LCBO Food & Drink Autumn 2023

SIPS TO SAVOUR

Gochujang Bull’s Eye

A classic cocktail called the Bullshot mixes chilled beef broth, vodka, lemon juice, Worcestershire and Tabasco sauces and seasoning—something like a Caesar or Bloody Mary without the tomato. Since broth is the star of this variation, use a high-quality one: if you don’t have homemade bone broth, try Broya Beef Bone Broth (at broyaliving.com and many organic food stores), or Better Than Bouillon Beef Base (available at grocery stores). Find spicy, sweet, smoky Korean gochujang chili paste in plastic tubs (usually bright red) at Asian groceries like T&T Super market (tntsupermarket.com); choose a mild variety so you can build spice by adding more. 6 oz beef bone broth or bouillon, warmed 1 tbsp (15 mL) gochujang chili paste, or more to taste 1/2 tsp (2 mL) soy sauce 1/2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 1/2 oz blended whisky (such as Canadian or Irish) Dried or fresh chili, or Korean barbecue jerky, to garnish (optional) Crispy Sage to garnish (optional; recipe p. 166) 1. Using a fork or whisk, stir the chili paste into the warm broth until it’s completely dissolved and incorporated. Add soy sauce and chill mix ture in refrigerator until completely cool. 2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add bouil lon mixture, lemon juice and whisky. Shake until thoroughly chilled, 15 to 30 seconds. 3. Strain through a fine cocktail sieve into a small juice or highball glass. Garnish with a small red chili, a piece of purchased Korean barbecue-flavoured jerky or a crispy sage leaf.

Makes 1 drink

SAVOURY SPIRITS

Bearface Whisky Wilderness Series Matsutake LCBO 22668, $49.95

Valley of Mother of God Smoked Gin LCBO 19670, $72.95 Ottawa Valley juniper berries were smoked over maple wood for the ultimate Ontario-campfire memory sip.

Isle of Harris Gin LCBO 16100, $94.60 Evoking a taste of sea spray, this mineral gin from Scotland’s Outer Hebrides uses sugar kelp, a sustainably harvested seaweed, in its botanical mix.

These on-trend savoury spirits have complex, mouth-watering fla vours infused right into them. Try them on their own, over ice or in a fun fall variation on an Old Fashioned or Martini.

One of the world’s most expensive fungi, matsu take (also known as pine mushrooms) are infused into a deeply umami- ­ rich Canadian whisky.

104 FOOD & DRINK AUTUMN 2023