| DARK SPIRITS |
notes of honey, crème brûlée and vanilla, before moving to ex-red wine French oak casks that impart flavours of dried fruit and then finally to air-dried, virgin, toasted Hungarian oak casks that bring a unique spice character and subtle smoky quality. Each of these different casks plays a role in the spirit’s complexity. Extraction An untreated barrel will impart less influence into a spirit than if the wood has been exposed to heat, thereby altering its composition and deeper extraction of flavour is possible. Toasting or burning the inside of a barrel will caramelize the hemicellulose or sugars in the wood forming the “red layer” just below the charred surface and will provide not only colour but seemingly sweet aromas and flavours, such as caramel, butterscotch, vanilla and chocolate. Evaporation Oak is permeable and some of the liquid in the barrel will evaporate through the pores of the wood. Depending on the temperature and humidity at the location where the barrels are stored, there will be approximately three percent loss of liquid annually. This evaporation is called the “angel’s share” and will increase in warmer climates.
BEARFACE 7-YEAR-OLD TRIPLE OAK CANADIAN WHISKY Canada $39.99 161329 This Canadian whisky is triple barreled, creating a delicious flavour adventure: heavily charred ex- bourbon casks add vanilla and caramel flavours, red wine casks impart rich fruit, and finally, virgin toasted Hungarian oak casks sprinkle a little spice on the finish.
CAROLANS IRISH MIST
HONEY BEAR 2 oz (60 ml) Bearface Whisky ¾ oz (22 ml) Carolans Irish Mist 2 dashes Angostura Bitters lemon peel, for garnish In a mixing glass with cubed ice, combine whisky, Irish Mist and bitters. Stir to chill and dilute. Strain into a chilled cocktail coupe. Garnish with a lemon peel expressed over surface of the cocktail.
Ireland $36.49 20768 This delightful liqueur is made from a base of aged Irish whiskey, combined with clover honey, heather and aromatic herbs. Subtle, sweet honey character with flavours of vanilla and caramel are balanced by light herbal spice notes.
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