Showing posts with label quebec. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quebec. 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 publishedTuesday, July 9, 2019

Sivó Shámán Herbal Liqueur (Canada) - Review

I enjoyed this delicious herbal liqueur that arrived on LCBO VINTAGES on .

Shámán is a bitter herbal liqueur with origins in Bavarian monasteries. It has been revived with the respect and love of Quebec artisans by Maison Sivó to please the tastes of a new generation. Shámán aims to be nothing less than becoming a legend. Served cold, straight as a shooter, Shámán will surprise you with its powerful, bitter and floral taste. Developed with the assistance of mixologists, Sháman has a relatively high alcohol percentage by volume and a low sugar content that will make it also ideal in cocktails.

The Sivó family was producing remarkable fruit brandies at the outset of the 20th century in their village in Hungary. At the time, their products were recognized for their craftsmanship and quality even though their equipment was rather rudimentary. Today, they use highly refined methods of micro-distilling at their distillery in Montérégie, in southwestern Quebec.

Sivó Shámán Herbal Liqueur

Tasting Note:

SIVÓ SHÁMÁN HERBAL LIQUEUR - Matured in oak casks, Canada (#653436) (500 mL) - $27.95
Relatively high alcohol (36% alc./vol.) and minimal sugar (7.5 g/L), this is crafted with selective maceration of herbs and spices, realization, and aging in oak casks. Fragrant herbal, bitter, anise seed, licorice, and some floral aromas and flavours. Sticky and richly textured on the medium+ body. Very good length on the smooth, bitter finish. Reminds me of an Amaro. You could serve this lightly chilled on its own, but it will really shine when mixed into a cocktail. I made a slightly simpler version of Cabin Fizz (recipe below) and it was delicious! Other recipes that also look very enticing are provided below.

Cocktail Recipes:


Cabin Fizz
1.5 oz. Vodka
0.75 oz. Lemon juice
0.5 oz. Shámán
0.25 oz. Maple syrup
2 oz. Maple water
2 dashes of Angostura bitter

Add ice, shake and serve in a collins glass. Top off with soda, and garnish with lemon zest.

Lone Wolf
Crush a quarter of lemon in glass, then add:

0.5 oz. Shámán
0.5 oz. Simple syrup
1 oz. Pineapple juice
Add ice and ginger beer, and garnish with lemon slice

El Shámán
0.75 oz. Shámán
0.75 oz. Mexcal
0.75 oz. Grand Marnier
0.75 oz. Fresh lime juice
2 tbsp. White sugar
1 dash Agave syrup

Shake and filter, and serve in Marie-Antoinette glass.


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  • Date publishedSaturday, April 23, 2016

Domaine Félibre Givré Ice Cider 2014 (Quebec) - Review

Opened up this yummy cider ahead of its release into LCBO VINTAGES on .

This is a vintage cider from Domaine Félibre, the same producer as the Sweet Ginger Cider I opened recently. This multi-award winning cider is made with apples from the Stanstead and Compton orchards in the Quebec Eastern Townships. It consists of 90% McIntosh apples and 10% Paulared/Melba apples. To achieve the desired sweetness levels, once the apples are pressed, the juices are left to freeze outside at -30°. The concentrated extracts of these juices are then fermented at a low temperature.

Domaine Félibre Givré Ice Cider 2014 - Product Of Quebec, Canada

Tasting Note:

DOMAINE FÉLIBRE GIVRÉ ICE CIDER 2014 - Product of Quebec, Canada (#393611) (S) (375 mL) - $21.95
Zesty, crisp apple aromas from the cork. Plenty of sweet apple, apple sauce, and hints of honey aromas in the glass. On the palate, it's medium bodied and sweet with apple, honey, tangy citrus, and orange flavours framed by crisp acids. Finish length is very good. Ideal for pairing with apple-based desserts.


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  • Date publishedFriday, April 15, 2016

Domaine Félibre Givré Sweet Ginger Cider (Quebec) - Review

, I enjoyed this mildly sweet cider that was recently released into VINTAGES on .

This dessert wine is produced by Domaine Félibre in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada. It is located in the Hauts-Cantons region in West-Barnston (between Stanstead and Coaticook) at an altitude of 425 metres and has an exceptional view that extends from Mount Orford to the edges of the Appalachian Mountains. Ciders, liqueurs, and wines are made in a traditional manner from fruit cultivation through to bottling.

This cider is infused with old ginger roots from China and a bit of honey. Try it while there are plenty of bottles still available on LCBO VINTAGES shelves!

Domaine Félibre Givré Sweet Ginger Cider - Quebec, Canada

Tasting Note:

DOMAINE FÉLIBRE GIVRÉ SWEET GINGER CIDER - Quebec, Canada (#441949) (S) (375 mL) - $19.95
Cork smells of freshly cut ginger. In the glass, it offers medium intensity aromas of fresh ginger, sweet spice, candied lemon and hints of apple and honey with much of same on the flavour profile. It's light-weighed and mildly sweet with ginger and honey tones lingering on the aftertaste. The producer recommends serving this as an apértif, but it could also be served after dinner. Would make a lovely cocktail.


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