Our first stop on our tour is Okanagan Spirits Distillery. The distillery was created 10 years ago to utilize fruit being left to rot in the Okanagan’s orchards, distilling them into brandies and liqueurs.
All their products are created in small batches, pure with no artificial flavours, colourings or preservatives.
Their products range from different and tasty liqueurs, grappa, absinthe, vodka, gin and whisky. Cultivated from fruit, these spirits have a smooth, crisper taste overall .
They make their liqueur by macerating the fruit in alcohol with sugar. Then the fruit is pressed to extract the liqueur before the product is filtered and bottled. No extra additives are added.
Some ideas for their liqueurs include: pouring over ice, mixing in cocktails, wine and soda spritzers. They pair well with desserts. The flavours available are: Cherry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Blackcurrant, Sea Buckthorn and Cranberry.
I also had a bit of the Taboo Genuine Absinthe they have and it’s quite remarkable. I’m no Absinthe aficionado, but the thoughts of Moulin Rouge and getting crazy tripped out comes to mind. However – this is not the case today (sorry to disappoint!).
When mixed with water, the green colour turns cloudy as it mixes with the oils and herbs, releasing the natural smells and flavour of the herbs.
Their bottles are gorgeous and Okanagan Spirits is definitely an alcoholic enthusiast’s heaven. All their spirits are highly decorated including being awarded Distillery of the Year in 2013 by the World Spirits Organisation.
Some of their products are available through some liquor stores, but for the most part – they keep it local. Definitely check it out if you’re making a trip to the Okanagan!
For more information on Okanagan Spirits, check out their website here.
