This week Vancouver was not only seeing visiting bartenders representing award winning bars, but discovering and learning more about the spirits that goes into their cocktails.
Today that spirit was the Canadian Bearface Whisky. They are known for their “Elemental Ageing,” where their spirits are matured in creative ways to showcase the land they call home. And we would learn more about this through a guided tasting with their Master Distiller Andres Faustinelli. This was done half way through the night, almongst a crowded bar, with live DJ spinning. However, the process and discussion were so interesting that I was glued. More about this below.
The evening celebrated Canada and was advertised as a cross country adventure from Victoria to the Maritimes, without leaving your bar stool.
Mount Pleasant Vintage & Provisions hosted these 6 top bars from Victoria, Whistler, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax; all under one roof and sharing one wrap around bar. The party started after 10pm and included gifts from the kitchen and merchandise giveaways closer to 12am.
The following cocktails are in the order they were listed going East to West. The hard part was locating the bartender corresponding to the cocktail you wanted to try, when you wanted to drink it.
From Victoria’s Humboldt Bar, Brant Porter had “Life in the Woods”. A mix of Bearface Bear-bon charred barrel whisky, candy cap mushroom, tart maple water, wild blossom honey, cypress, and grand fir. This was cinnamon-y on the nose with a woody, earthy, and sweet bouquet to follow.
From Whistler’s Raven Room Brandi Woodnut was mixing her cocktail, Don’t Feed the Whisky Jacks with Bearface Bear-bon charred barrel whisky, sage, Riesling, and blackberry. This was easy like punch, fruity fun, and unsuspecting.
Proof in Calgary and Carry-Ann Stepan had prepared a homage to Canada and their home province with the “Wild Rose Country”. Bearface Bear-bon charred barrel whisky, vermouth, apple, rose, black tea, and smoked juniper. This offered a refreshing break amongst all the other cocktails. It drank like ginger tea and felt cleansing.
And the room’s favourite of the night was by Oliver Leung of Suite 115 in Toronto. The Suite Boulevardier was like dessert in a glass, creamy and bold like chocolate. Bearface Triple Oak Whisky, brown butter, chocolate, banana, red bitter, and sweet vermouth. Each glass crowned with a chocolate ganache banana that really stole the show. Drink and garnish paired together seamlessly.
Armaud Savard from Bar Bello in Montreal was stirring up the Il Muso with Bearface Triple Oak Whisky, Bello Rabarbaro, clementine, and Prosecco. My guest got peated, I got peas. Plant, medicinal, birch tree, fresh with its greens.
And lastly Hux Bistro in Halifax had Dylan Brentwood pouring Pear Shape, named after the thin slice of pear used as garnish. This was Bearface Triple Oak Whisky, Buckwheat Amaro, Annapolis Valley pears, caramelized white port, and clarified yoghurt. This was refreshing with tart fruit, and had a creaminess in the mouth.
As fun as all the cocktails were to try, I enjoyed sampling Bearface neat more. Especially as their master distiller was the one walking us through the journey. We were guided through Bearface’s Wilderness Series from 01 to 03. Each elementally aged in order to cultivate a unique profile and character.
01 represented the forest infused with wild Matsutake mushrooms. This was a bold, smooth whisky with a unique umami finish.
02 is the Mitlematch Release inspired by the water. It is proofed with distilled water that is collected from artisan salt makers on Canada’s wild Pacific coast. The saline heightens it, much like how a sprinkle of salt adds so much flavour to food. Of the three this was my favourite taster.
Representing wind is the 03 Wild Air release. This one was inspired by the mountains of Canada’s wilderness, exploring higher elevations and the invigorating air that tops these wild lush lands. Wild Air is crafted to evoke the sensation of taking a deep breath atop such a rugged peak. This was our master distiller’s favourite of the three.
I cannot wait to see what they do and if they plan to represent fire in any way. Maybe utilizing the dirt and debris from BC forest fires, and giving new life from something so tragic.
In short, not only was this the type of party that Mount Pleasant is historically known for, but a great way to get more intimate with Bearface and the team that makes it.
Mount Pleasant Vintage & Provisions
67 W 6th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1K2
(604) 416-2830
mtpleasant.bar
