Why hasn’t there been a show like this before? With so many local producers of canned cocktails in Vancouver I am happy there is finally an event to celebrate them all!
Continuing on with FEAST! Vancouver’s week long run in support of the BC Cancer Society is one of their most highly anticipating showcases. As taken from their website FEAST! RTD Cocktail is a “must for anyone with an appreciation for the shift towards convenient but indulgent experiences at home. The elite of the Ready-to-Drink cocktails united under one roof.”
Hosted at Granville Island’s Performance Works’ open space, the event hosted over 15 different brands showing their collections of canned cocktails from vodka to tequila, to sodas and teas. Ticket holders travelled table to table picking and choosing what flavours to try, or in our case, all of them. We had the ambitious goal of trying all 69 listed canned cocktails in the span of 2.5 hours, meaning we had to take in a sample every 1.5 minutes.
We travelled in a group and based on our group’s historiographer, we ended the night having sipped on 57 out of the 69 which came out to be approximately 1.45litres of mixed drinks. And as some were higher than the typical 5%, at 7-12% ABV we figured this equated to approximately 2 bottles of wine. Don’t quote me on the number crunching though.
The following are some of the notable brands and what I can recall and took notes of earlier in the evening. Sadly I don’t think I covered all the brands, as I had hoped to or wanted to.
I am already familiar with and a fan of Duchess, but today learned they were local to East Vancouver. What sets them apart is their use of edible glitter and a bottle, making them a great hostess gift. Their flagship flavour is the Cosmopolitan with the Lemon Drop to follow, and they have since started making a French 75 that we were able to sample tonight. Speaking with the reps, fans can expect 2 more new flavour drops to come by summer. At 12% this is a dangerous drink, a harder mix that does not taste or feel like it.
Another brand I am already well versed in is Bootleggers, they are the first to combine art and canned cocktails together in their unique product. Each of their four flavours has its own story and flavour profile utilizing either vodka, gin, or tequila with a mix of sweet fruit for a spiked punch-like beverage. And best of all with a scan of the QR code on each can you can unlock an interactive augmented reality experience.
My prediction for this summer is that we will be seeing the rise of tequila based cocktails in a can. And Cinco tequila-based sodas are a great option. Each flavour a savoury or salty fruit mix that would accompany any meal well. A mellow lime, a spicy pineapple, or the ruby red grapefruit Paloma.
From out of Port Moody comes Swan Dive the ice tea brand infused with flowers. Brought to you by the makers of Moody Ales. The flavours are gentle and refined, ideal for a picnic in a park or high tea with a kick.
For a great novelty drink look to Party Balls, think super sweet shots, the kind you take at a night club and go “Wooooo” to. With familiar flavours like blue raspberry, tropical punch, mango habanero, and green apple. Each drink is shape like a ball with about two shots worth of liquid in each.
A new local cocktail made with real fruit juices is Low Rider. Available in 3 flavours with lesser seen fruit like lychee, guava, and a chai tea. Each was an exciting new drink experience.
I appreciated the branding campaign of Gradient zero vodka sodas. They have come up with a system and a method of drinking to ensure you can consume for longer and come out of it without consequences the day after. Each 4 pack contains 4 different drinks at 4 different ABVs, as the first gradually reducing alcohol system. You start off strong with the Lime Soda at 7%, then follow it with the Blood Orange at 6%, Raspberry Lemon at 4%, and ending on Cucumber Mint at 3%. I liked the idea, but feel that for more avid drinkers you would need a 8 pack.
Another familiar local Vancouver cocktail in a can brand is Wize, which sugar free and gluten free. They are best known for their fun flavours like root beer, candy lemonade, cream soda, and vanilla cola. I recommend their newer ice cream inspired mixes like grape and orange creamsicle, which were spot on.
I was surprise to learn that Farming Karma’s popular real fruit juices are available in spiked versions. Same fruit flavours you love with the feeling you get from spirits and none of the kick. Easy drinking thirst quenchers.
Strait and Narrow are Pacific Coast inspired cocktails combining fruit with botanicals for unique combinations like peach elderflower gin, huckleberry fir vodka, and black currant honeysuckle vodka. Ideal for those who prefer herbaceous cocktails with spicy notes over artificial sugars and flavours.
Wyatt Rose Ranch Water was a fun one. I am not big of sugars artificial or otherwise, so appreciate the natural flavour of blue agave tequila in this and how easy it was to drink.
The collection of glistening fruit spoke to Founder’s Original. These are classic cocktails proudly advertised as being made using only the finest proprietary spirits, handmade bitters, and real citrus juices. Gin Bramble, bourbon sour, tequila Paloma, and Moscow Mule.
I have seen Please! Bottling Co.’s Proper Cocktails on the shelves of my local privately owned liquor store as a new item, so was excited to try them now. Especially given their trendy flavours like rhubarb fizz, sparkling green tea, and mango sticky rice. Asking around these were definitely the bells of the ball tonight. The promised flavour isn’t pronounced, but a whisper to make you go back for more, sip after sip.
Club Car Beverage Co. are bartender crafted sparkling vodka sodas. Artisan cocktails with the nuance and depth of a stirred and shaken cocktail, but in an easy grab and go can. Sea Breeze in a cranberry grapefruit lime, Berry Crush in blackberry strawberry lime mint, Peach Melba in peach raspberry vanilla, and a Pineapple Mojito in pineapple lime mint.
I am familiar with Dillon’s for their gin and rye whisky, so was surprised to learn here today that they also do a can cocktail with the very spirits they themselves distill. What a great idea and way yo expand their portfolio.
And representing hard kombucha is Plenty for this who like the distinct flavour of the fermented, slightly effervescent black tea, drink known for its health benefits.
And what is a drinking occasion without nibbles and food for balance? Tonight’s event was catered by The Vancouver Fish Company.
They had a spread of help yourself items like fish and beef sliders, veggie rice rolls, modern sushi, and fried and breaded shrimp and fish fritters to choose from.
And on another classy note the event also included local anti-hangover pill brand Proliv. Their entire team was on site passing out their product for all the guests to test drive. They advised popping 2 pills 30 minutes before drinking for a non eventful morning after. They boast covering more than just one of the symptoms of hangovers like other similar products do. And I can confirm we all took it and came out of the night with no consequences.
In closing another great FEAST! Event. They are definitely making their mark and we should all look forward to them returning next year.
https://www.feastvancouver.com/
