THIS is the most wonderful time of year.
Photo courtesy pixabay
Another hockey season is upon us, which means another 8+ months of pure puck-on-ice bliss. With veteran players being traded away, Canucks fans have their eyes on the future; the 2018 season is all about young talent, fresh energy and new draft picks. With that in mind, maybe it’s time we change-up our cocktail game too.
We partnered with Beam Suntory and Whisk(e)y specialist Marcio Ramos to give you the top whisk(e)y picks of the season. Put on your favourite jersey, call up your hockey pals and try sipping on something new. Here are 5 whisk(e)y cocktails to shake-up your hockey night ritual.
1. Auchentoshan & Ale
For those who aren’t ready to give up their game day beers.
Auchentoshan 12 Single Malt Whisky is a great place to start. This triple distilled whisky has wonderful notes of crème brûlée, ginger and tangerine with a slight nuttiness, making for a exceptionally balanced whisky whether you’re sipping it solo or with your favourite beer.
Recipe: mix 1.5 oz Auchentoshan 12 year with 1-2 dashes aromatic bitters and lemon, orange, or grapefruit peel. Add all the ingredients to a highball glass, drop in a few ice cubes, and top with your favourite ale.
2. Basil Hayden’s® Spiced Apple Harvest
This might just be the perfect fall cocktail.
This ultra-premium bourbon is handcrafted in limited quantities from unique recipes dating back two centuries. Aged eight years, with a higher content of rye, Basil Hayden® has a gentle yet spicy flavour.
Recipe: combine cinnamon syrup and cloves in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 10 seconds. In a separate shaker, muddle apple slices. Strain cinnamon syrup and clove mixture into shaker with muddled apples, and add Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon and lime juice. Shake for ten seconds and strain into a lowball glass filled with ice. Add two dashes of bitters to the top of the drink and garnish with a fan of apple slices.
3. Oyster Luge with Bowmore No.1
How’s this for a new tradition; every time the Canucks score, take an Oyster Luge.
Bowmore No.1 is producing using single malt Scotch whisky drawn exclusively from first-fill bourbon casks, imparting a creamy sweetness, which blends well with the robust Islay smoke that Bowmore is known for. Exclusively matured in first fill Bourbon casks, Bowmore’s newly launched No.1 Malt asserts vanilla sweetness, cinnamon spice and oak smoke that beautifully complement the mouth-watering citrus, honeycomb and coconut flake flavours.
Recipe: add a dram of Bowmore No.1 to your favourite oyster and sip together right from the shell
4. Scottish Manhattan with Laphroaig Quarter Cask Notes
Opposing team relatives visiting from out of town? Here’s a drink that will keep things civil and classy.
Laphroaig Quarter Cask is autumn gold in colour with a slightly peaty nose and smooth, velvety coconut aroma. The taste is soft and velvety with a creamy, zesty orange finish.
Recipe: mix 1oz Laphroaig Quarter Cask with 1oz sweet vermouth, 1/2 oz triple sec and 1/2oz Amaro Lucano.
5. Islay Blossom with Bowmore 12 Year Old
The perfect wind-down drink following an intense OT.
Bowmore 12 Year Old features a rich amber colour, subtle notes of citrus and honey and a traditional peaty smokiness. The flavours are sweet and delicious with heather and honey. Bowmore 12 Year Old has received much critical acclaim; the late, great whisky writer Michael Jackson proclaimed it "remarkably long and complex", but we like to think of it as vanilla ice cream at a beach bonfire.
Recipe: mix 40ml Bowmore 12 Year Old with, 40ml Chamomile and Mint Tea, 30ml Elderflower Liqueur and 2 Cardamom Seeds. Garnish with pink flower or just pour it in a mug and take it to bed.
Hockey season is underway, so bring your line-mates, cheer on the team and sip on something different. Neat, on ice or mixed with beer, Beam Suntory has the top whisk(e)y picks that are sure to score with your friends. To learn more, visit beamsuntory.com
