BY TOM FIRTH AND LINDA GARSON

A gentle and warm September turned into a quick wake up call for the winter months just in time for our November spirit picks before going to print. While many are sad to see the end of the warmer weather, there are plenty who love getting out and about – snugly clad in toques and mitts. Just like the spirits below. We have a few warming whiskies, two incredible gins – local and local-ish, and a tequila, just in case a warm beach getaway is beckoning. Enjoy!

Wild Life Alberta Botanical Gin, Alberta, Canada

Canmore’s Wild Life Distillery have done it again – prolonging that summertime feeling with their 2025 Alberta Botanical Gin. Distilled in the summer with local, wild-foraged botanicals, each year’s offering depends on what they find, and this year it’s wild berry and sage-based. On the nose you’ll detect sweet Saskatoons, and on the palate watermelon joins the party, along with cool cucumber and herbaceous yarrow. Enjoy chilled but not too dilute.

$58 at the distillery

NWT Brewing Forager Gin

Northwest Territories, Canada

The winning gin at the 2025 Alberta Beverage Awards (and the likely winner too if we had an award for awesome label!), it’s a wonderful plus that it’s a rare product we see from the NWT. Made entirely from locally foraged botanicals, it’s rather vivacious on the nose with intensity and cranberries bringing a little citrus character. Tasty and balanced in the mouth, this might be your next go-to gin!

CSPC 102309 $65-70

Alberta Premium Golden Rye 9 Year Old Whisky, Alberta, Canada

Rye is another spirit that needs a little more love, especially for those that actually use a rye based mash - like this one! Aged in new oak, ex-bourbon, and previously filled Canadian whisky barrels, this cask-strength (45 percent ABV) checks off all the boxes. Spicy, tropical, with a slightly sweet fruit and caramel presence on the palate - it’s delicious, and as an added bonus, exceptionally well priced.

CSPC 128997 $38-42

Lindores Abbey Distillery Thiron 2024, Scotland

An homage to Lindores Abbey’s history and the monks who founded it, Thiron is the first in an annual series of limited releases celebrating the historic links with the abbey at Thiron-Gardais, southwest of Paris. Aged in barrels made of wood from these forests, you’ll love the notes of vanilla, subtle baking spice, and perhaps banana, from the region as well as the silky smooth and long finish - the hallmarks of Lindores. And for every tree harvested, they plant six more!

CSPC 116157 $95-98

Dalmore Vintage Collection 2009 and 2006, Scotland

Dalmore has released their latest Limited Edition –the 2024 Vintage Collection, and we feel privileged to be tasting these 18- and 15-yearold whiskies so we can tell you about them! Both matured in American white oak, ex-bourbon barrels, the 2009 is finished in Matusalem sherry casks and Graham's 10-year-old tawny port pipes, while the 2006 is finished in 30-yearold Matusalem oloroso and 30-year-old amoroso sherry casks. Both dark, spicy, unctuous, and lip-smackingly delicious, follow your heart – the dried fruit, sticky toffee pudding richness of the 2009 or the slightly drier and warmer, anise and cacao notes of the 2006. You’ll be very happy with either!

2009 CSPC 116998 around $310

2006 SCPC 116995 around $635

Chulavista Tequila Blanco, Mexico

Blanco tequila has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years and examples like Chulavista are sort of showing off with these clean, herbal, peppery, and almost fruity aromas that lead directly into a clean, nuanced, and incredible palate experience. An almost delicate flavour profile with a little pepper and cinnamon straight through, Chulavista is a definite sipper to enjoy when memories of sandy beaches are needed.

CSPC 111980 $65-70