Brighten Your December with These Four Vessel Liquor-Recommended Favourites

The Goods from Vessel Liquor

Victoria, BC | Since opening doors in December 2015, Vessel has become Victoria’s hub for all things wine, beer, spirits, cider, and the conversation and culture surrounding them. Our locally-owned, independent company was built around supporting authentic products and producers, from our BC backyard and from around the globe.

Awarded Best Liquor Store in Victoria (six times!), Vessel remains even more committed to serving the community. In 2022 we greatly expanded the footprint of our store, allowing for hundreds more listings. And in 2023, we expanded provincially, with an extensive new website and online store, allowing customers from across BC to shop Vessel from home.

It’s festive season! However you choose to celebrate, we’ve something in store to make it merry. Here are four favourite picks to brighten your December:

MADE IN BC

Tantalus Blanc de Noirs 2022, East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, BC. $44.99

Hand picked from a single estate block of 1985 planted Pinot Noir, this vintage saw a small addition of estate Pinot Meunier for the first time. Pouring a just barely there peach tint, this brisk, dry, and structured sparkler streams wild cherry, tayberry, peach fuzz, over a bed of river stones, finishing with snappy cherry blossoms. A useful fizz for a wide variety of foodstuffs, from canapés through dinner, and of course, for festive celebrations. Find it online.

NEGRONIS FOR ALL

St. Agrestis Phony Negroni, Brooklyn, NY, USA. $14.99 for 2 x 200mL

This zero proof Negroni will come in handy for designated drivers, or anyone that is looking for the classic cocktails bitter, complexed flavour without the alcohol. 30 organic raw botanicals were sourced from five continents for this researched drink, with a light carbonation to make even more delicious. Plus, pocket sized! Find it online.

THE OG VERMOUTH

Dolin Vermouth de Chambéry Rouge, Savoie, France. $26.99

Chambéry is the only AOC for Vermouth, and Dolin is one of the few remaining producers with this status. This classic sweet red vermouth incorporates 54 botanicals into the wine base, marrying notes of cherry, plum, and dried fruits with cinnamon and thyme, with an alluring bitterness that makes it ideal for gently warming cocktails (and over-fed tummies). Splash into your Manhattan, or serve over ice. Find it online.

STUFF YOUR STOCKINGS

NiceLife assorted canned cocktails, Port Coquitlam, BC. $7.99 for 100mL

One of the first to make packaged craft-cocktails in BC, NiceLife has a smart quad of classics in a convenient 100mL can. Using real juices, and collaborations with other local small businesses, they hand-craft all their small batches from scratch. We have the Aviation, Negroni, Manhattan, and Cold Brewed Coffee Martini – all perfect stocking stuffer size. Find it online.