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Canadian companies are elevating the pre-mixed cocktail category with specialty products created for discerning palates as well as more crowd-pleasing offerings. These three recommendations are solid contenders whether you’re looking for flavourful drinks to have on hand for festive entertaining or to bring along.
Civil Pours Whisky Sour (Canada), $34.95
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Civil Pours is a creative collaboration between Civil Liberties Bar owner Nick Kennedy and consumer goods executives and cocktail enthusiasts Mary Beth and John Williamson. Their goal was to create premium premixed cocktails in bottle and keg formats. The vibrant sweet and sour character of this beautifully balanced ready-to-drink cocktail is a great starting point. Based on six-year-old Canadian whisky enhanced by spice and nutty flavours derived from an in-house distillate made from roasted avocado pits, this is light, foamy (after shaking) and flavourful. A suggested serving is four ounces into a shaker or jar with a lid to shake without ice before pouring into a stemmed cocktail glass. This has 17 per cent ABV. Available in Ontario or direct, civilpours.com
Dillon’s White Cranberry Cosmopolitan (Canada), $3.25
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To my mind, cranberry-based drinks match the festive moment, which makes this year-round selection from Dillon’s even more appealing. The Beamsville-based distillery adds interest to this crisp and refreshing vodka-based Cosmopolitan with nicely integrated orange liqueur and lime juice. Serve chilled, poured into a martini glass and garnished with a lime wheel. This has 12.5 per cent ABV. Available at the above price in Ontario (222 ml), $15 (4x222 ml), direct dillons.ca, $16.98 in British Columbia (Everything Wine, 4x222 ml), various prices in Alberta, $18.99 in Saskatchewan (4x222 ml), $4.49 in New Brunswick (222 ml), $18.99 in Nova Scotia (4x222 ml), $5.99 in Prince Edward Island (222 ml), $18.98 in Newfoundland (4x222 ml).
Willibald Cherry Spritz (Canada), $3.50
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Produced by a family-operated distillery in Ayr, Ontario, this vodka-based spritzer is made with cherry juice concentrate and citrus flavours. Depending on your taste, this can offer a tart Jolly Rancher candy vibe or more medicinal flavour. I enjoy it served over ice in a wine or rocks glass with a splash of soda water to add to its refreshment factor. This has 5 per cent ABV. Available at the above price in Ontario (355 ml), $3.10 direct, drinkwillibald.com, $5 in Nova Scotia (355 ml).