< PreviousGettig to KowCharles Tremewen of Long Table DistilleryCharles Tremewen is a trailblazer in every sense of the word. An avid outdoorsman, his passion for BC’s bountiful flora and fauna dovetails naturally with his keen interest in botanicals, organics and all things sustainable. In 2013, Tremewen pulled the wraps off Long Table Distillery in a growing residential district on False Creek’s north shore. It was the very first inner-city distillery to open in Vancouver, at the leading edge of BC’s distilling revolution. In the six years since, head distiller Tremewen and his team have firmly established themselves as award-winning West Coast ‘ginsmiths,’ producing an ever-expanding range of premium gins, as well as a portfolio of small-batch spirits, including Texada Vodka and others. The namesake ‘long table’ is derived from the owner’s motto around it being “a place where kindred spirits meet.” Carved from a giant slab of Sequoia redwood, it forms the centrepiece of the increasingly popular cocktail lounge.HOW DID YOU COME TO OPEN A DISTILLERY?After secondary school I worked for BC Parks, as a park ranger and naturalist at Mount Robson Park, in the Canadian Rockies. A UBC geography degree followed, before an honours in marketing communications. My career led to Nature’s Path Foods, and later to Salt Spring Coffee. But, deep down, I’ve always loved gin. One day, on a business trip to Anaheim, my colleagues and I were sipping gin martinis and I had this epiphany: Wouldn’t it be great to open a West Coast gin distillery. I could do this. Why not?WHAT’S BEEN YOUR MOST EXCITING MOMENT?Unquestionably, the most heartening experience was when we opened our doors and sold our first bottle of London Dry Gin! I remember saying to my co-founder and wife, Rita – ’Oh my God, people like what we are doing here!’GETTING STARTED, WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE?This was something that hadn’t been done in Vancouver before. As the first inner-city distillery, we pioneered its construction and building. We had to re-zone the site to the toughest industrial classification because of the dangerous goods aspect. The city was cautious, but also incredibly good to work with. As for the neighbourhood approval, our planner told us they’d never seen such a positive response. And soon we’ll be doing it all again, as we now need much larger premises. But, we’ll still be close by.SO, WHAT MAKES A GOOD GIN?For us, gin must taste ‘ginny!’ For it to be true gin it needs to really show those piney notes of juniper. In a lot of new, ‘western style’ gins juniper may be an element, but it’s not predominant. Our cucumber gin leans towards western style, whereas our local BC distilled London Dry style is a more traditional take on the spirit. WHAT SETS LONG TABLE APART?We have the ability to produce products that taste right, that can be used in a wide range of cocktails and drinks. And we never add flavour, like dropping in some sort of essence post-distillation. Our cucumber gin, 78I remember saying to my co-founder and wife, Rita – ’Oh my God, people like what we are doing here!’photo by Andrew Kong79bcliquorstores.comTIM PAWSEYTim Pawsey (a.k.a. the Hired Belly) is a well-travelled food and wine writer at hiredbelly.com and various publications, including TASTE, WHERE Vancouver, Quench, SIP, Vitis, The Alchemist and others. Find him at hiredbelly.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @hiredbelly and Facebook @TheHiredBelly.GETTING TO KNOW: CHARLES TREMEWEN OF LONG TABLE DISTILLERY CONTINUEDfor example, uses fresh BC cucumbers actually in the distillation process. We put them right in the botanical basket, the alcohol passes through the basket and extracts the cucumbers’ aromatics.ANY ADVICE YOU CAN OFFER AN ASPIRING DISTILLER?My informal background in botany has been a real asset. But, I’m also lucky to be a supertaster. It’s the critical element of our business; so much of what a distiller does is based on tasting. If one can’t taste and create spirits that meet consumer appeal then this may not be the right profession. It’s critical to catch those breaks between your heads, hearts and tails while distilling. No matter how good your equipment is, at the end of the day, everything is about having a physical connection with the spirit: smell, taste and texture all play a critical role.WHAT’S THE SECRET BEHIND A SUCCESSFUL TASTING ROOM?We work hard to make people feel comfortable. Our passion for every aspect of our business helps us offer a great experience to all our customers. Even though we’re a little off the beaten track, we chose our inner city location because we knew we were building a cocktail culture. BEST MUSIC TO DRINK GIN BY?Well, that’s a tough question, you know gin goes with everything and it tends to play in the moment – sophisticated or contemporary! It could be a little jazz – Jimmy Smith, Dave Brubeck or a contemporary selection from Ride. I’m not sure it’s that easy to define, as it’s as diverse as gin itself. RUMOUR HAS IT YOU’RE MOVING. WHAT’S UP?We always knew we’d eventually have to move. Plus, we’ve really outgrown this building. We’ll be starting construction in the fall, staying in north False Creek, not far from here, but a much larger space. There’ll be more room for new equipment and double the lounge seating. Not to mention a retail store and more food service.photo by Andrew Kong SPIRIT LONG TABLE TEXADA VODKACanada $42.49 787051 Distilled with fresh lemongrass and polished over Texada Island limestone yields a gin with light floral notes, citrus hints and distinct minerality with a whisper of spice on the finish. SPIRIT LONG TABLE CUCUMBER GINCanada $46.99 816512 This gin is made with ten botanicals, including BC farm-fresh cucumbers that present in the aroma and on the palate, wrapped in gentle citrus through a lingering peppery finish. SPIRIT LONG TABLE LONDON DRY GINCanada $46.99 31161 A blend of eight botanicals are used in the distillation for bold notes of evergreen, juniper and citrus wrapped in earthy undertones through to a fragrant and flavourful finish.81bcliquorstores.comTurmeric-Spiced Chicken SmörgåstårtaCake Sadwiches82recipes and food styling by Lara VictoriaGrilled Vegetable Sandwich Wheelpairs with Turmeric-Spiced Chicken Smörgåstårta BARTIER BROS. ROSÉBC VQA $17.99 35609 This rosé made from Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Muscat Ottonel and Cabernet Franc is a beauty and gives up classy, crisp notes of strawberries and cream, red fruits and rose petals in its light-bodied, softly textured style.pairs with Turmeric-Spiced Chicken Smörgåstårta LES FLEURS DU MAL CÔTES DE GASCOGNEFrance $15.99 239467 A blend of Colombard, Gros Manseng and Sauvignon Blanc, this fragrant wine showcases the sultry aromas of citrus and grapefruit that are characteristic of Gascony, combined with the tropical notes of peach and pear.pairs with Grilled Vegetable Sandwich Wheel LOUIS BOUILLOT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE PERLE D’AURORE ROSÉFrance $26.99 494856 Along with strawberry, raspberry and redcurrant notes that are enhanced by the wine’s discreet hint of sweetness, there are floral, citrus and mineral hints to add interest to both the nose and invigorating palate.83bcliquorstores.comfor recipes, see index on page 108NEW TO B.C. LIQUOR STORE GRAPEFRUIT GIN SODA FIZZ CANADIAN CRAFT PRODUCED6% ALC./VOL. NO GLUTEN 6X355ML BLACKFLYBOOZE.COMBEST OF BOTH WORLDSDON’T COMPROMISE ON TASTELIGHT GIN SODADELICIOUS GRAPEFRUIT JUICESKU 135789CAKE SANDWICHES CONTINUEDpairs with Grilled Vegetable Sandwich Wheel MARISCO THE NED MARLBOROUGH PINOT NOIRNew Zealand $21.49 617530 Layers of expressive wild strawberries, redcurrants and mulberries plus hints of black tea, bay leaf and spice are supported by a frame of silky tannins in this light- to medium-bodied Pinot Noir.pairs with Smoked Salmon and Capers Sandwich Loaf VILLA CONCHI CAVA SELECCIÓN BRUTSpain $18.99 192765 Bone-dry, yet with a soft and creamy texture thanks to the persistent bubbles, this is a quality Cava at an excellent price. Apple, pear, melon and light biscuit flavours linger over the refreshing citrus finish.pairs with Smoked Salmon and Capers Sandwich Loaf CHÂTEAU DE SANCERRE SANCERREFrance $32.99 164582 Alluring jasmine, honeysuckle and flint aromas frame the core of gooseberry, lemon peel and herb flavours in this textbook example of Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley. It finishes long with a bracing mineral edge.Smoked Salmon and Capers Sandwich Loaf85bcliquorstores.comfor recipes, see index on page 108hand-picked just for you ANTAÑO RIOJA RESERVASpain $15.99 414292 A Tempranillo-dominated blend that is aged over two years in barrel, this traditionally styled Rioja is an excellent value. It is polished and supple, with harmonious ripe cherry, leather, sandalwood, smoke and spice notes. Enjoy with grilled fare. HAVOC & HARMONY MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANCNew Zealand $15.99 590117 White flower notes mingle with passion fruit, peach, lemon and grapefruit flavours in this vibrant and zingy wine, delivering mouth-watering mineral acidity and a lingering finish. Sip with salads or seafood. STEAMWORKS PREMIUM CRAFT LAGERCanada $19.99 175370 12 x 355 mlAppealing to both new and experienced craft beer drinkers alike, this craft lager was steam-brewed and deliberately aged to create an easy-drinking and flavourful beer that is crisp, clean and refreshing.86 QUARISA ENCHANTED TREE SHIRAZAustralia $17.99 219249 Rich and concentrated, this glossy Aussie Shiraz gives up thrilling notes of ripe plum, blackberry, vanilla, black pepper and spice in a full-bodied profile with grainy tannins and balanced acidity. Try with lamb or beef. MAC & FITZ FITZ’S KICKBACK WHITEBC VQA $15.99 58545 From CedarCreek Estate Winery, this Viognier, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris blend is fresh, bright and ripe, with aromas and flavours of peach, apricot, pineapple and citrus. Kick back and enjoy with stir-fry or takeout! GREEN MARK VODKARussia $24.99 168322 This traditional Russian vodka is named for the coveted Green Mark seal that was bestowed upon vodkas of the highest quality by the government agency, Glavspirttrest, between the 1920s and 1950s. It is exceptionally silky-smooth and clean.87bcliquorstores.comNext >