Christmas Day is exactly two weeks away and if you’re currently seeking out something special for the Prairie-based cocktail enthusiast in your life, you’re in luck; there are plenty of interesting and unique cocktail kits available. One of the few silver linings of the pandemic has been watching the creativity of many small business owners when it comes to take-home products like this.
The gift of a Prairie-produced cocktail kit is particularly special this holiday season because in addition to providing multiple unique cocktail sessions for the aspiring bartender in your life, you’re also helping to support independent restaurants, bars, and distilleries across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
From holiday-inspired offerings from Calgary’s Proof and Saskatoon’s Hearth to playful twists on tried and true libations from Winnipeg’s Patent 5 Distillery and Edmonton’s Bar at Yarrow, here are some of the most interesting cocktail kits from across the Prairies.
Park Distillery (Banff, AB)
Located directly on Banff’s beautiful and (formerly) bustling Banff Ave, Park Distillery has long been one of the province’s most beloved distilleries. In addition to a wide array of award-winning spirits, the Park Distillery shop also features two cocktail kits.
Available in gin and tonic or Moscow Mule, each of Park’s cocktail kits include a branded copper mug and jigger, a 200ml bottle of either Alpine Dry Gin or Classic Vodka, and two bottles of Fentiman’s tonic water or ginger beer for mixing.
Orders can be made online for Canada-wide delivery.
Cannibale (Calgary, AB)
Barber shop by day and one of the country’s premier cocktail destinations by night, Calgary’s Cannibale has unsurprisingly created an elegant assemblage of cocktail kits that will satisfy a wide range of cocktail enthusiasts.
From classic offerings like the Negroni and Old Fashioned kits to the Mojito Muy Fuego and Coolest Coolest Cucumber kits, there are no shortage of options on the Cannibale online shop ($30). Their kits come with glassware as well, but as an added bonus, each purchase also comes with a virtual cocktail class so you can learn to craft the perfect cocktail Cannibale-style.
Proof (Calgary, AB)
If you’re shopping for a cocktail enthusiast who also happens to love the holiday season, the Proof online shop is the perfect place to start.
Fun holiday-themed glassware and more than a dozen different varieties of cocktail kits are on offer from the popular Calgary bar, many of which feature festive themes like the Jolly Koala kit (gin, vermouth, salted pine, cardamom, sage cordial and four Christmas koalas), the Bad Santa (two bottles of red wine, Taylor Fladgate 10 Year Tawny Port, Grand Marnier, mulling syrup), and the Snowball Old Fashioned (Bulleit rye, gingerbread syrup, two oranges, cubed ice mould).
El Beso (Edmonton, AB)
Edmonton’s El Beso has been offering a great selection of cocktail kits for some time now, but they’ve recently added some fun, seasonal kits to their online shop including two hot chocolate kits that come complete with Casamigos tequila, Nestle hot chocolate mix, mini marshmallows, cinnamon, and a Casamigos mug.
El Beso is also currently offering 10 per cent off all pickup orders.
Bar at Yarrow (Edmonton, AB)
Bar at Yarrow recently unveiled three creative cocktail kits on their online store that feature house-developed iterations of classic cocktails like the 5 O’clock Somewhere (a play on brown, bitter, and stirred), the Gins and Needles (a riff on a classic martini), and the Edna Krabappel (Yarrow’s interpretation of a hot toddy).
Each kit makes upwards of 18 cocktails and all are currently available to order online.
Hearth (Saskatoon, SK)
Saskatoon’s Hearth has gone all out this holiday season and in addition to a vast array of locally-sourced seasonal provisions, they’ve added three new festive cocktail kits to their online shop. Available in rum and eggnog, hot buttered rum, and mulled wine (two bottles of red wine, Grand Marnier, sachet of mulling spices), each kit comes in at $30 or less. A steal of a deal if you ask us!
Orders can be placed online for pick-up on Saturday, December 12th from 1 - 3 p.m. or for delivery on Saturday, December 12th from noon to 4 p.m.
Stumbletown Distilling (Saskatoon, SK)
If you’re looking to hone your home bartending skills over the holidays but you’re not entirely sure where to start, Saskatoon’s Stumbletown Distilling has put together an assortment of Stumbler-sized (200 mL) spirits to help you kickstart your mixology career, including Original Gin, Pink IPA Gin, Pear and Cardamom Gin, and more.
Stumbletown’s spirits can be ordered online with shipping available throughout Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and most of Western Canada.
Patent 5 Distillery (Winnipeg, MB)
Arguably the most diverse array of signature cocktail kit offerings on our list, Winnipeg’s Patent 5 Distillery seemingly has something for everyone. From simple twists on classics cocktails like the French 75 and the Cafe con Panna to more elaborate concoctions such as the Prairie Passion Fruit Collins and the Purple Blossom Gin and Fentimans Lemonade, Patent 5’s online shop could potentially take care of your entire shopping list in one go.
Delivery is available within Winnipeg city limits Wednesdays to Saturdays from 4 - 8 p.m.
