Hellooooo cocktail lovers! We had a real treat this week in Edmonton in the Made With Love regional finals being held downtown in the Hotel Macdonald. It was a cornucopia of captivating cocktails from some of our cities finest bartenders, each bringing their A-game to represent their respective establishments. It was also a great opportunity to try some truly original and modern beverage ideas, and get a little inspiration in the bar. Let's get right into the cocktails!
What Rhymes with Orange? - Dylan Zrobek w/ District Cafe
A strikingly wonderful blast of bitterness. And what bitter beverage would be complete without the dynamic duo of Campari and orange juice. Add some grapefruit juice, and an Earl Grey + Lemon Oleo-Saccharum (Oily-Sweet) to smoothen things out and make sure you know you're getting a proper Italian beverage.
Amor - Jared Schmidt w/ Biera
My first sample of the night, coming in at third place for public's choice, and one of my top picks: the Amor was a beautifully balanced, refreshing summer hit. A loving marriage of South American and local Alberta flavours featuring Flor de Cana Rum, passionfruit syrup, lime juice, and rhubarb juice fresh from Edmonton gardens.
Neon Dreams - Rodney Dirksen w/ Have Mercy
The light refreshing taste of watermelon and tongue-tingling heat of habanero are front and center in this southwest 80's inspired creation. Using 1800 Silver Tequila, mint lime juice, watermelon hibiscus agua fresca, rich habanero syrup, and garnished up with the dreamy sage and watermelon carbonation bubbles and watermelon chunks.
Jardin Frais - Tyler Goshaty w/ North 53
A wide range of flavours blended for some exceptional results, and the judges must've thought so too, because they awarded this drink a number one spot among all the drinks at the competition. Predominantly orange flavours of Grand Marnier and orange juice are brought to life with the help of lemon juice, thyme, salt, sugar, and chocolate bitters, all of which blended perfectly and came together with my favourite food pairing of the night, North 53's Orange Ginger Sorbet.
Oscar Pepper - Nathan Hewitt w/ XIX Nineteen
A bodaciously buttery classic combination of bourbon and peach with a touch of spice to keep things interesting. A well-deserved second place awarded by the judges: this drink combines Woodford Reserve Bourbon with lemon juice, egg white, and a peppered peach reduction, to build a nice little foamy mixture that captures it's crushed spice garnish well, and elegantly delivers the whole bundle direct to your tastebuds.
Rupert Holmes - Moe Mardani w/ Fairmont Hotel Macdonald
If you like Pina Coladas... you'll probably like this drink. Not that the two have a great deal in common other than being deliciously smooth. Possibly my favourite drink of the night, the simple combination of Flor De Cana Rum, lemon juice, pineapple juice, and the less familiar Pandan Leaf, which lends a soft and sweet rice flavour to help transform the initial tart burst of lemon in the frothy top into a welcoming subtle finish.
I Drink and I Know Things - Joshua Meacham w/ The Almanac
A last minute entry: this (I'm told) low nod to a certain small-statured Game of Thrones character certainly wasn't lacking in flavour. A rather worldly combination of Ungava Gin, lime juice, orange bitters, salt, with a noteworthy presence of pineapple juice and turmeric syrup were a uniquely welcome surprise at the competition.
Athabasca Sour - Callum Walsh w/ El Cortez
Having gone to high school in Athabasca, I had Callum assure me none of the ingredients were taken from the (probably inadvisable to drink) Athabasca River. Instead he related it to memories of Sour Cherry Blaster candies, and with the inclusion of 1800 Silver Tequila, lemon juice, cherry grenadine, and habanero, this tasty three hit combo of sweet, sour, and heat made it very clear why.
Controlled Burn - Leland Morrison w/ The Black Pearl
The mere fact that this drink can contain such an odd selection of ingredients, and be the number one public choice (and one of my favourites as well) is a testament to how great this cocktail really is. No gimmicks here with burned lemon juice and basil syrup playing extremely well with northern Quebec's Ungava Gin. Put it all together with Angostura Bitters, egg white, a Mediterranean tonic, and topped with lemon ash for an intrigued nose and a happy palate.
The Colonel - Jesse Werkman w/ Alta
One look at the ingredient list and I had a sneaking suspicion why Jesse named the drink so, which was confirmed with a smirk. There's nothing that isn't corny about The Colonel, starting with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, centrifuged corn juice, and grilled corn cob cordial; rounded out with some lime juice, egg white, and sour cherry + fresno chili foam to provide a strong starting counterpoint for its less conspicuous corny conclusion.
Seven Years Older - Alex Kegel
Another Campari cocktail with a Canadian twist! Any drink that can utilize a criminally underappreciated ingredient like maple syrup so gracefully is a fer sher win with me. Simply delicious, just add soda and a spritz of orange oil, and yer good ta go, bud.
El InsUrgente - Corey Wilfert w/ Rostizado
The only entry to woo both the judges and the public with third and second places, respectively. The last in the list, and my last taste at the competition, due to the fact that there was such a long line of folks going for another, and another, and why not one more. With the refreshing tastes of ginger syrup, cucumber and mint, harmonizing sweetly with 1800 Silver Tequila, lemon juice, and pickled ginger; this rebel has a cause: crushing that summer heat.
That's all folks. Maybe the list will leave you feeling inspired to make some concoctions of your own. Sound like too much work? Head on out to one of the fine establishments listed and hunt down some creations from these masters of mixology.