I can’t tell you how excited I am to share some love to the East Coast, and celebrating the significant influence Rum had on the Maritimes. Through their creativity and innovation, the Newfoundland Distillery Co. created a unique Gunpowder & Rose Rum that’s featured on CTV’s The Social. So I wanted to honour this spirit, by developing a Rum Sour that’s easy on the eyes and palate, combined with Dillon’s Brandy, a local Apple Cider, shaken to glory. This Apple & Rose Rum Sour is a dream, and you should be running out to create this.
Want to catch the segment where I create this beautiful gem? Make sure to follow this LINK here as it will direct you where you need to go!
Rum and the Maritimes
As I mentioned above, Rum plays an important role in our Canadian history with alcohol, specifically to the Maritimes. Rum was often traded for Salted Fish, and during prohibition, the Maritimes was a Rum Hub for Canada. You may have even heard about getting “Screeched in” but that you can read about in this POST. But The Newfoundland Company has found a way to honour their routes, with a special Gunpowder & Rose Rum. Now where is the actual Gunpowder notes coming from? Local Kelp, charred birch and a special salt they create to bring that concept to life. All the while introducing Newfoundland Roses that I think ironically brings both concepts together beautifully. You can read more about the inspiration for this rum HERE, plus shop online!
Choosing your Brandy
First off, Why Brandy? Well, there’s something you have to learn about Rum that I love. They work so well with others. One of my ultimate pairings is combining Jamaican Rum with an Irish Whiskey. Both are heavy weight champions when it comes to flavours, yet they help bring the best in one another. Rum has a way of doing that, and when you start to understand the different rums and regions, you discover an endless world of possibilities. So with that in mind, and not being able to highlight Irish Whiskey in a Canadian Cocktail segment, I brought out BRANDY because it has just as much a voice as ever.
In all truth, you can use any Brandy, but Dillon‘s really has a great, delicious Brandy available. Plus if you fell in love with the other cocktail concepts in this segment, you’re going to want other Dillon’s products as well. So you’re welcome for saving you on shipping from two different places, lol.
Building this Apple and Rose Rum Sour
There’s quite a few stars in this cocktail that bring it all together, so let’s quickly go through it. Apple Cider. Well, it’s called an Apple & Rose Rum Sour, so we needed that. BUT, here is my warning about Apple Cider. Make sure it’s not “spiced” with cinnamon or anything. I find the Mulled Apple Ciders way too sweet, even if they say “no sugar added”. Look at the ingredient list. If it says solely apples, you’re good.
Don’t feel like shaking with Egg Whites? I’m not offended. There’s lot of options out there from Aquafaba and Instant Foamers. But try to at least incorporate some foam. The mouthfeel of the cocktail completely changes and just adds to the whole experience.
VERJUS! My friends, this Verjus has been a dream in both this cocktail and my kitchen! If you didn’t know, Verjus is a wine before it becomes wine. It tends to be very high in acidity, which is why it comes in handy in your kitchen (for example a Dressing recipe that calls for a crazy amount of lemon juice, sub in this and save yourself the trouble). I love this product from Immature, and yes it’s Canadian. Plus I’ve got a Discount code for you to use as well! Shop on Alambika and use MONICA10 at the checkout for a 10% discount. You will not regret it, and it will become a staple in your home.
The Maritime Apple & Rose Rum Sour
This Newfoundland Rum combined with Apple and Verjus is a match made in heaven. This sour is something you'll want to be making over and over again this Canada Day.
– Difficulty: Intermediate
Ingredients
- 1.25 oz Newfoundland’s Gunpowder and Rose Rum
- 0.75 oz Dillon’s Brandy
- 1 oz Apple Cider
- 0.5 oz Immature Verjus
- 0.5 oz Prosyro Grapefruit Syrup
- 2 dashes Bitters
- 1 Egg White 1 oz
Instructions
- Add all your ingredients in a shaker and give this a Dry Shake (no ice).
- Add ice to your shaker and shake once more.
- Strain over fresh ice into your glassware.
