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!

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!

Join Victoria Spirits, Edible British Columbia, celeb Sushi Chef Tojo, GardenWorks, and Author Evaleen Jaager Roy for an incredible evening on Granville Island.

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.

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

Steve Da Cruz at the corner suite bistro de luxe in Vancouver has a soft spot for sorcery.  His Victorian Witch blends Vic Gin with Strega and a dash of Giffard Guignolet.

Steve explains that:

Historically, any cocktail with Strega is called a witch of some sort. It comes from the tale of 800 years ago when there was an assembly in Benevento Italy of all the world’s witches. They flew on their brooms and brought all sorts of far-away delights and charms.

Well we’re charmed and delighted by this one.  Cheers Steve!

Jeff Sanone is serving Victorious at Toronto’s Canoe: an ice cold Vic Gin martini with maple infused cocktail onions.  Victory is yours!

Find it at up on the 54th Floor of the TD Bank Tower in Toronto.  And find Jeff’s Dill Pickled recipe here.

Jacob Sweetapple’s Tiger Lily cocktail arrives on a table-side trolley at the Vancouver Fairmont Pacific Rim & uses dry ice to cool sans dilution.

Looks, and tastes, like magic!  Cheers Jacob.

Victoria Gin and the Fairmont Royal York Toronto present the first annual Queen Victoria Lookalike Competition: May 24th (Vicky’s 191st birthday), 12-4pm, Royal York Toronto.

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.