The sight of flowers blooming, the sound of a sizzling barbecue, the taste of a fruity cocktail enjoyed under the sun — the signs of summer are finally here, and Canadians will not waste one single sunny day of their favourite season.
While some restrictions remain in place across the country, the good news is that you can still get the best of summertime, just closer to home. Exploring your own backyard, relaxing on your private patio oasis with a summer cocktail in hand and supporting your city's local businesses are just a few of your options for making the most of this time of the year.
This season, you can support local Canadian businesses with every sip you take, from the vodka you use as your cocktail base to the strawberry slice garnishing your aperitif.
Northern Keep Vodka is a new Canadian craft spirit made from rye and winter wheat — ingredients grown right in our own backyards by Canadian farmers. Distilled five times for a finish so smooth you can sip it on ice, Northern Keep boasts hints of citrus and spice and is crafted by the artisans of the award-winning Alberta Distillers.
But Northern Keep is more than just a delicious, Canadian-made vodka. The team at Northern Keep is also focused on sustainability and protecting the lands the crops used to make the spirit come from! Each bottle of Northern Keep sold helps to protect five square feet of ecologically significant Canadian land in partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
If you're ready to up your mixology game, you can start with these five recipes ranging from simple to a little more complex. Pair each one with fresh, local and in-season ingredients to create your next go-to summer drink.
"Keep It Cool" & Simple With This Tart Take
Courtesy of Northern Keep Vodka
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. (30 ml) Northern Keep Vodka
- The juice of half of a lime
- Grapefruit soda to taste
This delicious cocktail, with its slightly tart and refreshing flavour profile, is a welcome addition to the hottest of summer days. To bring this drink to life, pour some Northern Keep Vodka, grapefruit soda and lime juice over ice, and don't forget your lime wedge for garnish. To add some flare to the "Keep It Cool" cocktail, salt the rim of your glass beforehand.
Keep Things Smooth & Sweet With "That's My Jam"
Courtesy of Northern Keep Vodka
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. (30 ml) Northern Keep Vodka
- 1 tablespoon raspberry jam
- 2 oz. (60 ml) pineapple juice
Raspberry jam doesn't have to be limited to a PB&J sandwich! For this sweeter cocktail, shake vodka, jam and juice with ice for 15 seconds, then strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish your smooth and fruity beverage with a slice of pineapple and pretend you're in an island paradise.
Chill Out With "Keep Calm," A Refreshing Green Tea Twist
Courtesy of Northern Keep Vodka
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. (30 ml) Northern Keep Vodka
- 1 oz. (30 ml) cranberry juice
- 3 oz. (90 ml) green tea (chilled)
The flavour profile of this drink is light, effortless and refreshing — like the perfect summer evening. Grab some Northern Keep Vodka, cranberry juice and chilled green tea, then shake it all up with some ice for about 15 seconds. Strain your cocktail into a highball glass filled with (more) ice, use some mint to garnish, and voilà!
"Keep It Together" With This Fruit-Infused Cocktail
Courtesy of Northern Keep Vodka
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. (30 ml) Northern Keep Vodka
- 1 oz. (30 ml) honey syrup (equal parts honey and water combined together over low heat)
- 3 diced strawberries
- 3 lime wedges
- 8-10 mint leaves
- Soda water
This one takes a little more work, but the "Keep It Together" cocktail is refreshing on a hot summer day. Muddle together your mint, strawberries, lime, and syrup in a highball glass, and then add some ice, Northern Keep Vodka, and top up with soda. Stir your creation to bring the muddled ingredients afloat and garnish this next-level beverage with a sprig of fresh mint.
Freshen Up With This "Grapefruit Basil Smash"
Courtesy of Northern Keep Vodka
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz. (45 ml) Northern Keep Vodka
- 1 oz. (30 ml) grapefruit juice
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 4 teaspoons simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water combined over low heat until sugar dissolves)
- 0.5 oz. (15 ml) hibiscus tea (unsweetened and chilled)
- 6 basil leaves (plus an additional sprig for garnish)
This citrus-forward cocktail makes the most of Northern Keep Vodka's refreshing flavour profile. The tartness of the grapefruit and bitterness of lemon are balanced by the sweet simple syrup and floral hibiscus tea, with the herbal aroma of fresh basil bringing it all together.
You'll need a muddler and a shaker for this two-step cocktail. Start by muddling the basil leaves in the shaker before throwing in the vodka, juices, syrup, tea, and ice and give it a good shake. Strain your "Grapefruit Basil Smash" onto fresh ice in a rocks glass and garnish with a slice of grapefruit and some fresh basil before putting your feet up and relaxing in the sun.
Uniquely made using the finest ingredients grown in Canada, Northern Keep is a great addition to your drinks menu this summer. Plus, with Northern Keep's partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, you can take each sip knowing you've done some good, too.
Northern Keep Vodka
Price: $30.95 (price varies slightly depending on location)
Where: Find Northern Keep at your local LCBO
Details: Canada's new premium craft vodka is made with local ingredients by expert distillers to create a smooth-drinking vodka with notes of citrus and spice. Each bottle sold also supports Canada's natural environment through a partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada.