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Canada, the second largest country in the world in terms of land mass encompasses an area of 9.9 million sq.km. It’s motto “from sea to sea” is certainly justified as it is literally encircled by the majestic Pacific, Arctic and the Atlantic oceans that give it the longest 243,791km mammoth coastline. This massive landmass comprises of 10 provinces and three territories with Ottawa as the capital.
Ice hockey the national sports of Canada, is the most popular sport among Canadians, and involves participation from all ages and levels-from children who can barely walk to those in the National Hockey League (NHL). The National Canada Ice Hockey team is one of the best in the world and has Russia and USA as archrivals.
So much is this sport entwined with the country, that it is quite a common sight to see the locals take to the shores for the game when the lakes freeze over in winter. It is an irony of sorts as some would say, that Canada a country renowned for being so peaceful is so deeply connected with this intensely spirited sport where fighting is not just a norm but is in fact commended.
The precise origin of this fast-paced game that involves six players who wear skates and compete on an ice rink, is unknown, however the game was developed in 1875 by a Canadian, J.G.A Creighton. The first game played under the modern rules, formed by Creighton, took place in Montreal.
The love for this game in the nation is so deep that in 2004 when a poll was taken to find the 10 greatest Canadians of all times, millions chose two hockey players within the list-Wayne Gretzky and Don Cherry.
Of course, the very fact that a hockey scene is depicted on the back of the Canadian five-dollar note is a clear example of how close it is to the heart of Canadians.
Needless to say, that, in a country divided by languages, political views and topography, hockey is a unifying force and can rightly be called as The Sport That Defines a Country.
Like the Ice Hockey, alcohol has played an important role in defining this nation. Canada’s spirited history goes back at least by 250 years, when a local named James Grant crafted rum in the first legal distillery in Quebec City. Not just rum, gin, vodka and whisky started getting crafted thereafter in the several distilleries that popped up in the nook and corner of the country.
The term “Simply Canadian “came forth during the American Civil War and was used to define the “high- quality “whisky that became a huge rage among the soldiers.
Canadian Spirits have always been about keeping innovation in the heart of its craftsmanship. The ability to distill the smoothest of whisky, with the locally grown grains has earned it a noteworthy signature character.
By the 20th century, Canada was home to the largest spirit maker, Godderham & Worts, in the now famous, Distillery District in Toronto.
The term “rum-runner” that we are so familiar with, originated in the East Coast, where the rum reigned, the term came up with Atlantic-Canada serving as a smuggler’ haven.
The next few decades witnessed the birth of whisky icons such as Crown Royal, J.P. Wiser’s & Canadian Club. Canadian whisky now became synonymous with smoothness and was celebrated for its easy-going nature.
Here’s a peek into the early days of Canadian Club. Hiram Walker the man behind the label was a successful grain merchant, he founded what would eventually become Canadian Club in 1858. The first distillery established by him was in Walkerville, Ontario because of the excellent quality of the local grains there. It is interesting to note that back then, one had to carry one’s own jug or bottle to the local store and fill it from the generic barrel.
But Hiram Wiser, believed in making his own mark, therefore the barrels at his distillery were branded with the name on it, as a statement of confidence and conviction in the quality.
Walker proved to be an innovator in his trade because he aged his whisky for 5 long years at a time when whisky was mostly sold unaged. He also introduced the practice of charring the barrels to extract the distinctive color and also to mellow the flavor.
His whisky was branded initially as Club to attract attention to its superior quality later however, as his American competitors petitioned the US government to require the imported whisky to display its origin by printing the name Canadian on the label, the Club whisky thus transformed into Canadian Club.
The love for the Spirit in Canada is varied and diverse as the nation. There are annual festivals organized across the nation to celebrate this diversity in the love for their drinks such as, the Hopscotch Festival, which runs until 27 November in Vancouver.
There are a few favorites that are attributed to the specific regions:
An elegant, silky, lush and decadent drink is almost synonymous with the Niagara-on -the -Lake region. Ice wine, thus called because it can only be made from grapes that are naturally frozen on the vines and are picked when the temperature dips to -8 degree C as it gives the grape that extra bit of sweetness as its gold liquid is steeped in high natural sugars and acidity.
A favorite among the Quebecois is a definite winter drink. The name traces its origin to a practice followed by the Native Americans of drinking the hot and fresh caribou blood after hunting. This drink is an interesting cocktail of Polar ice vodka, brandy, Canadian sherry & Canadian port or red wine.
Canada’s premium golden lager is popular throughout Canada and offers an ideal balance between malt sweetness and hop bitterness. It is brewed with Canadian two -row pale malt and Moosehead’s own lager yeast.
Nothing can get more Canadian than a maple whiskey liqueur it is said. Created from the land, Sortilege maple whisky is a special blend of Canadian whisky and the purest maple syrup and offers the perfect balance between the strength of Canadian whisky and the rich, golden flavors of the maple syrup. It follows a unique tradition of being served over ice and poured either into a coffee or mixed into whipped cream and accompanied with warm apple pie.
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