Tastes like Summer

2 shiso leaves
0.25 cup chopped cucumber
2 oz Victoria Gin
2 oz pear nectar

Muddle shiso and cucumber.  Add Vic Gin and pear juice and shake on ice.  Garnish with half a shiso leaf.  Shiso-licious!

Organised by Vancouver’s FarmFolk/CityFolk, the event brings the region’s farmers, restaurateurs, vintners, brewers and food artisans together to share their passion and knowledge of local fare.  We’ll be there… in high spirits!

On July 25th we’ll be pouring at this YWCA fundraiser for the Crabtree Corner facility — which provides nutritious meals to needy women and children living in the Downtown Eastside.  More on ‘Sushi, Sake & Summer’ here.

We’ll be at the Main Event on the 15th, paired with Anna: Chef at Paprika Bistro and our sister/daughter/culinary visionary.

Fourteen of Toronto’s most talented mixologists each shook love into two cocktails behind the beautiful bar at Böhmer on Ossington Avenue.

The fabulous Thirsty Traveller Kevin Brauch hosted with passion.

Kevin also joined the judging panel with Bob Blumer (Surreal Gourmet), James Chatto (celebrated writer and editor, seen here), Chris Johns (Globe & Mail) & Christine Sismondo (Toronto Temperance Society).

Our mixologists were Elan Marks (The Drake) & Trevor Burnett (freelance consultant)

Gavin MacMillan (Bartender One) & Renata Clingen (Böhmer)

Elizabeth Savage (Marquis at the Hilton) & Adrian Stein (Oliver Bonacini Cafe Grill)

Rob Montgomery (Miller Tavern) & Brock Shepherd (Burger Bar)

Dave Mitton (The Harbord Room) & Simon Ho (The Drake)

Moses McIntee (Sidecar) & Clinton Pattemore (Toronto Bartending)

and Nishan Nepulangoda (Blowfish) & Scott McMaster (Colborne Lane)

Competitors presented two version of the same cocktail: one “fit for a queen” and the other “so easy the queen could make it”.  As James Chatto noted in his recent blog post:

The standard of the competition was impressively high throughout and the powers of imagination shown were astonishing.

Congrats Moses McIntee whose ‘Olde Vic’ will be featured on an LCBO neck tag. Again, from James:

It was a fascinating cocktail, like a complex, full-bodied extrapolation of a Negroni made with gin, Campari, bittersweet earl grey tea syrup and served in a Martini glass topped with a creamy head of Earl Grey tea foam.

Congrats as well to Adrian Stein who received a special jury award for the cocktail that best showcased Vic Gin and to Rob Mongomery whose ceramic bathtubs, tea sandwiches, and hot gin punch won a special jury award for best presentation.

The mixologists inspired us and each other.  We were honoured to be a part of this… We say this because it did become about more than Vic Gin.  You guys were shaking love.  A huge thanks from the Vic Gin family!

All photos by Zach Slootsky of takemorephotos

The cocktail comp celebrates the creativity and community of Toronto’s bar scene and the LCBO’s special promotion of Vic Gin.  The press release is here.

Queen Victoria Gin, Elizabeth Fitzgerald, takes the crown… and the gin!

On Victoria Day, host Bob Blumer, Reigning Queen Miss Conception and expert judges watched as Queen Victoria Lookalikes vied for the crown!

Toronto’s Croquet Society donned their “whites” in Royal York’s lobby.

Ladies in Waiting competed valiantly in noble domains of poise, talent and knowledge in the event co-created by the Fairmont Royal York.

Miss Conception — the Queen of Queens — inspires our Ladies at her throne

Judges Bruce Bell (resident historian), Shinan Govani (National Post’s gossip columnist), Melanie Coates (Royal York’s Queen Bee Keeper), Christopher Heard (resident author) & Christopher Randal (Classical 96.3)

Miss Conception shows our Ladies how a Queen “holds her liquor”

Host Bob Blumer (aka Sir Real) mastering the ceremonies and his martini

Ladies in waiting Vanessa, Candi, and Leora in a Royal Stare Down

Lady Leora gracefully bows out of the Musical Chairs competition

Lady Tiffany presents the fruits of her royal talent — a painted Union Jack

Lady Aliza channelled MJ with her royal zombie walk!

Cava’s Chris McDonald & Thirsty Traveller Kevin Brauch drink to the Queen.

Queen Victoria Gin enjoys a moment in the limelight

Queen Victoria graciously receives adoring subjects after the competition

Mia, Bob Blumer, Her Majesty, and (now Queen Mother?) Miss Conception

Here are some video highlights as captured by the Canadian Press:

Many thanks  to our wonderful Queens and our fabulous judges.  We’re already excited for next year.  Please contact us if you are interested in competing and start practicing your wave!

Finally, in the excitement of the coronation we forgot to do the Royal Raffle!  Congrats to Gavin, Clarissa, and Andre who won Twisted and Bitter cocktail bitters, and to Jane who won Tea for Two at the Royal York’s Library Bar.  Winners were drawn and contacted after the event.

photos by Zach Slootsky, Take More Photos

Join host Bob Blumer and special guest Miss Conception and look on as Queens are born, reign and fall. Vickies young and old will vie for the crown before celebrity judges in noble domains of poise, talent and knowedge.  Come for hard tea, tipsy cuc sandwiches, croquet and “Sex Pistols”.

RSVP@victoriaspirits.com.  A stiff cuppa for the first 200.

Or to compete, get the entry form here.  Here is our Royal Proclamation/ Press Release.  For more info and the Radio Royal York podcast go here.

Check the Proclamation for Royal York’s exceptional long weekend hotel package or visit their site.

*No, Ugandans don’t wear many sweaters, but if you buy one, who knows?… they may get a school.

It will be a lively evening of drinks and music and you’ll get Vic Gin cocktail or Salt Spring Island Brew with your ticket.

March 14th at the Superior in Vic.  Ticket are $25 in advance at the Superior, Rebel Rebel, or call 250 516 6509. www.poda.ca.

Valerie, Kevin, and the Bengal Indulgence

Named after the swish lounge where we launched Vic Gin in 2008, the Bengal Indulgence mixes spirits, tea, and some of our Twisted & Bitter cocktail bitters.

Bengal Indulgence

designed by Kevin Brauch for the Fairmont Empress Hotel, Feb 2010

1 oz Mission Hill Reserve 2006 Vidal Icewine
1 oz Premium Vodka (Kevin uses Russian Standard)
0.5 oz Cointreau Liqueur
2 oz chilled, 2 hour steeped Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice Tea
2 dashes Twister & Bitter orange bitters
1 dash Fee Bros lemon bitters

Combine ingredients (in order) over ice in cocktail shaker
Stir for 20 revolutions
Strain into chilled 5 oz cocktail glass
Garnish with three (semi-frozen, chilled) cranberries