The Perfect...Canadian Whisky

Collingwood Canadian Whisky

Being from Canada I have had my fair share of whisky.  During my youth it was the drink of choice before heading downtown to the local watering hole.  Since that time my appreciation for fine liquid gold has improved.  Collingwood  Maplewood Whisky is triple distilled in white oak barrels and undergoes a finishing step called maplewood mellowing (they had me at triple distilled) and as they state on their website: "fancy bags and bottles don't make great whisky. It's what's inside that counts."  I couldn't agree more.   $30 collingwoodwhisky.com

The Perfect...Sip

The Original Daiquirí 

This is not the blended ice drink from your college days.  In fact, the Daiquirí is one of six basic drinks listed in David A. Embury's classic The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks and was originally served in a tall glass packed with cracked ice.  A teaspoon of sugar was poured over the ice and the juice of one or two limes was squeezed over the sugar. Two or three ounces of rum completed the mixture.  The glass was then frosted by stirring with a long-handled spoon. Later the Daiquirí evolved to be mixed in a shaker with the same ingredients but with shaved ice.  After a thorough shaking, it was poured into a chilled flute glass. L'Abattoir in Vancouver will make you an excellent one. By the way, it was one of the favorite drinks of writer Ernest Hemingway and president John F. Kennedy.  Need I say more.