LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2017

West-coast shrimp devilled eggs recipe on page 157

BEATTIE’S FARM-CRAFTED VODKA LCBO 446625, $35.45 Source: Potatoes from Ken Beattie’s farm in Alliston, Ont.—the same potatoes he grows for Lay’s potato chips. Distilled on site using the farm’s spring water, this is a very smooth, creamy, rich spirit with a hint of vanilla and caramel. ICEBERG VODKA LCBO 400754, $27.45 Source: Corn with water from harvested Atlantic ice- bergs. A Newfoundland spirit with the telltale sweet- ness of corn and a nose of vanilla and sweet citrus that leads to a clean, short finish. An excellent choice for a Bloody Caesar. CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA LCBO 267302, $60.15 Source: Corn. Dan Aykroyd owns the brand with the world’s most distinctive bottle. Also distilled in New- foundland, it’s seamlessly silky with the sweet, full-bod- ied corn curling into a dry, warm finish. Mix it or sip it straight up. GEORGIAN BAY VODKA LCBO 446559, $39.95 Source: Barley. This rich, spicy Ontario star has such complexity—a swirl of fennel, citrus, sweet corn and pine that stands out in a cocktail and dazzles served straight. Medium-bodied, beautifully balanced vodka. DILLON’S METHOD 95 LCBO 365544, $40.05 Source: Grapes from Niagara. Geoff Dillon makes this splendid spirit in Niagara. Its forward, floral, grapey nose is exceptionally aromatic—almost like a delicate grappa—and it all carries through to the flavour. Try it after dinner, chilled. Canadian Vodkas How to decide which vodkas to include in your tasting? There are so many to choose from! We picked 10 that all have something unique to say for themselves—five from Canada and five from the rest of the world. Traditionally, multiple distillations and filtration have been used to make vodka as pure as humanly possible, but the modern trend is towards character rather than neutrality, especially from small artisanal distilleries eager to showcase the qualities of the spirit’s main ingredient and also the place they come from. There has never been a more interesting time to be a vodka drinker.

Horseradish rare-beef toasts recipe on page 156

96  FOOD & DRI NK SUMMER 2017