< PreviousA KISS OF COCOA CONTINUEDpairs with Chocolate and Rosemary Short Ribs WAKEFIELD CLARE VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNONAustralia $19.99 16188 Over-delivering for the price, this Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon is balanced, complex and concentrated, with medium- to full-bodied richness, savoury tannins and notes of blackcurrant, dark chocolate, clove and eucalyptus.pairs with Cocoa-Kissed Bison Tenderloin LOUIS M. MARTINI NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNONUSA $35.99 920355 Modestly priced for such a compelling Napa Cabernet, this wine is rich, full-bodied and multi-layered on the palate, with loads of cassis, black cherry, blueberry, spice box and cedar notes.pairs with Cocoa-Kissed Bison Tenderloin STAG’S HOLLOW HERITAGE BLOCKBC VQA $25.99 115972 This Bordeaux-style blend opens with inviting aromas of ripe black fruits, wild Okanagan sage, cedar and spice. With ripe tannins and juicy acidity, this will pair nicely with grilled meats, savoury pies or stews.Cocoa-Kissed Bison Tenderloin69bcliquorstores.com for recipes, see index on page 96the cocktail meufeaturing dark spirits 70cocktails by Bar Star Carolyn YuTHE NIGHT KING1½ oz (45 ml) Highland Park Magnus½ oz (15 ml) Guinness Syrup*1 oz (30 ml) espresso½ oz (15 ml) Fernet-Branca½ oz (15 ml) Baileys Irish Cream1 pinch of salt lemon twist, for garnishIn a cocktail shaker with ice, add all ingredients, except garnish, and shake to combine. Double strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist.* In a saucepan, combine 1 cup (250 ml) each Guinness and white sugar and bring to a simmer, do not let boil. Reduce by one third. Allow to cool to room temperature before using.MURDER OF CROWS1½ oz (45 ml) Diplomatico Rum¾ oz (22 ml) Five-Spice Pineapple Cordial*¾ oz (22 ml) lime juice½ oz (15 ml) Campo Viejo Tempranillo 3 drops walnut oil**orange slice, for garnishdecorative black feathers, for garnish (optional)In a cocktail shaker with ice, add first 3 ingredients and shake to combine. Double strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Gently pour red wine over drink, it should float and create a red layer on top, then add walnut oil over red wine. Garnish with an orange slice. Optional: tie decorative black feathers to the glass.* In a saucepan, combine 1 cup (250 ml) each white sugar and pineapple juice and 2 tsp (10 ml) freshly ground coriander and bring to a boil. Turn down heat and allow to reduce by a quarter. Allow to cool to room temperature before using.** Available at specialty stores.ingredient in The Night King HIGHLAND PARK MAGNUS SINGLE MALT SCOTCHUnited Kingdom $46.99 160625 Expect notes of vanilla sponge cake, caramelized pineapple, lemon and sweet violets laced with Highland Park’s distinctive aromatic smokiness.ingredient in Murder of Crows DIPLOMATICO MANTUANO RUMVenezuela $45.99 529156 Enticing vanilla, cinnamon and clove aromas emerge from this rich and robust rum, leading to an unctuous, weighty palate oozing with chocolate orange, dried fruit and oak-spice flavours.71bcliquorstores.comFOUR EXOTIC GINGERS CRAFTED FOR THE BOLDEST SPIRITSSERVING SUGGESTIONThe UltimateWhisky& GingerSERVING SUGGESTIONThe UltimateSpiced Orange & Scotch or Irish WhiskeySERVING SUGGESTIONThe Ultimate Smoky Ginger & Bourbon or Canadian WhiskySERVING SUGGESTIONThe UltimateRum & Ginger or Moscow MuleAVAILABLE IN NATIONAL & SPECIALTY GROCERY STORESTHE COCKTAIL MENU CONTINUEDHORCHATA PUNCH* Available at specialty stores.1 oz (30 ml) Lot No. 40 Rye Whisky1 oz (30 ml) El Dorado 12-Year-Old Rum¾ oz (22 ml) Giffard’s Coconut Syrup*2 oz (60 ml) almond milk2 oz (60 ml) rice milk1 pinch of allspice1 dash Scrappy’s Cardamom Bitters*2 cardamom pods, for garnishsliced almonds, for garnish1 star anise, for garnishIn a cocktail shaker with ice, add all ingredients except garnishes, shake to combine. Double strain into a double rocks glass filled with ice and garnish with cardamom pods, sliced almonds and star anise.ingredient in Horchata Punch LOT NO. 40 RYE WHISKYCanada $37.99 3822 Spicy rye, pepper, citrus peel, praline, caraway, vanilla and oak dominate this luxurious Canadian rye whisky’s aromatics and flavours, which persist through its long, honeyed finish.ingredient in Horchata Punch EL DORADO 12-YEAR-OLD RUMGuyana $38.99 444711 This Demerara rum is produced along the shores of Guyana’s Demerara River, famous for its surrounding sugar plantations, and its uniquely robust, rich and smoky style is nicely captured in the El Dorado 12-Year-Old.Sign up today! Visitwww.bcliquorstores.com/enewsBe in the Know73bcliquorstores.comPremium Spirit Release201974by James Nevison…the annual Premium Spirit Release showcases the best in hard-to-find, limited release spirits sourced from around the world.Without fail, each year fall brings certain expectations: the leaves change colour, sweaters enter sartorial rotation, clocks get turned back an hour…and the Premium Spirit Release takes over BC Liquor Stores. If you’re not familiar with the last tradition, don’t fret – though admittedly there’s no time like the present to get in the know and embrace fall’s full offerings!Scheduled for the first Saturday of every November, the annual Premium Spirit Release showcases the best in hard-to-find, limited release spirits sourced from around the world. Now entering its 14th year, what began in 2005 has evolved into the go-to event for spirit aficionados – both connoisseurs and new fans alike. “It’s the one shot to get these special bottles,” explains Adele Shaw, category manager for spirits, whose responsibilities include constant sleuthing of new, exciting, rare, and just plain interesting spirits. Shaw is quick to point out that, while it’s true that collectors jockey to grab bottles of rarities and limited releases (there are bottle limits on a number of offerings), care is taken to provide a diverse selection of premium spirits for all tastes and interests, from rare bourbon to small-batch gin. “The Premium Spirit Release is looking to provide spirits with a point of difference, as well as bottles from the tried and true makers,” says Shaw.This year, Shaw is most excited about the range of special single casks that are on offer. “We have a number of new single cask bottles we’ve never had in our market before,” she exclaims. This brings up a few relevant points: what is a single cask and why are they special or different? In short, a single cask (or single barrel) offering refers to spirits that have been aged in one specific barrel or cask. By definition, these premium spirits are limited to one barrel’s worth of product! This is atypical, in that most barrel-aged spirits are brought together during a blending process before bottling, in order to maintain a consistent style and quality. Single cask releases, however, eschew this strategy specifically to highlight the distinctive, idiosyncratic characteristics imparted by each unique barrel. “The core flavour is there,” explains Shaw, but single casks have distinct personalities and profiles; “it’s like they’re cousins.”For example, for the first time, this year’s Premium Spirit Release features two different barrel offerings of bourbon from renowned distiller Elijah Craig. There will also be bottles from a Maker’s Mark private select cask, created by adding 10 custom wood finishing staves to the barrel in order to create a unique expression of this signature whisky. And it’s not just whisky; any spirit that sees time in barrel can technically be released as a single cask. So, don’t be surprised to find a single cask Patrón tequila – that has spent 25 months aging in a Hungarian Oak barrel – also making an inaugural appearance in BC.Of course, single casks are not the only spirits featured in this year’s Premium Spirit Release. Indeed, “there are more spirits than we’ve ever had before,” says Shaw, highlighting this year’s diversity. Some of the notables she points out are an offering from relative newcomer The Glasgow Distillery Co., Glasgow’s first single 75bcliquorstores.comRELEASE NOVEMBER 2www.bcliquorstores.comFOR UP-TO-THE-MINUTE INFORMATION PLEASE VISITbcliquorstores.com/promotion/2019-premium-spirit-releaseTHE 2019 PREMIUM SPIRIT RELEASE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE FOLLOWINGBC LIQUOR STORES:LOWER MAINLAND8TH & CAMBIE39TH & CAMBIEABBOTSFORDALBERNI & BUTEBROADMEAD VILLAGEBROADWAY & LILLOOETCLOVERDALEDUNBARFLEETWOODHIGHGATE VILLAGELANGLEYMEADOWTOWNNORDEL CROSSINGNORTHGATEPARK ROYALPENINSULA VILLAGERICHMOND BRIGHOUSERICHMOND IRONWOODWESTWOOD CENTREWESTVIEWGREATER VICTORIADUNCANFORT STREETHILLSIDENANAIMO TERMINAL PARKNORTH PARKSVILLESIDNEYWESTSHORENORTHERN BC–THOMPSON OKANAGANKAMLOOPS COLUMBIA PLACEKELOWNA ORCHARD PARKPENTICTON PLAZAPRINCE GEORGE PINE CENTREPREMIUM SPIRIT RELEASE CONTINUEDmalt distillery to open since 1902, along with Basil Hayden’s Caribbean Reserve Rye, a one-off blend of Kentucky and Canadian Ryes finished with Black Strap Rum. Echoing the “exclusive to BC” bent, the Premium Release will also feature the launch of J.P. Wiser’s Seven Rebels, a whisky blended in collaboration with – and specifically for – BC Liquor Stores.Events related to the Premium Spirit Release will take place on Saturday, November 2nd, at select BC Liquor Stores around the province. The largest selection of products will be available at the 39th and Cambie and Park Royal Signature BC Liquor Stores. Doors open at 9:30 a.m., at the 39th and Cambie location where there will be a tasting event hosted by Adele Shaw from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. As a final reminder, Adele suggests that everyone “check the website for bottle limits and other event details.”Did you know?This year’s event will showcase a number of single cask bottles we’ve never had in our market before! MONKEY 47 SCHWARZWALD DRY GINGermany $49.99 147929 Batch-distilled and handcrafted, Monkey 47 fuses British traditions (the exoticism of India) with the originality of the Black Forest, leading to subtle spice and tang in a crisp, London Dry style. J.P. WISER’S SEVEN REBELS RARE CASK SERIESCanada $69.99 173503 A BC Liquor Stores’ exclusive, Seven Rebels brings aromas of cherry wood and baking spice to a smoky, spicy and toasty rye with dried fruit on a rich finish. GRAN PATRÓN SMOKY TEQUILAMexico $249.99 205456 Roasting agave at the Hacienda Patrón using mesquite wood has led to a smoky, complex flavour overall, complemented by citrus, fruit and a lengthy, peppery finish. BASIL HAYDEN’S CARIBBEAN RESERVE RYEUSA $56.99 164395 Eight-year-old Kentucky whiskey meets four-year-old Canadian whisky in this unique rye blend that is finished with Black Strap Rum to deliver notes of sweet molasses complemented with toasted oak and spices.Limited Quantity DEWAR’S DOUBLE DOUBLE 21-YEAR-OLDUnited Kingdom $59.99 205164 A four-step maturation process, involving single malts aged in ex-bourbon and sherry casks, with a final rest in old oloroso casks, gives this 21-year-old expression a balanced status imbued with spice and ripe fruit. HEAVEN’S DOOR TENNESSEE BOURBONUSA $89.99 138118 Bob Dylan collaborates on this Tennessee bourbon that is – no surprise – smooth, complex and warming, and encourages introspection. Expect nuances of vanilla and baked bread layered over a bed of toasty oak.77bcliquorstores.comNext >