LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2022

SEASONAL SENSATIONS

DRINKLAB, TORONTO The Innovator

When Brock Shepherd founded Drinklab in 2018, he wanted to break the rules he’d had to follow previously as a craft brewer. He was game for creating not just one single category of drinks, but just about anything that tasted great! The company launched the first Ontario canned drink to combine cider and kombucha—a pairing inspired by an impromptu blending experiment Shepherd undertook at his cottage one summer.

MEET THE MAKER Shepherd attended George Brown College to become a chef, then spent years working in hospitality, operating bars and restaurants in Toronto. “I just like being creative with food and drink,” he says. “I look for a balance between taking a classic approach and going off into unexpected directions.” With Drinklab, he aims to push boundaries and innovate as drinkers’ preferences evolve.

[ SUMMER PAIRINGS ]

Handcrafted in small batches, Pombucha (LCBO 131649, 473 mL, $3.50) brings together the sweetness of locally grown Honeycrisp apples and the subtle tang of kombucha fermented for 14 days. Upfront, experience light tropical and citrus aromas, then notice delicate bubbles, a hint of sweetness and robust fruit notes. Its acidity shines when it’s served with dishes featuring richly flavourful fish, like Rainbow Trout Tacos (recipe at lcbo.com/fdsummer22).

The new Pearbucha (LCBO 25032, 473 mL, $3.65) showcases ripe flavours of Ontario fruit—Bosc and Bartlett pears, supported by apple and locally produced kombucha. Expect an off-dry yet crisp finish with pear and pineapple notes. Go bold with food pairings: think a classic burger made with local beef, crowned with cheddar.

INSET PHOTO COURTESY OF PATRICK MAFADDEN

72 FOOD & DRINK SUMMER 2022