LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2022

HIGHER STANDARDS

The Moneypenny Before he popularized shaken vodka Martinis, super-spy James Bond first called for a Vesper, named for the Casino Royale heroine. It combined Gordon’s gin, vodka and a touch of the extinct white wine–based aperitivo Kina Lillet. Here, we showcase a bold gin (Ontario-made Valley of Mother of God has 20 botanicals) balanced with well-chilled potato vodka for opulent texture, finished with tart, bubbly kombucha. Garnished with sea salt mist and sustainable or vegan-style caviar, it’s a priceless drink that’s right on the money. 1/2 oz potato vodka, such as Chopin, frozen for at least 30minutes 1 oz sparkling kombucha, such as Silver Swallow Luxury Kombucha Blanc Flatbread or seaweed cracker for garnish (optional) Sustainable or vegan caviar for garnish Sea Salt Mist for garnish (p. 246) 1. In a cocktail stirring pitcher or shaker filled with ice, add gin and vodka and stir for at least 30 seconds, or until very well chilled. Add kombucha and stir gently. 1 1/2 oz strongly botanical gin, such as Valley of Mother of God

2. Strain into a chilled Martini glass, and garnish with vegan or sturgeon caviar, perched on a caviar spoon, cracker or seaweed crisp.

3. Immediately before serving, spritz with sea-salt mist.

Makes 1 drink

FINISHING TOUCHES

TRY WITH

BY THE SEA English gin maker Salcombe captured the misty, seaside environs of Devon in its Seamist liquid garnish: two spritzes over a finished Moneypenny or any Martini-style cocktail takes it next-level, with aromas of the sea, flowers and fruit. salcombegin.com

Chopin Potato Vodka LCBO 521963, $54.55

Valley of Mother of God Gin LCBO 13397, $59.95

Vegans can enjoy salty, delicious Cavi-art, a kelp-based substitute that comes in hues from green and gold to pink, orange and black. For the real thing, choose sustainable Canadian sturgeon caviar from Nova Scotia: Acadian Wild is the only sustainable wild sturgeon caviar in the world! caviart.com, acadian-sturgeon.com

196 FOOD & DRINK HOLIDAY 2022