News
New Brunswick’s potentially “catastrophic” changes
According to a CBC story, craft distillers in New Brunswick met with their Finance Minister last week to outline the negative effects of changes proposed to craft alcoholic beverages. Under those changes New Brunswick Liquor Stores would require a minimum guarantee of volume to stock items in its stores—a volume high enough that it could eliminate as many as 85 per cent of local craft alcoholic beverages, according to one distiller’s estimate. In addition, products made around the province would have to be delivered to a central warehouse in Fredericton, raising shipping costs for many producers. Finance Minister has promised further review on the matter, with a revised deadline of July 2021 for implementation of potential changes.
Other News
Corby Canada is publishing the BEAT Bar Book, a compilation of recipes from Canadian cocktail establishments, with 100 per cent of proceeds from online sales going towards the Bartenders Benevolent Fund and the Canadian Professional Bartenders Association.
Wine Enthusiast published an interesting piece on experimental spirits proofed down with “tea, juice and anything but water.”
Matt Strickland, Head Distiller for Côte des Saints in Mirabel, QC has just published Cask Management for Distillers, a new book designed to give distillers a better understanding of the spirit maturation process.
Events
The B.C. Wine, Spirits and Cider Festival is offering a number of community-building home-tasting kits. The British Columbian Spirits Gift Basket, featuring two 750-mL bottles of spirit and local goodies, will be delivered in mid-November. A monthly subscription to a BC Wine, Cider, Spirits & Beer basket is also available.
Fluid Assets in Ontario’s Niagara region is calling itself the first Canadian-made low-alcohol spirits, with 18.8 Vodka and Gin (which have 18.8% alcohol by volume, with the texture and flavour of full-proof spirits) available in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.
Ontario’s H2 Craft Spirits, makers of classic gin, vodka and liqueurs, has created a canned, ready-to-drink cocktail (available only in Ontario) featuring one of its three bottlings of non-alcoholic Spiritliss.
The Fortify 202 Conference and Tradeshow will take place on November 24, 2020. Normally held in person in Penticton, BC, this year’s event is entirely virtual.