Maple syrup is one of Canada’s most iconic sweet treats, loved for its unique flavour and natural origin. However,...
Festive Gin from Canada: Creative Cocktails for the Holiday Season
To impress your guests at the end of the year, introduce them to Canadian gin in delicious original aperitif cocktails. Gin is a strong alcohol with a pronounced herbal taste and is a key ingredient for making original drinks. Find some gin-based recipes for your parties in this article.
Maple Gin Smash
The Gin Basil Smash is a cocktail originating from Hamburg, Germany and made famous by mixologist Jorg Meyer at the Lion Bar in Paris. Made with gin, lemon juice and plenty of fresh basil, it has since been revisited many times. The Maple Gin Smash is a Canadian version of this cocktail.
Ingredients for a cocktail:
- 30 ml of Canadian gin
- 30 ml of Sortilège maple syrup whisky liqueur
- 8 ml of maple syrup
- ½ squeezed lemon + zest
- A few blueberries
- Crushed ice
Place the blueberries in a shaker and crush them. Add all the liquids on top. Close and shake for a good thirty seconds. Place crushed ice in a tumbler glass. Strain the cocktail and pour it into the glass. Garnish the glass with the lemon zest and a few blueberries.
Maple Blueberry Gimlet
The Gimlet is originally an iconic 19th century cocktail made with three ingredients: gin, lime juice and powdered sugar. This tangy cocktail has served as the basis for the creation of many other cocktails, such as the Daiquiri or the Margarita.
It is revisited here to introduce maple syrup and blueberries (optional).
Ingredients for a cocktail:
- 60 ml Canadian gin
- 30 ml maple syrup
- 30 ml fresh lime juice
- 1 lime wedge
- A few blueberries (optional)
- Ice
Place the blueberries and maple syrup in a shaker and shake well. Pour the gin and lime juice over the top and cover with ice cubes. Shake again vigorously. Strain twice and pour into a martini glass. Garnish with a few blueberries and the lime wedge.
Pink martini with gin and cranberries
This cocktail combines the sweet and slightly tart taste of cranberries with gin power. This is a sweeter and fruitier version of the classic martini cocktail. For a perfect balance, a hint of Cointreau is added. Ideally, place all the ingredients in the refrigerator before serving.
Ingredients for a cocktail:
- 30 ml Canadian gin
- 30 ml of cranberry juice
- 30 ml fresh lime juice
- Lime zest
- A touch of orange liqueur like Cointreau
- Ice
Place all ingredients in a shaker and add ice cubes. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain and pour into a martini glass. Garnish with a lime twist.
The Vesper
This is a variation of the famous Dry Martini cocktail. You will probably recognize the Vesper as James Bond's creation in the movie Casino Royale, and it is supplemented with Lillet Blanc. Gin dominates in this powerful alcoholic cocktail, reduce the dose to obtain a less pronounced result.
Ingredients for a cocktail:
- 90 ml Canadian gin
- 30 ml of vodka
- 15 ml of Lillet Blanc
- Lemon slice
- Ice
Fill a shaker with ice cubes and add all the liquid ingredients. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain and pour into a champagne glass. Garnish the glass with the lemon slice.
The French 75 with elderflower
The French 75 is a classic cocktail made with champagne, gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup. In this version, elderflower liqueur is added for a delicate floral touch.
Ingredients for a cocktail:
- 45 ml Canadian gin
- 15 ml elderflower liqueur (St. Germain type)
- 15 ml fresh lemon juice
- 120 ml of chilled champagne, prosecco or sparkling wine
- Lemon zest
- Ice
In a shaker, pour the gin, elderflower liqueur and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Add ice cubes. Shake for about twenty seconds. Strain and pour into a champagne flute. Add the champagne, prosecco or sparkling wine. Garnish with lemon zest.
The sparkling elderflower cocktail
This cocktail is made with gin, fresh lemon juice, elderflower liqueur and champagne or sparkling wine. Light, floral and fresh, it is perfect for holiday meals and receptions. The subtle taste of the elderflower liqueur counterbalances the acidity of the lemon juice and the result is a delicious, well-balanced cocktail.
Ingredients for a cocktail:
- 45 ml Canadian gin
- 2 teaspoons elderflower liqueur (St. Germain)
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- Chilled champagne, prosecco or sparkling wine
- Lemon zest
- Rosemary sprig
- Ice
In a shaker, start by pouring the elderflower liqueur, gin and lemon juice. Fill with ice cubes and close. Shake for about twenty seconds. Strain the mixture before pouring it halfway into a champagne flute. Fill the rest of the glass with prosecco, sparkling wine or champagne. Finish by decorating with the lemon zest and the rosemary sprig.
Gin, a complex alcohol perfect for cocktails
THE gin is a strong alcohol which must be of good quality to appreciate its aromatic complexity. The best gins are easily drunk neat, but you can make a multitude of cocktails with them.
What you need to know about gin
It is difficult to guess the basic ingredient of a gin by tasting it. It is made from flour of grains such as barley, corn, or molasses from beets in particular. The neutral alcohol thus produced is then flavored, always with juniper berries and also liquorice or coriander.
The origins of this strong alcohol can be traced back to the Netherlands, where Genever has been produced for centuries, using juniper berries.
Our selection of Canadian gins
We have selected several Canadian gins for you on our online store. Discover pure gins, such as the Neige brand, or infused gins. There is notably the Akenes spice gin from Nokomis, the wild violet gin from the Mariana distillery, or the Furlong from La Chaufferie. The maple-reduced gin liqueur from the Leo brand is another gin-based alcohol that you will find in our online store.
For memorable celebrations, rely on Canadian and Quebec products from our merchant site. Maple syrup is an ingredient that can be used in a multitude of sweet or savory preparations. You will also find gift ideas by browsing our selection of alcohols and drinks. They are also perfect for concocting many cocktails!
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