The West Coast Sour at Vancouver’s Juniper

If you’re in search of Cascadian-inspired cocktails and fare, look no further than Juniper. Located in Vancouver’s Chinatown neighbourhood, Juniper offers some of the best cocktails that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

Boasting an impressive selection of gin, Juniper is the perfect place to find a new favourite Gin and Tonic variation, or perhaps fall in love with one of the many gins made by local British Columbian distilleries.

West Coast Sour at Juniper (images by Nick Halim)

When we asked bar manager Max Borrowman for a cocktail which would give us a feel for the type of cocktails you’d expect to find at Juniper, he promptly whipped up one of his own creations (featured on their menu), the West Coast Sour. Consisting of ingredients like Sheringham Seaside Gin, spruce tip syrup, and Cascade Celery bitters, this cocktail is authentically inspired by the West Coast of British Columbia. Fresh dill and green Chartreuse are included to provide a refreshingly herbaceous characteristic, reminiscent of the province’s misty coastal rainforests.

This cocktail also highlights some of British Columbia’s finest producers. Sheringham Distillery is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, perfectly situated to harvest the kelp that they use as one of the botanicals in their Seaside Gin. Bittered Sling, which makes the Cascade Celery bitters, is also proudly British Columbian. The West Coast Sour is a complex, yet highly approachable creation. Utilising local ingredients, Max has skillfully created a cocktail which truly captures the spirit of B.C.’s West Coast.

West Coast Sour Recipe

• 1.5 oz. Sheringham Seaside Gin
• 1 oz. lemon juice
• .5 oz. spruce tip syrup
• .25 oz. green Chartreuse
• 1 large sprig of fresh dill
• 2 dashes Cascade Celery bitters
• .5 oz. egg white

Shake all of the above first without ice, to emulsify the egg white, then shake with ice to chill and dilute. Serve up in a cocktail glass. Garnish with a dill sprig.

Juniper details

185 Keefer St., Vancouver, BC V6A1X3; 604-681-1695; www.junipervancouver.com; @junipervancouver