Showing posts with label gin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gin. Show all posts

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  • Date publishedTuesday, July 1, 2025

Celebrating Canadian Spirits: Sortilège & Seventh Heaven

It is only fitting to sip Canadian on , so for reviews I have a trio of Canadian spirits that showcase some of the best of local craftsmanship. Canadian distilleries such as Sortilège and Seventh Heaven produce world-class spirits with passion, precision, and tradition, as well as exceptional drinks worth celebrating.

Seventh Heaven Classic London Dry Gin and Sortilège Original - Canada

Sortilège Original Maple & Whisky Liqueur, along with Seventh Heaven London Dry Gin and their Gin & Tonic Ready-to-Drink Cocktail are standout examples of Canadian excellence as they blend high-quality ingredients with expert craftsmanship. Whether you’re a gin or whisky enthusiast, or looking for a premium ready-to-drink cocktail, now is the perfect time to raise a glass to the exceptional spirits crafted right here at home in Canada.

Launched at around the turn of the century, Sortilège is a Québécois distillery known for producing maple-flavoured whisky liqueurs and celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. Sortilège is derived from an authentic recipe that was developed by Quebec's first settlers who would flavour their eau-de-vie with the local ingredient - maple syrup. Soon thereafter, the settlers began using maple syrup directly during the distillation process to produce maple whisky. The base used to craft Sortilège hails from New France and offers the perfect balance between the complexity of Canadian whisky and the rich flavours of pure Quebec maple syrup.

Seventh Heaven was launched in 2018 in the quest for gin perfection. The line of gins by Seventh Heaven are crafted in Quebec by combining the highest quality ingredients with the art of local craft distillation to create aromatic products for a taste that is truly heavenly. Today, there are four gins in the line, along with many ready-to-drink canned cocktails, including a few that are low-alcohol (2%) versions. This post showcases the Seventh Heaven London Dry Gin, which is based off of their Premium Seventh Heaven Gin that features 7 herbs and aromatics. This Seventh Heaven London Dry Gin is a tribute to the English origins of the spirit and is crafted to spotlight the aromas and flavours of Nordic juniper berries and elderberries. Seventh Heaven also makes a canned, ready-to-drink Gin & Tonic with a squeeze of lemon cocktail for your convenience.

The Sortilège Original and both products by Seventh Heaven are readily available at the LCBO. Furthermore, the Gin & Tonic Ready-to-Drink canned cocktail is currently on promotion with 35 bonus Aeroplan points until July 19th.

Tasting Notes:

SORTILÈGE ORIGINAL - Canada (#250134) - $35.75
A perfect blend of quality Canadian whisky and Quebec maple syrup, this has rich whisky aromas joined with distinct notes of rich and sweet maple syrup. It's quite thick on the palate, with an almost viscous or syrupy mouthfeel, with sweet maple syrup, brown sugar, caramel, butterscotch, and vanilla flavours accented with rye spices and a touch of oak. Gentle spices with maple syrup on the mid-palate, while finishing clean and dry. Can be enjoyed as an aperitif, but is also at home after dinner as a dessert-style drink. Very nice!

Sortilège Original

SEVENTH HEAVEN CLASSIC LONDON DRY GIN - Québec, Canada (#30719) - $37.95
Fragrant with clean and elegant aromas of juniper berry, floral, and elderberries. It has good weight on the palate with delicious flavours of juniper, floral, and elderberry replays joined by spice, lime peel, and botanical herbs adding complexity. A touch of alcoholic warmth, but not intrusive. Nicely balanced throughout with spice touches on the long finish. You can certainly enjoy sipping this on its own, while it will also be a fine centerpiece in a martini or cocktail.

Seventh Heaven Classic London Dry Gin

SEVENTH HEAVEN LONDON DRY GIN & TONIC - Québec, Canada (#42405) - $3.45  LTO 35 bonus Aeroplan points until July 19
Faint aromas of juniper, elderberry, and floral are joined by lime peel and bitter notes. The palate is fresh, clean, and flavoursome with notes of juniper berries, botanical herbs, and a lime twist. Nicely carbonated with botanical herbs and lime, plus touches of bitter and thyme notes lingering on the pleasing, well-balanced finish. Perfect for a hot, summer day!

Seventh Heaven London Dry Gin & Tonic

Other fine products made in Canada by Sortilège and Seventh Heaven can be found at the LCBO, while the full range of each brand can be ordered through their Agent - Dandurand.


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  • Date publishedSaturday, April 22, 2023

Southside Fizz by Aloette (Ontario) - Cocktail Review

cocktail review is a delicious, brand new, ready-to-drink cocktail that just arrived at the LCBO. It is produced locally in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and is widely available across the province now.

Southside Fizz by Aloette is a mojito-esque twist on the classic Southside cocktail where London Dry Gin (plus Vodka according to the ingredients) is mixed with lime juice, muddled mint, and a hint of fresh cucumber to create a cool and refreshing carbonated cocktail that is light and citrusy on the palate, and enjoyed chilled or over ice.

It was created by Aloette, a neighbourhood bistro located in downtown Toronto and imagined by Alo Food Group. At Aloette, they take pride in using only the finest ingredients to create the perfectly crafted cocktail. Let's see how this new Southside Fizz cocktail by Aloette is tasting tonight...

Southside Fizz by Aloette

Tasting Note:

SOUTHSIDE FIZZ BY ALOETTE - Ontario, Canada (#31248) (355 mL) - $2.95
It smells very fresh with hints of cucumber, lime, and mint, all of which is echoed on the very fresh and flavourful palate, joined by some savoury London Dry Gin notes on the finish. It's not very sweet, while the carbonated bubbles add to the overall freshness. Chill and enjoy! Perfect for sipping on hot summer days and a recommended buy!


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  • Date publishedFriday, December 14, 2018

Empress 1908 Gin (British Columbia)

Empress Gin & Sprite
The Empress 1908 Gin is produced in British Columbia, Canada, and inspired by the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel, where travellers to Victoria have in fallen in love with the hotel's majestic grandeur, picturesque vistas, and incomparable afternoon tea service since 1908.

In particular, it was the hotel’s afternoon tea that inspired the creation of Empress 1908 Gin. The tea was made unforgettable thanks to the curation of an exclusive collection of seasonal, handpicked tea leaves that were blended to create the perfect cup.

This gin is micro-distilled in small batch copper-pot stills and hand-crafted using eight signature botanicals: tea, juniper, rose, coriander seed, grapefruit peel, ginger root, cinnamon bark, and butterfly pea blossom. In fact, it's the pea blossom that was discovered in one of the Empress tea blends that imbues the gin with a distinctive earthy note, as well as its vivid hue with a stunning secret to reveal – add citrus or tonic and the Empress 1908 is transformed from a breathtaking indigo to a beautiful soft pink. Empress 1908 Gin is made in an aromatic London Dry gin style with a lush blue hue, and promises to make a regal cocktail.


EMPRESS 1908 GIN (#557470) - $49.95
Aromatic, lovely, traditional juniper notes with some tea leaf, citrus, coriander, and grapefruit. Quite balanced overall with a smooth, easy drinking finish. Some Empress cocktail recipes are available from their website. Widely available at LCBO.

Cucumber Mint Gin:
2.5 oz gin, 8 mint leaves, 1 slice cucumber, 1 oz Agave syrup, 1.5 tsp lemon juice, garnish with mint and cucumber

Cucumber Mint Gin

Empress Orange:
2 parts Orange juice, 1 part lemon juice shaken in ice. Gin layered on top and sweetened with sugar.

Empress Orange


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