LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2024

BETTER BITTERS

Bestow Citrus Versatility Non-alcoholic Bark & Bitter Overtly Orange Bitters ($26.95, barkandbitter.com) employ a bold blend of orange, coriander and cardamom, with hints of anise and allspice, that’s great in classic Negronis or lighter sparkling wine spritz cocktails. Anchor the kit with a set of flutes or coupe glasses and dehydrated orange wheels. In a pinch, you could also pick up Dillon’s Orange Bitters (LCBO 463398, $14.95) on your next LCBO shopping trip.

GIFT IT WITH

The hot habanero chili and fresh lime peel flavours in Nickel 9 Distillery Habanero Bitters ($17.95, nickel9distillery.com) add instant vivacity to tequila, mezcal or vodka cocktails. Just a few drops can dynamically alter a Bloody Caesar, Bloody Mary or Margarita, making it the secret ingredient no home mixologist will want to share! Bundle it up with tequila, a jar of Tajín rim ming seasoning and a few limes. Dillon’s Hot Pepper Bitters (LCBO 42471) is also a great way to add a bit of heat without overwhelm ing or changing the flavour of your cocktail. Go the Spicy Route Bread & Butter Prosecco LCBO 33961, 200 mL, $7.95 Produced in a small town near Venice, this sparkler reveals floral notes of citrus and delicate fruit. And the stocking-size bottles make for a personal treat. Gemma di Luna Moscato LCBO 583401, $16.95 The floral aromas are as pretty as the robin’s-egg blue bottle for this delicately sweet bubbly, which has peach and apricot flavours to complement fruity bitters.

ONTARIO BITTERS FOR ALL SEASONS Find Ontario bitters at distilleries, gourmet stores and cocktail shops (like thecraftybartender.com and cocktailemporium.com). Freshen up a Vodka Soda or a Gin and Tonic with Top Shelf Distillers Fresh Cut Evergreen Bitters (not shown). $12.95, topshelfdistillers.com Flink’s Drinks Toronto Aromatic Bitters brings vitality to a Bourbon Manhattan or an Old Fashioned. $22, Instagram @flinks_drinks Dunrobin Distilleries Mixed Berries Bitters injects the taste of summer into a glass of Prosecco. $14.95, dunrobindistilleries.com Totally transform a Caipirinha or a pint of lager with Coster’s Hopped Chili Bitters. $16, @costersrx Wild Muskoka Botanicals Citrus Roots Bitters adds dandelion depth to a classic Martini. $11, wildmuskoka.com

GIFT IT WITH

Amarás Espadín Verde Mezcal LCBO 666693, 700 mL, $74.00 Find spicy, smoky and slightly sweet notes in this easy-drinking artisanal mezcal, made with 8-year-old agave Espadín.

Casa Obsidiana Blanco LCBO 39332, $299.95

Don Ramón Punta

Diamante Reposado LCBO 39138, $48.95 This smooth reposado sports an herbaceous backbone with a trace of caramel.

This spicy and vegetal blanco

tastes of papaya, white flowers and black pepper. The agave plant’s core inspired its bottle.

ONTARIO BITTERS: MAYA VISNYEI

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———————— HOLIDAY 2024