LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2017

SEASONAL  COOL IT!

Citrus

Summer is synonymous with cold lemonade, frozen Creamsicles and other fresh citrusy treats. Whether you’re thirsting for a squeeze of lemon, lime, grapefruit or orange flavour, these highly portable beverages deliver fresh bursts of citrus that reinvent familiar drinks. Any icy-cold summer pick-me-up straight from the cooler benefits from a just-squeezed wedge of your favourite citrus fruit.

tender’s secret weapon. It gives a wildflower nose to this apple- crisp, pale-golden cider, with a squirt of citrus and carbonation that makes it dance on the pal- ate. A wheel of fresh lime is the ideal garnish. JOIY LCBO 486456, 250 mL, $4.85 This fairy tale of a sparkling Reisling from New Zealand comes in whimsical mid-summery cans adorned with kiwi flora and fauna. Its packaging is reminiscent of picnic-style entertaining, and the wine delivers a burst of citrus- fresh flavour that’s great on its own and makes a lovely comple- ment to the spritz below.

DUSTY BOOTS HARD

ORANGE CREAM LCBO 491670, 6 pk, $14.95

The makers of the supremely quaffable malt & spirit-based Dusty Boots Hard Root Beer ( LCBO 447904, 6 pk, $14.95) are canning their way to success this summer, with new Cherry Cola ( LCBO 491688, 6 pk, $14.95) and Orange Cream “hard” sodas. SOMERSBY ELDERFLOWER LIME FLAVOURED CIDER LCBO 454975, 500 mL, $3.40 Aromatic elderflower is the special ingredient that makes St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur ( LCBO 180695, $49.95) a bar-

Add 1 1 ⁄ 4 cups (310 mL) Lillet Blanc ( VINTAGES 322297, $18.45) and 1 1 ⁄ 4 cups (310mL) fresh-squeezed, strained white or pink grapefruit juice to a 750-mL glass bottle. Add 4 oz hibiscus simple syrup (order or find Ontario stockists at CahootsMade.com) and mix gently. Chill. To serve, top 2 oz of mixture with sparkling wine. Garnish with an edible flower or wedge of grapefruit. Makes 12 drinks.

Lillet Spritz

BEAU’S BUENOS DIAS GRUIT ALE LCBO 467084, 600 mL, $5.65

This creative Ontario craft brewery has resurrected a rare and ancient style of ale, a gruit (rhymes with “root”) beer that uses herbs, spices and botanicals in place of hops. In this brew, organic lime and orange juices plus lime zest get a Margarita-like lick from a hint of sea salt.

140  FOOD & DRI NK SUMMER 2017