on gin
Stephen Flood Riviera
Stephen Flood had a vision —
and 20 years of bartending expe-
rience — when he set up the bar
at Riviera. “I wanted us to be a
gin bar, because this,” he waves to
the high ceilings, long gold bar,
and sleek light fixtures, “is such a
period thing, and gin is the most
elegant of all the spirits.”
Flood also posits that gin is
the most interesting of all spirits.
With few requirements, other
than that juniper must be the
predominant flavour, the ingredi-
ents list can vary widely.
While the long drinks list at
Riviera includes many options,
it really is a gin bar: there are
25 European gins and 11 North
American varieties on offer.
A favourite of Flood’s is Sacred
Gin by Sacred Microdistillery,
which features 11 botanicals
including juniper, cardamom,
and citrus. This unique mixture
results in a very balanced,
creamy gin.
In contrast, Flood suggests the
Californian St. George Terroir,
made with Douglas fir, California
bay laurel, and coastal sage,
invoking a real sense of place.
Flood likes to engage folks at
the bar to pick the perfect gin for
one of the “holy trinity” of gin
cocktails — a martini, a negroni,
or a gin and tonic.
Celebrate the holiday season with a unique
culinary experience by esteemed executive
Chef Yannick Anton, along with our perfectly
paired wine selections.
613.236.2499
453 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa | signaturesrestaurant.com
The Highlander Pub
where men wear kilts
Ottawa’s only Gold Level
single malt scotch bar
UNIQUE CRAFT BEERS
AND IMPORTED DRAFTS
FULL MENU AVAILABLE UNTIL 1:30 A.M.
• • •
115 Rideau St. at William
(Across from the Rideau Centre)
613.562.5678
www.thehighlanderpub.com
holiday 2017
where 19