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OKANAGAN SPIRITS – A PIONEER DISTILLER IN BC
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Awarded · World Class Distillery Classification · Distillery of Year · Spirit of the Year: Blackcurrant Liqueur (97.7points) · Double Gold Medal: Blackcurrant Liqueur · Gold Medal Winners: Cherry Liqueur, Raspberry Liqueur, Taboo Absinthe & Aquavit - 2013 World Spirits Competition, Klagenfurt, Austria
2920 - 28th Ave, Vernon 250 549 3120 267 Bernard Ave, Kelowna 778 484 5174
Canada’s Only ‘World Class Distillery’ www.okanaganspirits.com Shop Online In The Okanagan We Make More Than Just Wine • Fruit Liqueurs • Eau de Vie • Absinthe • Gin • Vodka • Whisky www.winetrails.ca
kanagan Spirits has been crafting world-class spirits in the Okanagan Valley since 2004. Original distilling can be traced back to the Greek alchemists in the first century, but in British Columbia’s distilling history they were one of the very first. Okanagan Spirits now has 25 different products; all made with 100% BC ingredients. At the latest Worlds Spirits Awards in Klagenfurt Austria they were named Distillery of the Year and well as scoring the highest points in history for their Blackcurrant Liqueur - it won Spirit of the Year at 97.7 points. After 10 years in Vernon, Okanagan Spirits has outgrown its production and tasting facility and has broken ground on a new 16,000 sq ft distillery not far from the original. With the new liquor laws this artisan is further focused on producing top quality ingredients BC fruits and
crops and are looking forward to the 2014 growing season. The new distillery will have a 20-foot tasting bar and lounge, a presentation room and many more stills and tanks enabling them to ramp up production while still keeping their artisan mandate. Recently Okanagan Spirits released a BC Hopped Whisky that was barrel-aged for five years and is the first hopped whisky of its kind, but sadly only 300 bottles were available. Part of the “Final Proof Master Distiller Series”, this whisky is part of a series of small batch whiskies that will be released in batches. Last year the distillery released single malt, but again the quantity was so limited there had to be a lottery just to win the right to buy the liquid gold. *See cocktail recipe page 54. ~ Cassandra Anderton
(R-L) Tony Dyck - Owner/President of Okanagan Spirits with Rodney Goodchild - Sales and Marketing.
SOOTHE THE SWELTER WITH SOME SIZZLE AT POPPADOMS
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oothe summer’s swelter with some sizzle in your farm-totable cuisine at Poppadoms. Cranking up the flavours is the mantra with a delicate alchemy of Indian spices in fresh local ingredients. The enthusiasm and approach to learning of the Dosanj family is contagious and has resulted in a myriad of collaborations with other local chefs and restaurants. On Mother’s Day, Chef Mark Filatow and Waterfront Wines shared Poppadoms’
kitchen to create a tantalizing winepaired meal. For Father’s Day the partnership was “The Butcher & the Bar: A Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea with Chef Jason Leizert of Salted Brick.” Active in the many initiatives of the Okanagan Chefs Association, Poppadoms is now joining forces nationally to be part of Food Day Canada. Held August 2, 2014, it is “a chance for all Canadians to join hands in one massive celebration in praise of our farmers and fishers;
our chefs and researchers.” Reserve your table now because it’s sure to be another inspirational feast building on the summer menu which makes the most of the season’s finest. Award-winning Bar Manager Harry Dosanj offers a summer cocktail list with spirited and non-alcohol selections. Aman teaching Mark Watch for Filatow how to use savoury and the tandoor oven. natural fruit enhancements to favourites such as margaritas and other hot weather classics. Don’t miss Wednesday’s exclusive BBQ menu on the patio. Experience Indian-inspired barbecue with cold sides like cashew rice, Bombay Aloo or salad greens. Bop along with the servers – perhaps sporting fake Indian-looking moustaches – to disco and Indian jazz numbers circa 1920-70s. ~ Roslyne Buchanan
B.C. Food & Wine Trails • JULY/AUGUST 2014 • Page 13