OK, this week's collaboration partner for our Summer Series of Cocktails at the Farm is extremely exciting for us and we can't stop talking about them!
One of the things that has always been an anchor for me growing up and navigating everything from a skinned knee as a little girl to asking the big questions in life when the world seems to be throwing some intense curveballs has been looking west. Living in the Foothills of the Rocky Mountains is not something that I will ever take for granted. They are truly a compass that guides me, heals me, and serves as a place of refuge and adventure.
I am so stoked that Park Distillery is today's feature brand for so many reasons. They have so many amazing things going on that there is no way that this blog post will do them justice. But let's dig in.
Park Distillery is located in the heart of Banff National Park in Canada and is so much more than a distillery. They offer tours and tastings, have an incredible restaurant, and distill and bottle their craft all onsite using local ingredients. Like, they actually forage for spruce needles to infuse into their spirits.
"We distill in the purest place on the planet. Our water originates at six glaciers high in the Rocky Mountains and gains minerality as it travels across rich limestone deposits. Our spirits are like no other in the world, because there is no other place in the world like Banff."
They are truly a leader in terms of sustainability and their aspirations and goals are built not just on words but so many actions. This is a company that isn't just talking the talk, they are carving out ways to be sustainable in ways that are measurable and are changing the course of not just how they do things but those around them do also. There is a great Q & A segment here that you can read on some of the ways that they came into their vision and how they are implementing their goals.
When it comes to sustainability, I believe that we all still have so far to go and there is so much to learn. What I love about the philosophy of Park Distillery is that they own that in order to truly claim yourself as a sustainable brand that you need "to be vulnerable". This is something that has been so impactful for us as a brand always striving to tread a bit more lightly. In order to grow, you have to acknowledge the areas for improvement.
Park's goal is to be "a leading craft distillery in Canada for environmentally sustainable production, energy efficiency, and water conservation. Therefore, we pledge to choose sustainability over wastefulness. We commit to reducing our footprint on the environment. We vow to hold ourselves accountable, each and every day."
THEY ASPIRE TO:
1) Become a net zero CO2 contributor
2) Recycle & reuse 90% of our process water
3) Source our packaging materials from environmentally friendly and socially responsible producers
4) Divert 99.9% of our waste from landfill
5) Arm staff with the education & tools to make these goals a reality
And they are meeting these goals and holding themselves accountable on so many levels.
I could go on about all of the innovative initiatives that they are carving out forever, but you really do need to hear it from them. I encourage you to drive down, explore their cozy space, and learn what they are all about while tasting some of the finest and most original crafted spirits in the world, right in our own back yard.
For today's cocktail feature we are going to be using Park Bird's Eye Chili Vodka. It packs just enough heat to tell your mouth there's something serious happening but leaves a subtle lingering warmth that is a welcomed curiosity. It is composed of 100% sustainably farmed Alberta triticale grain and Bird's Eye Chilies (Thailand) 3 chilies per bottle.
I'm not going to lie, when I opened our package from them and saw that one of the bottles was a Chili Vodka I was a wee bit freaked out. I mean there are literally pretty red chilies chillin' in this bottle. But, I pushed aside my apprehension and dove in. I can assure you that I have been sold.
We took their advice and mixed up the Sawback and friends, you're going to want to jot this down because it is the most perfectly balanced cocktail around. "Named after the 1993 prescribed burn, just what the warden ordered."
Sawback
Park Chili Vodka 1.5oz
Triple Sec 1/2oz
Lime juice 1/2oz
Agave or simple syrup 1/2 - 3/4oz
Pineapple juice 2 - 3oz
Combine all ingredients in your shaker (we used Agave this go-round but would be equally delicious with simple syrup). Shake vigorously with ice and pour into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with pineapple wedge and lime.
It's super simple and packed with crazy good flavours doing all kinds of dances on your tongue.
So, if you are heading to the mountains anytime soon, looking for a new recipe and keen on learning more about how innovative and downright cool some of the local businesses in Banff National Park are making change for the better check these guys out. You won't be disappointed.
