LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2026

INSIDE SCOOP

Bubbles & Bites

AVAILABLE AT LCBO

Barbet co-founder Andrea Grand shares her fail-safe formula for summer entertaining: set up a DIY drink bar and let guests mix their own.

LOVE BITE This layered sip opens with a ginger kick before bright citrus and botanical notes take over. It’s a natural match for salty, creamy or spicy bites like prosciutto and melon, goat cheese crostinis with hot honey or a strawberry basil salad. (LCBO 47581, 355 mL, $3.45)

PUTTING ON THE SPRITZ

For an easy summer cocktail, fill a glass with ice and pour 1 can of Love Bite overtop (1 can makes about 2 servings). Add 1/2 oz to 1 oz of vodka or Aperol per glass and stir gently. Try the same formula with Wild Card paired with tequila or mezcal, or Light Wave with gin.

WILD CARD Blood orange and calamansi deliver bright, tropical citrus notes, while jalapeño adds a subtle spicy finish. It’s built for fun food, like fish tacos with lime crema, Mexican street corn or grilled peaches with honey on a crispy baguette. (LCBO 47579, 355 mL, $3.45)

W hen Andrea Grand hosts at home, she sets up a choose-your own-adventure bar, where guests can customize their drinks however they like, with or without alcohol. It’s an easy, flexible approach that works beautifully for casual summer get-togethers, and reflects the ethos behind Barbet, the line of sophisticated non-alcoholic flavoured sparkling water she co-founded with her sister Katie in 2020. The brand started when Katie saw an opportunity to craft drinks with bold, complex flavours that could hold their own at any occasion. Working with a mixologist friend, the sisters explored unexpected ingredients like calamansi, yuzu and jalapeño, creating beverages that work solo or as mixers. “The baseline of Barbet was always about inclusive drinking moments and making sure that everyone has equally delicious options,” Grand says. Here’s how she pairs them.

LIGHT WAVE Cucumber, pineapple and lavender make for a fresh and lightly tropical sip. Garnish with a cucumber ribbon and serve alongside oysters with mignonette or poured over honey ice cream for a simple summer float. (LCBO 47580, 355 mL, $3.45)

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———————— SUMMER 2026