LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2023

INSIDE SCOOP

BAR HACKS Ice, Ice, Baby To help you navigate the wonderful world of cocktail ice, we’ve broken it down into four types with tips, tricks and helpful gadgets. Note: When making ice of any size, transfer the hard cubes to freezer bags to keep both the trays and cubes from absorbing unpleasant odours.

MATCHMAKER ONE, TWO, BRUNCH!

From a variety of local fruit beers to a trio of Bloody Caesars, summer

brunches just got a whole lot easier.

Regular Cubes Look for moulds with 1- to 1 1/4 ‑inch (2.5- to 3-cm) cubes. Anything smaller will melt too quickly.

In Mill St. Fruit Market Mixed Pack ( LCBO 32057, 6 pk, $22.95 ) you’ll find watermelon, blueberry lemonade and raspberry wheat beers. Like a beer drinker’s Mimosa, they go well with pancakes, French toast and waffles. For fuss-free versions of the great Canadian highball, a Mott’s Clamato Caesar Variety Pack (LCBO 31290, 12 pk, $30.85) contains Original, Pickled Bean and Extra Spicy. All you need is some rimming spice and celery sticks!

Crushed Ice Used in all kinds of sweet and strong cocktails, including Juleps, Swizzles and Tiki drinks. It’s easy, albeit loud, to make: wrap ice in a clean kitchen towel or BarFly Lewis Bag ($14, cocktailemporium.com) and pound with a wooden mallet or rolling pin, then transfer crushed ice to a freezer bag. Many fridges have a crushed ice function, however, it can produce ice that’s a bit coarse and often needs a whack or two.

Large Cubes Around 2 inches (5 cm), big cubes are ideal for drinks, such as an Old Fashioned or Negroni, where you want to minimize dilution. Easy to make in the Final Touch Extra-Large 4-Cube Ice Mould ($11.99/set of 2, alwaysfinaltouch.com).

Clear Ice Free of air bubbles, clear ice—usually large cubes—melts more slowly and looks stunning in the glass, which is why you’ll find it at top bars all over the world. The best way to make it at home is with the highly rated True Cubes Clear Ice Cube Tray ($60, amazon.ca). If you’re having a party, you can order clear 2-inch (5‑cm) cubes from Toronto’s The Iceman (the-iceman.com).

26 FOOD & DRINK SUMMER 2023