The world of spirits and cocktails has come a long way in recent decades, producing an increasing number of offerings that are both easy on the eyes and packed with flavour. If you’re looking to shake up your at-home cocktail sessions – and your social media material – try one of these five colourful spirits.
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Collective Arts Lavender and Juniper Gin
Local brewery Collective Arts’ Lavender and Juniper Gin takes the concept of colourful spirits a step beyond with its colour-changing product. Sipped neat or with ice the Lavender & Juniper gin is a beautiful deep blue; add a splash of acid such as tonic or lemon and it changes to bright pink. Heather, lavender ,and chamomile add to the magic by playing off the citrusy bergamot and sweet almond, finishing surprisingly dry on the palate. Available for purchase at the LCBO and online at Collective Arts breweries in Toronto and Hamilton with Ontario-wide delivery at collectiveartsontario.com, $48.95/bottle.
New Amsterdam Pink Whitney Vodka
This unique and refreshing vodka comes with a backstory the hockey fans will appreciate; it is inspired by hockey legend Ryan Whitney’s eponymous cocktail the ‘Pink Whitney,’ which mixes vodka and pink lemonade. The product comes from the sun-kissed E & J Gallo winery in California and shows delicious aromas and flavours of pink lemonade. The palate is smooth with a tangy citrus finish. Enjoy in a chilled over ice or in a cocktail. Available at the LCBO .
Hounds Black Vodka
While black isn’t technically a colour, Hounds Black Vodka makes for an eye-catching sipping experience – whether enjoyed on its own or in a cocktail. Produced in St. John’s, Newfoundland, the medium-bodied black vodka pours a sleek black colour straight from the bottle and offers notes of lemon, vanilla, spice, and wheat. Fruity with a touch of sweetness, the finish is smooth. Enjoy on its own, or serve over ice with cranberry juice, soda water, and a lemon. Available at the LCBO.
Glendalough Distillery Rose Gin
Three varieties of rose are used in the picture-perfect pink hued Glendalough Distillery Rose Gin: the rare Wild Rose from the Wicklow mountains, large heritage roses, and the ancient and prized Damask Rose. The floral gin is distilled slower and gentler than the ever-growing brand’s wild botanical gin and essential oils and flavours are extracted with a focus on vapour distillation. Following the distilling process, its infused further with more roses to heighten the flavour and deepen the gin’s famous pink hue. The gin is currently available in Ontario and Alberta.
Ungava Gin
The distinct yellow colour of Ungava gin comes from the mix of botanicals sourced from the Arctic north of Quebec, including cloudberry, labrador tea, rose hip, and more. Offering a medium yellow hue, the flavourful gin offers aromas of juniper, herbal tea, spice, and tart fruit. It’s dry and medium-bodied, complete with a warm and spicy finish. The gin is hand-foraged, dried, and slowly steeped for five weeks for a natural extraction that results in a complex flavour and colour. Enjoy on the rocks, alone, or as a cocktail. For a martini that cuts no corners, mix Ungava gin with white vermouth, olives, and ice cubes. Available in the LCBO.
