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Alcohol-free at the Liquor Mart?

Friday, Oct. 7, 2011 at 3:40 PM | Comments: 0

A selection of non-alcoholic beverages available at Manitoba Liquor Control Board outlets are shown. (BRUCE BUMSTEAD/BRANDON SUN)

I wasn't quite sure how to take the news that the Liquor Mart would start stocking alcohol-free beverages.

On the one hand, I think it's nice that they're able to expand their selection a little bit, and it'll provide a little bit more convenience for people who need to pick up, say, a six-pack of beer and a few non-alcoholic coolers. It'll be great for the single non-drinker in a crowd, I think -- say, a pregnant woman, or the designated driver -- since you won't have to make two stops.

A Liquor Marts spokesperson said that it would help party planners, which sounded a little off, to me. After all, don't you usually need to stop at a grocery store for some other party supplies? Like snacks or mix?

And that was the first thing I quipped when I heard the news: Why wouldn't they also sell mix?

In a back and forth with my boss, we also suggested that the Liquor Mart could stock garnishes like maraschino cherries, barware tools like corkscrews or shot glasses, or even bitters.

(Bitters, a type of strong aromatic liqueur, are served by the dash, and technically make the difference between a proper "cocktail" and a simple highball. If you're ordering a Manhattan, say, or an Old Fashioned, and the bartender doesn't add bitters, you're missing out.)

Bitters help all the flavours in a cocktail blend together, and they're essential to serious mixologists. But for some reason, in Manitoba they are classified as a "digestive" -- and they're only available behind the counter at pharmacies.

Yes, that's right -- you have to ask the pharmacist before you can make a Manhattan. Try explaining that to the The Legitimate Businessman's Social Club.

Astonishly, after my back-and-forth on Twitter with my boss, we actually got a Tweet back the @LiquorMarts.

(This is astonishing, because @LiquorMarts has long been a notoriously unresponsive Twitter account -- so much so that someone made an @likkermart satire account.)

Anyway, my boss and I were tweeted back:

Well, well, well. I guess you don't have to fight City Hall -- you can just tweet a Crown corporation!

I've further suggested to @LiquorMarts that if they're going to get bitters in, they should look beyond the classic Angostura brand. That's the only one that pharmacies carry (when they're in stock) but the world of bitters is as varied as the world of Scotch.

If you really want to get into mixology -- or even mix up a nice cocktail -- you're going to need at least an orange bitters. And there are also classics like Peychaud's or Fee Brothers that are called for in many original recipes.

Last Christmas, my girlfriend ordered me some artisinal bitters online from a place called BitterCube. I recommend them, if you can swallow the shipping.

So i'm looking forward to these changes at the Liquor Mart -- including a new, responsive Twitter account.

Meanwhile, one of the things I'm thanksful for is that the Thanksgiving Long Weekend marks the official start of Sampling Season at the Liquor Mart.

It truly is the Happiest Place on Earth.

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