every other week. We bottled 150 (750ml) last week and plan on doing 200 this weekend.”

Where can you get yours? Head to the distillery in North Vancouver (14531 Crown Street), where 350ml bottles are $22.5o and 750ml bottles are $40. If you can’t cross the bridge, Legacy Liquor Store can you hook you up with all of Sons of Vancouver’s products (they also make vodka) in Olympic Village.

EVERY AWESOME THING WE DRANK