LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2020

INSIDE SCOOP

We asked three LCBO buyers for holiday gift ideas. Here are the seasonal purchases they’re most excited about. Gift-off

’Nog jam Most eggnog recipes are built for a crowd and require sepa- rating eggs, whipping whites, and a whole lot of work. Sometimes you want a rich, creamy glass of ’nog without a big-batch commitment. Enter our easy Eggnog for Two (recipe on page 252), which is a classic Flip fortified with rum and Cognac, enriched with cream and dusted with nut- meg. Sure, it requires a little more elbow grease to shake, but you can still have drinks up in minutes. DRINK OF THE SEASON

MARKWILSON, BEER Lake of Bays Toasty Toes Taster Pack LCBO 17141, 5 x 473 mL, $22.95

ADAM CAPUTO, WINE Ruffino Riserva Ducale Special Edition Gift Pack LCBO 16945, $25.95 “Perfect with steak or pasta bolognese, this Chianti Riserva (a long-time customer favourite) will be offered in three hand- some cylinder gift packs.”

TANIA HOFFWELLER, SPIRITS Whitley Neill Gin Christmas Crackers Gift Pack LCBO 17163, 6 x 50 mL, $44.95 “The popular U.K. distiller offers a snack pack of flavoured gins including Blood Orange and Rhubarb & Ginger. Packaged as colourful Christmas crack- ers, they make great stocking stuffers.”

“With three favourites, two new surprise beers and a snazzy pair of holiday socks, this Muskoka- based brewer puts fun and mystery into gift-giving.”

Shop the Issue at lcbo.com/ fdholiday20

trywith El Dorado 8 Year Old Cask Aged Demerara Rum LCBO 366666, $34.15

Who to follow: @mcnicolmakes If you’re looking for some drinks inspiration this holiday season, check out Lauren McNicol, the talented general manager of Cocktail Emporium (cocktailemporium.com), Canada’s top source for bar paraphernalia. She takes gorgeous photos, posts delicious recipes, and engages with her followers. And if you’re going dry this January, she’s got you covered with inventive mocktails.

PORTRAIT OF LAUREN MCNICOL BY PAUL HENRY

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HOLIDAY 2020 FOOD & DRINK