The Best Beverages Our Editors Drank in 2024

Creating a magazine is thirsty work, and our editors know how to stay hydrated. Here are the cocktails, bottles and cans we cracked to stay hydrated as we cranked out the content you know and love.

What Our Editors Were Drinking This Year

2018 Domaine Thibert Pere et Fils Pouilly Fuissé, $65

I was lucky enough to be in Burgundy this fall, and like most visitors to this hallowed ground I had a pecking order of greatest hits I wanted to check off. Chambertin Clos de Beze is my fave vineyard, so that was on it. The wines of Domaine Dujac have been long time faves, so that was another proposed stop. But in wine, as in life, it’s the unexpected that is often the one that sneaks up and grabs a hold of your heart and for me that was the wine of the Maconnais. A quick, if overly simplified, geography lesson, if I may: the boldest names in Burgundy come from the Cote de Nuits (predominantly reds) and the Cote de Beaune (both red and white, but the whites are the best in the world). The regions respectively produce the most prized and expensive wine in the world. South of them is the Maconnais, a large area that include the town of Macon and where most of the wine. –Neal McLennan, wine and spirits editor

 

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Ottoman-Opeia Cocktail at Selene, $17

I’m normally a pretty decisive person. (Yes, put a big plate of noodles on the cover of the magazine! No, I don’t care that it’s nepotistic to include my husband in a feature!) But when I encounter a drinks menu that has both a margarita and a whiskey sour on offer, I’m suddenly trapped in analysis paralysis. Both bring me such joy, how could I possibly choose between them?! So imagine my relief to sit down at the buzzy new Selene in Hastings-Sunrise a few weeks back and discover the Ottoman-Opeia, a hybrid cocktail that would best be described as a smokey marg-sour. A tangy, salted rim is the gateway to a deeply tasty concoction that includes mezcal, spiced plum sharbat, metaxa (essentially a Greek brandy), a splash of lemon and a foamy egg-white topper. Had I not had more important decisions to make in the morning, I would’ve had four more. —Stacey McLachlan, editor-in-chief

 

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Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew from Saunter Coffee, $7 for 12oz, $8 for 16oz

Starbuck’s caramel macchiatos can move on over. This is the best thing to have when you’re doing a Gastown shop hop on a hot summer day. But also who am I kidding? If it was available in the winter, I’d still be getting. Expertly extracted cold brew, sweet cream that’s drizzled in caramel sauce and a sprinkle of salt, this is the kind of drink that even coffee purists will be getting. Not to mention, it’s a pretty little drink and you get to sip it in Saunter Coffee’s gorgeous, light-filled space. It’s only available in the spring and summer, so make sure you get it when you can. – Rebekah Ho, Digital Marketing Manager

Nitro Cafe De Olla Cold Mexican Coffee from El Cafecito, $5.50

I love coffee so when a good brew comes around, I feel compelled to shout it on the rooftops. Since I write for a mag, here I stand on my rooftop and here I shout: The cold Nitro coffee at Alimentaria Mexicana’s new coffee shop, El Cafecito is the best coffee I’ve had since, well, I can remember. It’s sweet cold Mexican coffee with hints of orange, mint and cinnamon infused and will launch you into your day faster than a jetpack strapped to your back as an alarm clock. It’s tasty, strong and if you’ve never been to the new Granville island spot (an island crawling with coffee options and artisanal yums) then the vibes alone will wow you. (Think: lively authentic Mexican music and decor that feels instantly transportive—like the coolest Mexican hipster joint). But it’s the coffee that will make you come back again and again (hopefully not in the same day, like me!) —Kerri Donaldson, Assistant Editor

Arancello from The Woods Spirit Co., $45

One lovely summer day while walking through the West End Farmer’s Market I stumbled across The Woods Spirit Co.’s stand—and the rest is history. But seriously, I’ve never been a big limoncello fan; it’s more often than not cloyingly sweet and once cold, too thick to sip (don’t come for me all of Italy). However, after trying a taster of this vacuum-distilled arancello, well I ate (drank?) my words. Yes, there are organic blood oranges in there but there’s also raspberry and lime leaf, giving it a very distinctive and uniquely bright flavour profile. I adore it in a spritz, but thanks to my partner’s continuous cocktail experimentation, I’ve recently discovered that it’s just as good as a simple syrup replacement in a Saturday marg.—Dani Wright, Managing Editor

Homemade Eggnog at Maxine’s Cafe and Bar, $14

So I’ll start by saying I think Maxine’s makes the best Old Fashioned in town—and if you’re ever looking for me on a Friday after work in the summer, chances are I’m kicking off Happy Hour with one of them on Maxine’s very lovely patio. But ’tis the season for getting festive, and I mixed it up this past Friday night with a cozy booth and one of these very lovely homemade eggnogs. It’s light, not too sweet and perfectly spiced, spiked with a warming shot of Sailor Jerry’s spiced rum—that rare combo that’s both refreshing and like a big holiday hug. Plus, I now want all of my Christmas drinks to be out of these pretty green tumblers (and will be officially lobbying Maxine’s to make to-go cartons of this homemade treat available next year). —Anicka Quin, VP Content