The Great Canadian Cocktail Competition: Canadian Whisper, Ice Cap, The Algonquin and The Maple (L-R)

Blame it on those Molson commercials, but I think of beer whenever I think of Canada and alcohol. And blame it on Canada’s long cold, winters, but I also think of ice wine, a sweet wine that is made from grapes frozen on the vine.

Well, Canada is also cocktail country, and the Consulate General of Canada recently held the The Great Canadian Cocktail Competition at The Penn Club in New York City as part of a week-long Canada Day celebration. Canadian Kevin Brauch of The Thirsty Traveler was the host and well-heeled Canadians, their friends  and some members of the media were the drinkers at this ritzy event.

I sampled all four contenders: Canadian Whisper, Ice Cap, The Algonquin and The Maple. The Canadian Whisper won, and it deserved the prize for being light, zesty and well-balanced while still feeling like a serious drink. I also enjoyed The Ice Cap, which had ice wine, vodka and frozen grapes, but it was a little too sweet and that’s probably why it didn’t win.

Recipe for The Canadian Whisper
1.5 oz Victoria Gin
0.5 oz 40 Creek Whiskey
Organic Cage-Free Egg Whites
Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
Canadian maple syrup and vanilla bean reduction
2 raspberries
Carmelized lemon wheel garnish

Muddle two raspberries in shaker. Add egg whites, citrus and syrup. Add gin and whiskey. Add ice. Shake hard. Serve up with carmelized lemon wheel garnish.

By the way, if I make this at home, I’m not even going to attempt the carmelized lemon wheel garnish.

Maybe you’d rather sip a tropical drink on a Hawaiian beach? Then check out the Lotus Honolulu.