| SIPPING EN BLANC |
Cachaça Of course, there’s no harm in getting adventurous while sipping en blanc. Cachaça, Brazil’s national white spirit, feels tailor- made for outdoor summer dining. Typically distilled from fresh, fermented sugarcane juice, like tequila and rum there are both unoaked and aged cachaças. Branca or prata (Portuguese for “white” and “silver,” respectively) is unoaked cachaça, and is known for more spicy, green and vegetal notes. It’s also best known as the base in the Caipirinha, which combines cachaça with muddled lime and sugar (topped with ice) for a simple but effective summer sipper. White Rum Then there is rum. Rum is not unlike cachaça in its production and categories, though it is most often distilled from molasses—a by-product of sugar production. Dark rums spend time aging in barrels, whereas white rums do not. But for real summer sipping en blanc, one rum truly epitomizes the season and setting; this is, of course, Malibu Coconut Rum. Not only does it pour transparent, Malibu doubles down on the white theme with the inclusion of coconut liqueur and a white wraparound label. The recipe is simple: pour with any tropical fruit juice (pineapple if seeking Piña Colada vibes). Or sip neat over ice, preferably with a paper umbrella. Cointreau Finally, let’s not forget the liqueurs en blanc! By default, all distillates, liqueurs included, pour clear. This includes the orange essence- imbued Cointreau. And while Cointreau is often associated as a complementary component in a cocktail (see the reference to Margaritas above), in fact Cointreau makes for a fine stand-alone sipper. A splash over ice garnished with an orange twist is an easy, sensible aperitif—whether sipped pre-meal at Dîner en Blanc or in your backyard! Truly, sipping en blanc is easy. Breezy
CAZADORES BLANCO TEQUILA Mexico $38.99 773143 This blanco tequila retains great agave influence— citrus, spice and herbaceous aromatics—that provide enough character for solo sipping but also works as the base in fruit-forward cocktails.
ICEBERG VODKA Canada $24.49 400754 Made with water harvested from icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, this is a clean, crisp and smooth vodka ready for all manner of Mules—or a summer Caesar.
SHERINGHAM SEASIDE GIN BC $49.99 776724 This local BC gin smells and tastes of place, from its lifted floral notes to the woodsy, peppery spice and almost saline finish, thanks to the addition of winged kelp!
CACHAÇA 51 Brazil $39.99 429197 1 L
Brazil’s bestselling cachaça is smooth with aromas of citrus and herbs. Use it as the foundation in all sorts of tropical cocktails, starting with the obvious, lime- heavy Caipirinha.
MALIBU COCONUT RUM LIQUEUR Canada $24.99 477836 When it comes to rum and pure summer vibes, it has to be Malibu! This white-rum-and- coconut-liqueur blend is fruity, sweet, tropical and simply classic.
COINTREAU France $43.99 6502 While Cointreau is a well-known team player in cocktails, consider sipping this sweeter, orange- imbued liqueur solo this summer— ideally over ice with a slice of orange.
even, if sipping alfresco. All without any concern for laundry-impacted, sartorial mishaps. Dîner en Blanc has met its perfect pairing options.
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