LCBO Food & Drink Autumn 2023

OUR ONTARIO

V odkow LCBO 11573, $33.95

Homegrown Additions Local ingredients add new dimensions of flavour to these fall‑ready spirits.

The base of unused milk sugar from local dairy farms around Almonte gives this vodka a sweet vanilla lilt that works perfectly in a range of cocktails. The smooth flavour and silky finish make this a spirit you won’t soon forget.

D illon’s Vermouth VINTAGES ESSENTIALS 571133, $22.95

Along with the upfront strawberry notes that come from berries grown near the Beamsville dis tillery, this balanced and sweet vermouth includes classic ingredients like bitter orange peel, vanilla and sarsaparilla.

R eid’s Gin LCBO 13423, $50.50

This smooth gin from a family-owned Leslieville distillery is as local as they come, made using Canadian wheat, wild-foraged juniper and other homegrown botanicals. Its balanced herby and spicy flavours shine when mixed with tonic water or added to classic gin cocktails.

Comeback Kid IPAs were among the top styles of beer to rocket to popularity during the craft beer wave of the mid-aughts, and they’re seeing a resurgence again now. The new generation of IPAs, however, swap the intense bitterness that once defined the genre for more nuanced, hop-driven profiles. Try Side Launch Brewing 5th Coast Hazy IPA ( LCBO 22238, 473 mL, $3.65 ) for fruity flavours that give way to a crisp finish, or Dominion City Sunsplit IPA ( LCBO 26883, 473 mL, $5.10 ) which offers a hazy colour and minimal bitterness.

Head to these Ontario bars for Insta-worthy cocktails that look as good as they taste. Oh, Snap

PREQUEL & CO. APOTHECARY, Toronto

THE MOCKINGBIRD COCKTAIL BAR & LOUNGE, London The setting is as aesthetically pleasing as the cocktails at the Mockingbird, which is housed in a century-old building. Garnishes ranging from fresh and dried fruit to a stencilled “M” logo in the Whisky Sour’s egg white foam give every drink visual impact. themockingbird.ca

TIN FIDDLER, Sarnia

From its decor to its cocktail menu, Tin Fiddler channels welcoming, old-school vibes. Expect artfully crafted classic cocktails along with more playful presentations, including an option to have any cocktail served in a mini-jug with a little spigot. thetinfiddler.com

Frankie Solarik’s BarChef has helped shape Toronto’s cocktail scene since opening in 2008. The creative drinks served at his newer bar are equally show-stopping in both look and taste. barprequel.com

COCKTAIL IMAGES COURTESY OF FEATURED BARS; TIN FIDDLER IMAGE: CASSIDY CROWE PHOTOGRAPHY

88 FOOD & DRINK AUTUMN 2023