Four Island-Inspired Picks that Vessel Liquor Recommends This Summer

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.

Summertime makes us yearn for beaches. Here are four fresh and adventuresome picks from islands around the world, ready for the sunshine:

MADE IN BC

Sea Cider Temperance Eden, Saanich Peninsula, Vancouver Island ($12.99)
This non-alc cider is crisp, floral, and bright, with subtle apple blossoms and buoyant lemongrass and citrus. Bonus points: a portion of proceeds from the Temperance Series supports wellness programs in Canada that nurture physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Consume liberally. Find it online.

TENERIFE TERROIR

Suertes del Marquès La Floridita 2021, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain ($39.99)
This light, pale and hazy red is predominantly 100+ year old ungrafted and organic Listán Negro, showcasing Tenerife’s volcanic soils at 350-450m. The Suertes del Marquès La Floridita 2021 is threaded with pink grapefruit, wild plum, wild raspberry, and scrubby rosemary on a broken stony base. Acidity is lofted and easy, buoying to a lingering, saline finish, and tannins are slight. There’s a lovely fine texture to this natural red. Ideally consumed with a light chill. Find it online.

G&T O’CLOCK

Tobermory Distillery Hebridean Gin, Isle of Mull, Scotland ($49.99)
This marine-side gin is produced on the Isle of Mull, inspired by the island’s landscape and proud whisky heritage. Juniper, tea, heather, elderflower, sweet orange peel, and a touch of spirit from the distillery’s whisky stills is woven throughout this saline kissed gin, ready to power your summer G&T o’clock. Find it online.

FRANCE X ITALY

Clos Fornelli Corse Niellucciu 2023, Corsica, France ($36.99)
When you just can’t decide between French and Italian, pick up this Niellucciu (aka Sangiovese) from Corsica. Wild plum, black raspberry, wild blackberry is gripped with fine, thorny tannins, wrapping around an alluringly pure plum core. Acidity is easily lofted, stony and saline, the latter lingering far on the finish of this charming red. Find it online.