Awesome Thing We Drank

From local craft beers, ciders and wines to classic cocktails and newfangled concoctions of every mentionable stripe, this column details every especially tasty beverage that we remember to photograph before drinking.

You Need To Try This / Main Street

The Timely ‘Campfire’ Cocktail At Nomad On Main Street

This is a deliciously spicy little number of Eagle Rare bourbon, dry gin and dry vermouth complicated by ginger syrup, Angostura bitters and charred citrus. The potent, aromatic mix is then poured into a smoke filled rocks glass for the win.

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South Africa’s Blankbottle 2015 ‘Moment Of Silence’

Seek and taste now, because there’s every assurance this exact wine will never be again. For the better. Crazy good value for this level of everything.

Awesome Thing We Drank / New Westminster

Brilliant, Food Friendly ‘Red Pilsner’ From Steel & Oak

Despite all the hop bombs, delectably balanced pale ales, and brett-conditioned saisons the organizers had secured, many of the bearded beer geek set in attendance preferred the nuanced charms of Occidental's perfectly executed Bohemian-style lager...

Awesome Thing We Drank / North Vancouver

‘Sons Of Vancouver’ Coffee Liqueur — Launches Today

Without naming names, I can tell you this is NOTHING like that coffee liqueur that Mom spikes her morning cup of coffee with over the holidays...

You Need To Try This

Niepoort ’14 Dialogo From The Douro Valley In Portugal

Youthful raspberry, blackberry, wild blueberry, thorns ride a juicy and jubilant palate, brought back to earth by earthy, savoury and youthfully fierce, fine tannins...

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Locally Distilled ‘Lohin McKinnon’ Single Malt Whisky

On the nose, I was right away taken back to the Highlands. Notes of stone fruit, vanilla and the charred American oak of the barrel hit the senses. On the palate, there were silky layers of honey, candied citrus and a subtle, peppery finish.

Awesome Thing We Drank

Barrel-Aged ‘Reynard’ Oud Bruin By Strange Fellows

Whether you're savouring Hill's latest Oud Bruin on your own or serving it over the holidays with some Le Cendrillon Ash Chevre or a slice of Cadeaux's gorgeous Black Forest cake with sour cherry compote, Reynard won't disappoint.

You Need To Try This

Wind Gap Trousseau Gris From The Russian River Valley

The vibrant, lively wine is incidentally white; a white skinned grape made like it was a red wine with an alluring depth of salty herbal fruit and bitter pear through to the finish.

Awesome Thing We Drank / Commercial Drive

Summer Thyme Refreshment At ‘Cabrito’ On The Drive

Mezcal margarita sees its Cointreau, lime, and agave lit up with the booze-alleviating sting of grapefruit and a seriously summery herbaceous hint of thyme ("tomillo" is Spanish for thyme).

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Veneto’s Excellent, Smashable Angiolino Maule Masieri

A fine slick of earthy lees oils the bottom of the palate, while herbal lemon oil-laced acidity brightens the whole to a lightly grippy finish. You rock up to a party carrying one of these beauties and you are the party.

You Need To Try This / North Shore

Superb, Bittersweet ‘Amaro’ Made In North Vancouver

A couple of young fellows from North Van recently dove head first into the Amaro game, and their subtly sweet, silky smooth Italian style bitter is the best I’ve tried in BC.

You Need To Try This

Bridge Brewing Co.’s Brilliant Side Cut North East IPA

With a full, well-rounded mouth feel and a resiny, grapefruity aftertaste, Side Cut makes a pretty strong impression, and is a brilliant intro to a relatively new (albeit disputed) "style" of IPA.

You Need To Try This / The Okanagan

Kitten Swish – 2014 ‘Target Practice’ Cabernet Franc

Though full bodied and generous, long tannins are spun silk textured and acidity is naturally lifted. Quite pretty, while powerful, this is a unique cabernet franc worth setting your sights on.

Awesome Thing We Drank / Commercial Drive

The Rye Stout From ‘Doan’s Craft Brewery’ In East Van

With a mouthfeel that similarly starts out supple and rich, only to be cut by a firm, dry finish, Doan’s rye stout is an inventive yet honest take on a classic style that is well-deserving of its recognition as BC's best stout.

You Need To Try This

Faia Vin Blanc 2014 From Loire’s Mai & Kenji Hodgson

Tight green apple, white honey, delicate white florals, savoury broken stone, mandarin pith and bitter herbs glide on the palate's lightly leesy chenin sheen through to the lengthy finish...

You Need To Try This

Cross Border Collab Crafts Brilliant ‘Common Winds’

lthough nearly sold out, word is that a couple remaining bottles of this super limited edition beer are still out there. I'd grab whatever you can find because epic collabs like this one don’t come around too often.

Awesome Thing We Drank

Yellow Dog Brewing Co.’s ‘Play Dead IPA’ A Rare Gem

It's maybe not what George Hodgson had in mind when he filled his first barrels with October Ale destined for the Subcontinent, but it remains a perfectly executed expression of a modern style that can be so delicious when done well.

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’13 “One Ball” Chardonnay From Australia’s BK Wines

With a couple of years under its belt and a nutty, brioche maturity, this wine is drinking beautifully now but will continue to mature and deepen with 5+ years.

Awesome Thing We Drank

Pride Of Dageraad Brewing — The Stunning Blonde Ale

With a rich, supple mouth feel and a warming finish, Dageraad Blonde manages to balance all of its complexity while still maintaining its many unique, constituent elements...

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Ringing In The New Year With Good Prosecco In Hand

Serious Prosecco, and seriously drinkable – at about half the price of Champagne. Saluti e felice anno nuovo!

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Mathieu + Camille Lapierre’s Morgon ’13 Cru Beaujolais

Crunchy acids finish with ample white pepper on the finish. Very low sulphur use here, as is the house style. It's drinking well now, but will reward with 5+ years in the cellar.

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2012 “Secateurs” Red Blend From A.A. Badenhorst

Next time instead of trotting out your darling obscure Jura or electric Savennières or natural Etna (all of which fill my shelves), reach for one of the new wave South African wines, like Secateurs Red Blend.

You Need To Try This / Strathcona

Citrusy “Guardian” White IPA From Strange Fellows

You Need To Try This / Gastown

Barman Florian Ruff’s ‘The Elder Got Flowers’ Cocktail

You Need To Try This

“Green Room” Syrah/Grenache From Ochota Barrels

You Need To Try This / West End

Cortado At The West End’s “Greenhorn Espresso Bar”

You Need To Try This / Downtown

A Tall, Refreshing Glass Of Breakfast At Chambar

You Need To Try This / Gastown

“The Blue Nutter” Cocktail At Notturno In Gastown