Local Ready-to-Drink Coolers

In addition to your big brand favourites, keep your eyes out for new beverages from small Ontario producers on the RTD shelves in stores and online. Here are three worth checking out.

Burdock Brewery Lit Pickle Hard Seltzer

Try this one-of-a-kind, three-ingredient refresher of soda water, vodka and Bubbies pickle brine.

Crawler Prickly Pear

Sip an original beverage of prickly pear soda, gin, vodka and a splash of beer.

Pelican Club Limoncello Spritz

Enjoy a zesty, Italian-style aperitif made from local limoncello and Niagara sparkling wine.

Summmer Sparklers

Whether you need a host gift or are simply celebrating the long weekend, a cold bottle of sparkling wine is always the right choice. Before you reach for Prosecco or Champagne, remember there are some fantastic sparklers made in Ontario. For a variety of styles and flavours, here are some of our favourites.

Rosehall Run Pixie Sparkling Rosé VQA

13th Street Cuvée Brut Sparkling Rosé VQA

Cave Spring Blanc de Blancs Brut Sparkling VQA

Tawse Spark Limestone Ridge Organic Brut Sparkling Riesling VQA

Summer Suds

It’s an exciting time to be a beer drinker in Ontario. Here are five lighter, refreshing brews—all local—to stock in your fridge and cooler this summer.

Upper Thames Brewing Co. Mad River Farmhouse Wheat

Fruity and spicy, this beer from Upper Thames Brewing Co. is like a cross between a Belgian witbier and a farmhouse ale.

Market Brewing Ghost Taco Cerveza

A collab between Market Brewing and Newmarket’s Ghost Taco restaurant produced this crisp, Mexican-style lager.

Cowbell Brewing Co. Watermelon Salted Sour

Sweet, sour and bursting with watermelon flavours, this seasonal brew has a pinch of salt to make it snap.

Lake of Bays Sunchaser Extra Light Lime

If you’re looking for a low-buzz brew, this lime-flavoured lager is only 2.5 per cent alcohol. Bonus: It contains just 90 calories per can.

Forked River Bravo! Session IPA

Try a lighter IPA (4.5% ABV) brewed for warm weather; expect notes of grapefruit and flowers with medium bitterness.

Gin Style

If you want to add a twist to your favourite gin-based cocktail, there are a number of exciting flavoured gins that recently hit the LCBO shelves. Whether you prefer G&Ts or Gimlets, here are three fresh offerings.

Empress Cucumber Lemon Gin

Made in Victoria; from this flavourful gin you can expect notes of fresh cucumber, citrus and a beguiling hint of jasmine.

Porcelain Shanghai Mandarin Dry Gin

Packaged in a gorgeous porcelain bottle, this gin is deeply infused with fragrant mandarin peels.

Citadelle Gin Le Jardin d’Été

Inspired by a summer garden, this French gin is flavoured with Charentais melon and a trio of citrus.

For easy highballs, there are a few premium natural sodas with wide availability. From San Pellegrino, both the Limonata (lemon) and Aranciata (orange) sodas are terrific with white spirits including vodka, gin and blanco tequila. From Maison Perrier’s Chic line, a pair of sparkling mocktails—Piña Colada and Mojito—are tailor-made for white rum.