So this may be my most outrageous procrastination yet. Before Xmas our good friends at Yukon gave me a bottle of their very rare and now completely gone Solstice, their first distillation release. Last year they constructed a still that works in coordination with their mash tun. Their ultimate goal is to create single malt whiskey (in a certain kilted country called Scotch), of which the first batch is currently sitting in barrels. The problem about single malt whiskey is that it takes years of aging to taste good, which is a long time to wait for a distiller. So in the meantime, most release some kind of young spirit to create some cash flow. Yukon is no different. Their choice (at least this year) was Solstice, a spirit infused with cranberry, rosehip and sage.

I hesitated because, being a beer guy, I was not sure how to best sample it. Should I mix it with something? Dilute it with water? Drink it straight? The indecision ultimately paralyzed me, and thus the reason why a post at the equinox for a drink procured at the winter solstice.

I was finally freed from my self-imposed straitjacket at the recent Yukon beer dinner at Urban Diner when I mentioned my hesitation to Bob Baxter, owner of Yukon. He soothed me by suggesting just cutting it with a bit of water. Other mixes worked, he said, but offered that the spirit with a bit of water was the best way to really pick up the flavours.

So that is what I did. The aroma, both before and after the water, had a prairie earthiness to it due to a dry-land sage character and some musty rosehip. A bit of alcohol warming made its presence felt as well. The flavour leaned more toward the sage, offering a pungent sage flavour with a chalky rosehip accent. I have to admit I struggled to pick up any raspberry. I suspect it adds a gentle fruitiness to the drink instead of an upfront raspberry flavour. It is a sharp, earthy presentation overall. The alcohol presents itself as a moderate heat, noticeable but not choking. Probably the water helped on this front. Solstice reminds me of some gins that I have had over the years.

The good thing is that this is a spirit you need to drink intentionally. Add some coke or orange juice and the drink is ruined. The flavours are intriguing and upfront enough to demand attention, thus making it a slow sipper rather than a get-drunk-quick spirit.

I hesitate at rating or ranking it in comparison to other spirits. To be honest I have consumed very few spirits. I stick to beer, the occasional wine and, if someone is offering, the odd high end scotch. Which means I don’t really have the background to offer a conclusive review. At this moment what I wouldn’t give for Mel Priestley’s opinion! What I know is that I was intrigued by the flavour, was glad that I added some water, and think that finding the right mix would be a good thing. My instincts are cranberry juice, acai berry or something with lemon.

I know none of you can try this drink, so therefore can’t offer your much valued opinion (which is kind of jerky on my part). All I can say is keep your eye out, as I suspect Yukon isn’t done. In the next year or two expect to see some other infused spirit on Alberta liquor store shelves. And file this drink into your memory banks, as it may be 0ne of those fantastic trivia questions twenty years from now that you will be able to answer and earn oohs and aahs all around.

So forgive me for discussing a beverage you can’t buy anywhere, and may not be available every again. However, it is worth mentioning to give you a heads up for next year.