We feel so lucky to be the first stores in Alberta to welcome Esquimalt Vermouth & Apéritifs to our shelves.
Through starting their soda company, Rootside Soda, Michela and Quinn Palmer became obsessed with learning about botanicals. This passion was a natural segue into the world of vermouth and apéritifs. After years of recipe development, they first launched their Rosso Vermouth in 2019. Since then they have expanded their portfolio to include some seriously unique gems. Based on Vancouver Island, the pair seamlessly melds island-centric flavours with the classic vermouth and apéritif styles we know and love.
Bitter Orange $32.99
"Orange blossom, vanilla, almond and herbaceous bitterness dance together in this citrus apéritif inspired by late-night tiki drinks with a bitter flare. Hints of cinnamon and clove make this bold apéritif shine with aged spirits like rum or whisky. Gin based cocktails are a delight too...Basically, it's like an amaro flavoured orange creamsicle. It's delicious."
Kina-Salal $33.86
"First developed in France, Quinquina is a sweet wine that has had quinine added...It is also frequently called a 'Kina'. In the case of our Kina-Salal, we used a mead base and wild salal berries and blueberries to pump up the berry juiciness before diving into the astringent bitterness of quinine. Enjoy over ice or topped with soda water. A splash of gin certainly doesn't hurt."
Dry Vermouth $29.57
"We're really proud of how this one turned out. Enjoy in a classic 2:1 Martini or perhaps on ice, split 50/50 with tonic water for a lovely light cocktail.
Our Dry Vermouth follows the French tradition. The ‘off-dry’ profile is critical in balancing out both the additional bitterness from the wormwood and in spirit forward cocktails like a Martini."
Rosso Vermouth $29.57
"This BC Vermouth is made in the style of a traditional Italian Rosso Vermouth, but with enough Vancouver Island character to stand on its own. Thirty-two different botanicals are precisely extracted into a continuously aged Solera and then added to our fortified blueberry-blossom mead...Frequently enjoyed over ice, perhaps topped with sparkling water."
