While the art of mixology has always been around, creating craft cocktails at home has been gaining popularity at an impressive speed. You no longer have to visit a speakeasy or hotel lounge to get your favourite gin cocktail.
Instead, all that’s required is fully stocked home bar cart and bottle of local, Canadian-made Ungava gin.
Known for its bright yellow hue, botanical taste and natural ingredients, the flavourful gin can be enjoyed year-round, on its own or in a cocktail. Fall beverages shouldn’t be limited to pumpkin pie martinis and campfire slings.
By pairing Ungava with classic and innovative chasers like tonic water, syrups and juices, there’s a cocktail for everybody.
The gin is made from hand-foraged Arctic botanicals, which are dried and slowly steeped for five weeks, allowing for the natural extraction of complex zest and colour. The unique final product provides mixed drink enthusiasts with a natural way to express their taste and embrace their wild side.
If you’re ready to start playing around with Ungava’s distinct flavours, these four exceptional recipes provide the perfect starting point.
The Bee’s Knees
This bright yellow cocktail highlights the gin’s unmistakable flavour rather than masking it with overpowering mixers. After your friends try this refreshing gin sour, you’ll be a busy home bartender for the rest of the evening.
Ingredients
2 oz Ungava Gin
0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
0.75 oz honey syrup
lemon zest
Directions
Combine all liquid ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously, strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with lemon zest.
The Berry Wild
In this cocktail, the addition of fresh blackberries changes the gin’s signature tint from yellow to pink. Every sip of the mouthwatering drink is filled with bold citrus and ginger flavours that’ll leave you thirsting for more. But don’t let the fresh blackberries fool you into thinking this is a summer cocktail. Most grocery stores carry the berries throughout all four seasons.
Ingredients
1.5 oz Ungava Ginger
0.5 oz Crème de cassis
4 to 5 fresh blackberries
1 oz lemon juice
1 oz simple syrup
Directions
Add blackberries and simple syrup to a shaker and mix well. Add the rest of the ingredients, shake vigorously and pour into a glass with crushed ice.
Aromatic G&T
If you’re looking to elevate your usual gin and tonic, look no further than Ungava’s Aromatic G&T that combines citrus, herbs, tonic and aroma. This cocktail can be easily tailored to your personal taste preferences.
Ingredients
1.5 oz Ungava Gin
2 oz Fever-Tree Aromatic Tonic
1 grapefruit wedge
Black peppercorn
Rosemary sprigs
Directions
Simply pour all of the ingredients into an ice-filled glass, stir well and garnish with rosemary sprigs and a grapefruit wedge.
Arctic Sparkler
When it comes to special occasions, this champagne cocktail makes a memorable celebratory drink.
Ingredients
1 oz Ungava Gin
0.5 oz grapefruit juice
0.25 oz simple syrup
3 oz champagne
1 grapefruit twist
Directions
Pour gin, grapefruit juice and simple syrup into a shaker with ice. Shake well, strain into an ice-filled wine glass, top with champagne and garnish with the grapefruit twist.
Look for the yellow drink on your next run to the LCBO. For more information and cocktail inspiration, visit ungavagin.com.