Astronaut

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AstronautAstronaut

Space has long captured our imagination and has been a driving force in bringing the world together. That combination has helped lead to the International Space Station and its first Canadian commander, astronaut Chris Hadfield. In honour of the spirit of collaboration, this week’s feature is a mix of Canadian prairie wheat vodka, sugar cane rum, zesty lemon, and sweet passion fruit. So shake up this cocktail, lie back and relax staring at the stars.

Ingredients

½ oz Banff Ice Vodka

½ oz white rum

½ oz lemon juice

dash of passion fruit juice

Garnish with a lemon wedge

Method

Pour all ingredients into a shaker glass and shake well. Strain in a small glass with new ice. Place lemon wedge garnish.

Extra

Hadfield is bringing the experience of being an astronaut to us all. Follow Chris Hadfield on Twitter @Cmdr_Hadfield

Bossanova

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Bossanova

Bossa Nova

The wonderful thing about cocktails is that you create them from scratch. The magic is created right in front of you and can be adjusted by the slightest splash of this or long pour of that. This week, we feature a cocktail that is all about combining flavours. Aged rum, subtle apricot, sweet vanilla, crisp apple, and fresh lime blend to make this incredibly easy drinking cocktail.

Ingredients

1 oz Brugal Anejo Rum

¼ oz Galliano Liqueur

¼ oz Bols Apricot Brandy Liqueur

2 oz Apple Juice

½ oz Fresh Lime Juice

¼ oz Simple Syrup *

Garnish with lime wedges

Method

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour all ingredients into it. Shake well and strain into a glass with new ice. Garnish with lime wedges and serve.

Tips

This drink can be shaken or, if you prefer, blended.

*To make simple syrup, combine equal parts of boiling water to sugar and leave to cool. Store in the refrigerator.

Alambra Royale

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Alambra Royale

Alambra Royale

Sometimes it is hard to enjoy a cocktail when your drink is as frigid as the weather outside. Why not warm things up with a hot drink? The Alambra Royale starts with hot chocolate, then adds soft oak and light fruit flavours to create a warming winter cocktail.

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz Courvoisier VS Cognac

5 oz Hot Chocolate

Orange twist for garnish

Dollop of whip cream (optional)

Method

Prepare some hot chocolate and pour it into a heat-resistant glass or mug about 3/4 of the way full. Next, we need to warm up the Courvoisier VS Cognac. Pour the cognac into a metal ladle, set the liquid on fire with a match or lighter, then carefully pour into the hot chocolate.

Be very careful any time you are using fire. If you are concerned about the use of fire, skip heating up the cognac and pour it directly into the hot chocolate.

Twist an orange peel over the entire drink and rest on the glass.

Add whipped cream if desired.

Bahama Mama

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Bahama Mama

Bahama Mama

Escape winter’s cold-weather woes with a tropical-themed party. It’s a great way to take a break from reality. At the very least, treat your tastebuds to a tropical escape with the Bahama Mama. The combination of aged rum, coconut, orange and sweet pineapple is balanced by sour lemon to create a fruity rum concoction like no other. So turn up the heat, put on your favourite summer shirt and let the vacation in a glass begin.

Ingredients

1 oz Brugal Anjeo Rum

1 oz Cruzan Coconut Rum

2 oz Orange Juice

2 oz Pineapple Juice

½ oz Lemon Juice

Splash of Grenadine

Garnish with an orange and cherry (optional)

Method

In a shaker with ice, add all ingredients. Shake and pour into a tall glass. Garnish and enjoy.

Tips

If you don’t have coconut rum, use white rum and add coconut syrup.

Shaking ensures all the ingredients are mixed together well and creates a nice frothy texture because of the fruit juices.

Famous Fizz

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Famous FizzFamous Fizz

Stimulate your senses and prepare to be impressed. The Famous Fizz cocktail is a wonderful mix of Famous Grouse blended scotch whisky, which gives a smooth smoked oak flavour, sweet honey, citrus lemon juice, a dash of aromatic bitters and a splash of carbonation. The combination will tickle the nose and tastebuds. Enjoy!

Ingredients

1oz Famous Grouse blended scotch whisky

1/2 oz honey syrup

1/4 oz lemon juice

2 dashes of Angostura bitters

1oz soda

Lemon twist for garnish

Method

Put ice into a cocktail glass and set aside to chill. Pour in all ingredients except the soda into a shaker. Shake vigorously. Empty the ice out of the now chilled cocktail glass. Strain shaken ingredients into the glass and add a splash of soda for some fizz.

Garnish with lemon twist.

Tips

Honey syrup is made by combining equal parts of honey and boiling water, then letting the mixture cool. Doing this allows the honey to mix into drinks easier.

If you haven’t prepared the honey syrup ahead of time, add 1 tsp of liquid honey into the shaken ingredients and stir well before shaking again to ensure the honey is completely mixed.

If you prefer an even more smokey taste, use Black Grouse instead of Famous Grouse.

The Black Grouse uses smoked peat in the production process and imparts a rich smoked flavour and aroma to the spirit.

Downhill Racer #9

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Downhill Racer #9Downhill Racer #9

Winter is a great season for many reasons and enjoying the mountains is one of them. Whether you ski or snowboard, you deserve a delicious cocktail at the end of the day.

The nine spices in Cruzan Spiced Rum – allspice, vanilla, pepper, ginger, mace, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and juniper berry – infuse it with layers of flavour. Mix it with almond liqueur and tropical fruit juice for a delicious blend perfect for winter nights.

Ingredients

1 1/4 oz Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum

3/4 oz Amaretto liqueur

2 oz pineapple juice

Method

Start by placing ice in a martini glass and putting it aside to chill while you prepare the martini. Next, pour all the ingredients into a shaker glass filled with ice and shake vigorously.

Discard the ice from the martini glass and strain shaken mixture into the now chilled glass.

Tips

This martini recipe is a variation on the original Downhill Racer, which uses white rum instead of Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum. Using the spiced rum adds more flavour profile, with the nine spices complementing the other ingredients.

Anastasia’s Garden

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Anastasia's Garden

Anastasia’s Garden

A new year is nearly upon us, which is a good time to celebrate with a  brilliantly refreshing cocktail, Anastasia’s Garden. Flavours of sweet  strawberries and fragrant basil combine with premium vodka and some carbonation  to dance on your tongue. Pressing refresh never tasted so good.

Ingredients

1oz Russian Standard vodka

4 basil leaves

3 ripe strawberries

3oz soda (or champagne)

Garnish with a basil leaf

Method

Cut the tops off the strawberries and place directly into a glass. Give the  basil leaves a smack to awaken them and place on top of the strawberries. Muddle  until the berries are all pressed. Fill with ice and pour in the vodka. Top with  soda or champagne and stir gently. Place a basil leaf or sprig for garnish.  Enjoy!

Tips

The carbonation not only gives your taste buds some fun, it also helps  release the fresh fruit and herb aromas.

If using a champagne, choose a dry or Brut champagne. Another substitution is  sparkling white wine