Now that the holidays are here, it’s time to celebrate and each country, including Canada, has its own special traditions. The parties are all about family, friendship, food…and drinks. Drinks take centre stage at this time of year because many people want to relax with tasty beverages. Canadians are unlike Americans and have delicious ways to keep us warm during the winter. Here are some popular drinks for a Canadian holiday. (Note: this is not an endorsement for impaired driving; please drink responsibly.)
For starters, drink Canadian beer. Labatt is the largest brewer in Canada and is owned by Anheuser-Busch while Molson is an 18th-century brewer that is owned by Coors. Alexander Keith beer, which hails from Nova Scotia, has been around for 200 years and only became available in the United States in 2011. Perhaps you are not a beer drinker and you prefer Canadian spirits and liquors that are distinguishable from the rest. There is Newfoundland Screech rum, the Quebecois whiskey-honey-based Yukon Jack, and the world-famous Canadian Club whiskey. At the Quebec Winter Carnival, they sell the Caribou, a mix of whiskey, rum, mulled wine, and – the most obvious Canadian food – maple syrup.
Do you know the national drink of Canada? It’s the Bloody Caesar. It is made with two shots of vodka, a touch of horseradish, a few dashes of Tabasco for spice and some dashes of Worcestershire sauce to darken it, poured over ice, and filled to the brim with a celery stick in a spice-rimmed glass and Clamato juice. Garnish it with two cocktail olives and a lime wedge on the rim. The Bloody Caesar was created in the late 60s by a Calgary restaurant manager and became an instant smash. An estimated 300 million Bloody Caesars and variants are consumed every year and it is even found to be a drink that reduces the effects of a hangover.
Here are some dessert drinks to chill down, as if it wasn’t chilly enough in Canada. One dessert wine, Icewine, is made of frozen grapes and can be converted into a cider. The Ontario-based Rev is a vodka and Jägermeister cocktail. Raymond Massey, a famous Hollywood actor from Toronto, had a cocktail named after him made of whiskey, champagne, and ginger syrup served on the rocks. Fancy a milkshake mixed with alcohol? The Moose Milk drink is made from blended rum, Kahlua, and ice cream with a touch of Irish liqueur or butterscotch.
These are the most typical drinks to party like a Canuck. But, and this cannot be emphasized enough, please drink responsibly. Don’t party and find yourself in the position of needing an impaired driving lawyer. All of these drinks for a Canadian holiday are great, but please be responsible. Party on Canadian style with these great beverages that will tantalize the taste buds.
