Say that three times fast… we did, last Sunday at the Edible BC ‘Sushi, Sake and Summer’ fundraiser for the Crabtree Corner facility.  To compliment Sushi Chef Tojo’s creations and toast Evaleen Jaager Roy’s new book, we concocted something, that by all accounts ‘tastes like summer’:

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!

Victoria Gin has been awarded a full general listing at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO)!

This means: you’ll soon be able to find us at way more stores; we will be able to cuddle up to the other Gins; and you can enjoy your Vic Gin toddies in the fall and winter as well as your VG&Ts in the spring and summer.

Here’s where you can find Vic Gin now.  Cheers Ontario!

Join us at Feast of Fields on BC’s Lower Mainland, August 29th, where we’ll be pairing with Tofino’s Wickaninnish Inn to make magic.

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!

Paul the Octopus may have ’spoken’, but nothing’s in the bag for the FIFA final today.  Here are a couple inspired cocktails to help you celebrate… or stage your own face-off.

Chris McDonald of Toronto’s Cava presents a strong player with a sharp cross and excellent mid-palate play.  Steve Da Cruz of Vancouver’s Corner Suite brings you a powerful striker that quickly sets a tempo and paints the pitch orange. You be the ref — or play Paul — for this one.

Catalan 75

~ created by Chris McDonald, Cava Restaurant

1 oz Victoria Gin
1 oz lemon juice
½ oz simple syrup
one dash grappa cherry syrup
3 oz Codorníu Cava Clasico

Shake first four ingredients over ice.  Strain into large flute.  Top with Cava and garnish with a lemon twist.

Dutch Old Fashioned

~ created by Steve Da Cruz, Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe

2 oz Victoria Gin
2-3 lumps of unbleached sugar
a few dashes orange twisted & bitter
a few Griottines (primo brandied cherries) * if you use ghetto maraschino cherries instead, you get an automatic red card!

Muddle ingredients and stir together on ice.  Strain over fresh ice.  Garnish with a wheel of orange in the drink.  Rub lemon peel on the rim and dropped in with a cherry.

Join us at Taste: Victoria’s Festival of Food and Wine (… and Spirits).

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

Victoria Gin takes a Silver medal at the Los Angeles Wine & Spirits Competition.  It’s the first time we’ve entered this comp — we’re thrilled.

But LA, why no Golds for Gin and no ‘Best Gin’ category?!  As noted recently by Beppi Crosariol and Adam MacDowell, Gin is back and where it’s at!

Last Monday, we celebrated the creativity and community of Toronto’s bar scene & the LCBO’s special promotion of Vic Gin with a Shakedown!

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

On June 14th, fourteen of Toronto’s most talented mixologists will battle it out with fire, ice, fortitude, and plenty of Vic Gin.  A public after- party follows as part of Ivy Knight’s 86’D Mondays at The Drake (mind the date typo below!).  Come taste the winning drink!

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

In preparation for Victoria Day we got busy on a cocktail fit for a Queen… and fit for Adam McDowell, columnist at the National Post.

Imperial Splendour photo by Adam McDowell

Imperial Splendour

1.5 oz. Victoria Gin
2.5 oz. strongly brewed Earl Grey tea, chilled
0.5 oz. fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz. Cointreau
2 dashes Twisted & Bitter orange cocktail bitters

Combine ingredients and shake on ice. Strain into your finest china.  Garnish with an orange slice and a frozen marmalade cube (heat marmalade with equal parts water to dissolve before freezing).

McDowell writes that our Imperial Splendour is:

smooth in texture with a tart and floral nose and nice tea tannins on the palate; it gradually sweetens as the frozen marmalade cube melts.

Not only was the drink featured in the National Post, but also at the First Annual Queen Victoria Lookalike Competition in Toronto — a collaboration between Victoria Spirits and the fabulous Fairmont Royal York Hotel.  (Outrageous photos coming soon!)