DISTILLING'S YELLOW BRICK ROAD

Distilling's

Yellow Brick Road

By Blair Phillips & Davin De Kergommeaux

As it hugs the shores of Lake Ontario from Toronto to Niagara – a region dubbed “The Golden Horseshoe” for its burgeoning entrepreneurial sector – the Queen Elizabeth Way has become a yellow brick road for spirits lovers. Here, in cocktail country, you can find all the ingredients you’ll need to make stunning summer cocktails when you return home.

Wayne Gretzky Estates

Niagara-On-The-Lake, ON

Our journey begins in Niagara-on-the-Lake where Wayne Gretzky has put as much heart into building a distillery here as he did on skates. When the doors opened in 2017, three new whiskies stood tall like trophies on the shelf. One of these was Wayne Gretzky No. 99 Ice Cask, poised and ready for mixing, with icewine sweetness and bursts of rye spices. To make the whisky, casks that once held Vidal icewine were re-filled with a blend of mature rye and corn whisky, then left to bask for four months in the spectre of icewine’s glory. This whisky will imbue your cocktails with glowing rye, exotic wood, floral tropical notes and round, fruity-honey sweetness.

Gretzky Ice Cask is the beating heart of a list of cocktails that Gretzky Estate’s mixologist, Zac Kvas, has built using a range of other ingredients exclusive to the region. His simple syrup, for instance, begins with hickory, spices and local dark maple syrup that balance on a slightly bitter tonic. This brings viscosity, bitters and sweetness to Kvas’ stirred whisky cocktails while balancing any acidic components. The simple syrup and whisky are both available at the distillery.

Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers

Beamsville, ON

distillery technicians arrived from Germany to build his pot stills. They convinced him that grapes, though more expensive than rye, provide a silkier mouthfeel.

While the distillery was under construction, Dillon worked harvesting grapes for local wineries. Connections made then paid dividends as Dillon’s became the first distillery in Ontario to make vodka using 100% local Niagara grapes. A smidgen of that grape character shines through on the pillowy, mouth-coating palate of their Method 95 Vodka. It simply begs to be shaken or stirred in a chilled vodka cocktail.

Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers, twenty minutes up the road, in Beamsville, is the brainchild of Geoff and Peter Dillon. In this self-contained cocktail emporium, Dillon’s distils bitters, gin, whisky and vodka along with the collection of spirits and liqueurs needed to make every conceivable cocktail under the warm Niagara sun. Dillon’s plans to use 100% rye grain as the base for his vodka changed when a team of

In 1992, practically next door to where Dillon’s is today, whisky maker, John K. Hall bought a struggling distillery and put whisky back on the yellow brick road. Canadian Whisky’s return to grandeur is synonymous with Hall and Forty Creek. Since Italy’s Gruppo Campari bought Forty Creek in 2014, his distiller/blender, Bill Ashburn, has continued Hall’s practice of releasing innovative award-winning whiskies.

Innovation is one thing, breaking whisky tradition is another, but Ashburn did just that when he summoned the courage to infuse Forty Creek whisky with fragrant herbage. His careful balance of juniper, Labrador tea, mugwort and spruce tips yielded a new botanical whisky called The Forager. Citrus and herbaceous top notes accent Forty Creek’s trademark fruity tones making The Forager ideal for fizzy cocktails.

Forty Creek Distillery

Grimsby, ON

Reid's Distillery

Toronto, ON

In 2019, the gin-crazed Reid’s family brought the fragrant aromas of newly distilled gin to their Toronto neighbourhood when they opened Reid’s distillery. Martin, Calvin, Graham and Jacqueline set the bar high with their first Reid’s Signature Gin. The eleven botanicals in this well-balanced, traditional gin elevate cocktails with a brightness reminiscent of a freshly watered garden exploding with crisp flavours. A blend of Italian and Canadian juniper form the gin’s core, characteristics along with its familiar pine-like note. A spritz of citrus offsets mild woody characters that originate from aromatic sweet fern foraged near Hudson Bay.

Reid’s showcase their signature gin in the distillery’s cocktail lounge, in a diverse list of gin cocktails. You won’t find Dorothy clicking her ruby red slippers here because seated at the bar, the Reid’s make you feel right at home.

Hiram Walker & Sons Distillery

Windsor, ON

For the adventurous, a four-hour drive connects the Golden Horseshoe with the Windsor corridor. We’re not in Kansas anymore, but at Canada’s oldest distillery. Hiram Walker & Sons Distillery has been making whisky here since 1858, including a quintessential rye named Lot No. 40 which, has captured the hearts of bartenders across the planet.

Lot 40 fell on hard times in the late 1990s. In a world where cocktails, such as the Cosmopolitan were all the rage, the whisky was ahead of its time. Then, in 2012 newly appointed Master Blender Dr Don Livermore revived it. His version is just as rye driven as the original, with some modern finesse and rounding. Sweet floral esters and dark rye fruits add polish to the hard rye spices giving whisky-forward cocktails a twister of flavours. Once a month Livermore offers whisky blending classes for hard-core spirits geeks.

Visiting these five distilleries will encourage you to explore more of Canada’s vast distilling scene. With over 200 distilleries across the country, you will soon become a cocktail wizard using their ingredients. So, hop in the car, then pull back the curtain on cocktails using Canada’s finest spirits.

You can read more about these and 200 other Canadian Distilleries in Davin and Blair’s new book, The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries available now wherever books are sold.

Photos Courtesy of Blair Phillips and Davin De Kergommeaux

Blair Phillips

Blair is a lifestyle and spirits writer specializing in Canada's growing landscape of spirits and distilleries. He is the Canadian contributing editor for Whisky Magazine and writes for the popular Distiller app. He also contributed features for drinkingmadeeasy.com during the TV Series' three season run. He judges several spirits competitions including the World Whisky Awards and Canadian Whisky Awards.

Davin De Kergommeaux

Davin is a drinks writer, public speaker and spirits judge, recognized as the world expert on Canadian whisky. He has travelled to four continents to visit spirits producers and distilleries, and make presentations about Canadian spirits. In 2016 the Globe and Mail named him one of the 50 most influential Canadians in food and drink, then in 2018 the New York Times said his significance in the revival of Canadian whisky could not be overstated.

The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries is an indispensable guide to the past, present and future of Canada's distilleries. Written by bona fide Canadian spirits expert Davin de Kergommeaux, this book covers more than 200 of the most exciting and cutting-edge distilleries, large and small, who are shaping the industry today.

Just a decade ago, fewer than a dozen distilleries, concentrated in two provinces, produced almost all the spirits (mainly whisky) made in Canada. Today, there is a movement afoot in Canada's spirits world. There has never been a better selection of rich specialty spirits--from gin to moonshine, from flavoured vodka to liqueurs--to tempt the palate and supplement your longtime favourites. Despite flourishing public enthusiasm for Canada's distillers, other than incomplete and inaccurate web-based information, no one has offered consumers an all-inclusive guide... until now.

Using a trademark (and witty) blend of narrative, tasting notes, inventive cocktail recipes and vibrant photos, de Kergommeaux shares the unique genesis of each of these distillers who are pushing the boundaries and flavours of spirits of all kinds. Divided geographically with suggested distillery routes, and filled with key tour information as well as breakout features of the most exciting people and spirits today, The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries is a treasured souvenir and fun companion to the distilleries in every corner of the country, and a must-have guide for curious drinkers and expert connoisseurs alike.

Scuderia Ferrari Club Toronto is all about people, and the passion for Ferrari culture. Established in 2013, on the behest of Scuderia Ferrari Club of Maranello, the Club is recognized as the best Foreign Scuderia Ferrari Club in the world.

Their collective efforts are focused on supporting and promoting the Ferrari culture, the Ferrari trademark, together with F1, and by educating and engaging in sporting, cultural and social events, across Ontario, Canada and globally.

President Antonio Folino is passionate about his club. "We believe in diversity, gender and youth engagement, with a focus to grow and unite people sharing the passion for Ferrari," he states emphatically. "Our vision is to expand our Ferrari family together, and welcome many new members, sharing the energy and passion for Ferrari, aiming to be the best Scuderia Ferrari Club."

In fact, since 2013, the Toronto club has been awarded as the best Scuderia Ferrari Foreign Club, and second worldwide. With Folino's leadership and the club's committed Board of Directors, the organization is sure to continue to grow, with already over 900 members.

President Antonio Folino

"We like that our club is growing," Folino says. "Men and women, children, families passionate about the history of Ferrari, the pursuit of excellence Enzo Ferrari has left as one amazing legacy, and what Ferrari represents to the world, the strongest and most loved brand."

And what a history!

Enzo Ferrari was born on February 18, 1898 in Modena, Italy. From an early age, he was fascinated with cars and racing. At the age of 21, he landed a job as a test driver for Alfa Romeo. Within a few years he was winning championships. For good luck, he decided to adorn his cars with a prancing horse, which now of course, is one of the most famous logos in the world.

Enjoying success as a race car driver, Enzo launched his own racing team, Scuderia Ferrari, literally translated to "Ferrari Stable."

In celebration of Enzo Ferrari's incredible achievements, the Toronto Club organizes events year round. You can see from the pictures in this article just how much fun members have!

There are monthly dinners at the clubhouse, group trips to Italy, golf tournaments, and even a Christmas party for kids featuring Santa Claus.

This is no ordinary club.

As Club Treasurer Mariana Todorova states:

"Many think Ferrari is about cars only, or more about Formula One, and it is for men... mostly... and yet an expensive vehicle that few can really buy, but Ferrari is about love, passion, and a family before anything else. Ferrari is trust, performance, excellence and one incredible drive for achievement that has united people from all over the world and from all walks of life."

Photos Courtesy of Scuderia Ferrari Club Toronto