What to Drink

The Snow Bird takes Flight

Brewers turned distillers, three childhood friends bring the Rosemary Grapefruit Gin, the heart and soul of the Snow Bird cocktail.

The spirit of summer was on show, setting up the tone for a radiant evening perfect for sipping on spirits by the fire. And that is exactly what three childhood friends were doing in Quebec, Canada. Passionate about their drinks, with all three of them brewers of their craft beer, the 3 accomplices decided by the fire to add to their beverage making repertoire. It was by the lake that they took up the challenge to approach the world of spirits from a new angle. 

It was fifteen years after brewing their very first beer in a basement that Distillerie Trois-Lacs was born. The wish that brought Distillerie Trois-Lacs to life was to create avant-garde spirits by reimagining and reinventing classics by adding a daring botanical touch to them. The three entrepreneurs’ adventure turned into a micro-distillery in 2016, which was established in the heart of three lakes (Lac Saint-François, Lac des Deux Montagnes and Lac Saint-Louis) that surround the region. 

Distillerie Trois Lacs

The Two Winners from Distillerie Trois-Lacs, Source Facebook

In 2021, Distillerie Trois-Lacs’ journey and their spirits were recognized at one of the finest spirit judging competitions in the world, the Bartender Spirits Awards. The annual spirits judging competition, which brings together the finest bartenders, bar managers and spirits buyers of the United States’ on-premise industry, looks to identify spirits that are tailor-made to be added to bar inventories. For Distillerie Trois-Lacs, there were two spirits among the winners at the competition. 

Lemon Sunflower Seed

Distilled using Distillerie Trois-Lacs’ signature botanical composition, the Lemon Sunflower Seed gin was awarded a silver medal at the 2021 Bartender Spirits Awards for its score of 87 points. The Lemon Sunflower Seed gin offers a great balance between the richness of Quebec sunflower and the freshness of lemon. There are nuances of juniper to the gin. Full-bodied in the mouth, the Lemon Sunflower Seed gin showcases hints of citrus and also has notes of coriander and peppercorn. 

Grapefruit Rosemary

A refined and truly stunning gin made that champions the botanicals of juicy organic grapefruit and fresh rosemary branches. The gin scored 87 points at the competition, winning a silver medal. The two hero botanicals are complemented by subtle notes of pink pepper, green cardamom, and juniper berries. The grapefruit segments and peels are steeped before the distillation process, giving the gin a strong grapefruit presence upfront. 

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Balanced, complex, and herbaceous, the Grapefruit Rosemary gin lends itself brilliantly to the Snow Bird cocktail. Here’s how to mix it. 

Snow Bird

The Snow Bird cocktail, Source Website

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz of 3 Lacs Grapefruit rosemary gin
  • 0.75 oz of Campari
  • 1.5 oz of Pineapple Juice
  • 0.5 oz of Lime Juice
  • 0.5 oz of Grenadine

Method: 

In a shaker filled with ice, shake all the ingredients. Pour everything in a highball glass. Garnish with mint and a slice of lime.

The Snow Bird cocktail is just one of the distillery’s many amazing cocktails. There are other concoctions that champion the Lemon Sunflower Seed gin, Grapefruit Rosemary gin and the third gin from Distillerie Trois-Lacs, the Lime Basil Gin. The distillery’s product line is completed by Quebec’s first-ever Limoncello Liqueur. A super tasty and ultra-refreshing liqueur. The distillery has added another dynamic, creating its first-ever ready-to-drink beverage, a sparkling gin-based lemonade, the Pink Lemonade. 

Header Image- Distillerie Trois-Lacs, Source Website

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