A seasonal twist on a tiki classic, our Pumpkin Spice Painkiller leans into the richness of fall with a Durham Distillery touch. Built on the deep molasses backbone of White Dog Blackstrap, this cocktail trades the usual orange juice for crisp Ontario apple cider and swaps cream of coconut for house-made pumpkin spice syrup. The result is warming, spiced, and perfectly balanced—like autumn in a glass.Velvety spice, natural sweetness, and a hint of orchard fruit make it an ideal companion for Thanksgiving tables or cool nights by the fire.
A true taste of Ontario in a glass. Fresh, juicy peaches meet the bold spice of our 100% Canadian Rye Whisky, balanced with the rich sweetness of pure maple syrup. Shaken with citrus for brightness, this cocktail is velvety, vibrant, and perfectly seasonal a golden-hued sour that celebrates the best of stone fruit season.
Type
Cocktails
Spirit
100% Canadian Rye Whisky
Keyword
Sour Style, whisky
Equipment
Boston Shaker
Jigger
Hawthorne Strainer
Rocks Glass
Muddler
Ingredients
1½ozCanadian 100% Rye Whisky
¾ozLemon Juice
¾oz Maple Syrup
5slicesFresh Peaches
Steps
Add 4 slices of peach into the tall side of a shaker and muddle well
To your shaker, add Canadian 100% Rye Whisky, lemon juice, and maple syrup
Sip Into Summer: Refreshing Cocktails to Beat the Heat
Soak up the sunshine and cool down with a craft cocktail in hand. These recipes are easy to shake up and irresistibly refreshing—perfect for a warm summer day on the dock, the patio, around the campfire, or wherever you’re savoring quality time with loved ones.
White Linen
White Linen – featuring our London Calling Dry Gin mixed with Elderflower syrup and topped with club soda, this drink is bright & refreshing.
The White Linen is the ultimate light and breezy afternoon sipper. Our London Calling Dry Gin takes center stage, complemented by elderflower, fresh lemon, and crisp cucumber. A splash of sparkling water adds just the right amount of fizz for a clean, refreshing finish.
Elegant, vibrant, and oh-so-sippable—the Violette 75 is a summer party showstopper. A riff on the classic French 75, it blends fresh lemon juice and sparkling wine with a floral twist. Our Purple Rain Gin, crafted with butterfly pea flowers, gives the drink its signature violet hue. Lavender syrup enhances the bouquet, making this cocktail as beautiful as it is delicious. Perfect for toasting at your next summer soirée.
A twist on the Pina Picante made with Dont Fear the Reaper Vodka and White Dog Blackstrap, garnished with a dehydrated pineapple.
Craving a tropical escape? The Piña Picante is your passport to paradise. Inspired by the classic Piña Colada—with a fiery twist—this cocktail balances sweet, creamy, and spicy in perfect harmony. Our Don’t Fear the Reaper Vodka, infused with real Carolina Reaper peppers, brings the heat, while pineapple juice adds tang and cream of coconut lends a velvety sweetness. A touch of our White Dog Blackstrap rounds things out with a funky, rum-like depth. Sip this one poolside or beachside for instant vacation vibes.
Flightless Bird – A playful mix of apple pie moonshine, kiwi, lime, and orgeat, this cocktail is as refreshing as it is adventurous.
A playful nod to New Zealand’s beloved kiwi bird, the Flightless Bird is anything but ordinary. Built with our Apple Pie Moonshine, this cocktail layers fresh apple juice, a squeeze of bright lime, and orgeat’s sweet, nutty richness.
Muddled kiwi brings a zesty, tropical tang, creating a refreshing orchard-meets-exotic fusion that feels both comforting and adventurous.
Take the classic Tom Collins to new heights with The London’s Calling, a refreshing twist on this timeless cocktail. Made with our London Calling Dry Gin, this vibrant drink is brightened with blueberry syrup and finished with the uplifting aroma of fresh mint. The result is a crisp, herbaceous concoction layered with sweet berry notes and a clean, refreshing finish. Perfect for sipping on a sunny afternoon or sharing with friends, this cocktail is as versatile as it is delightful.
The Glass Makes the Sip: Why Glassware Matters in Every Cocktail
At Durham Distillery, we believe the cocktail enjoying experience doesn’t just come from what’s in the glass, it’s also shaped by the glass itself. From the weight in your hand to the way aromas rise, the right glass elevates the spirit, deepens the experience, and crafts the perfect moment
Here’s a look at five essential glassware styles we love, and how each plays its part in bringing out the best in your cocktail or spirit.
The Glencairn: A Whisky Lover’s Ritual
Two Glencairn glasses filled with whisky — a glassware design made to concentrate aroma and enhance the tasting experience.
The Glencairn glass isn’t just a whisky vessel—it’s a ceremony. Its tulip shape is designed to capture and concentrate aromas, helping you truly smell before you sip. The heavy base provides balance, while the narrow mouth directs the whisky to the right part of your tongue.
Whether you’re sipping on our Distillers Tasting Experience young whiskies, or one of our future releases, the Glencairn slows you down. It invites you to savour, observe and experience whisky the way it was meant to be enjoyed.
The Rocks Glass: Simple. Strong. Versatile.
The iconic Negroni, served in a classic rocks glass, shows how the right cocktail glass enhances both flavor and presentation.
Sometimes called an Old Fashioned or lowball glass, the rocks glass is a staple, as it is perfect for spirit-forward cocktails like a Negroni, Boulevardier, or enjoying spirits on the rocks.
Its wide mouth gives ice the space to move and melt just right. The heft in your hand adds presence to the pour. And for us at Durham Distillery, it’s the glass we imagine in every local bar where our small-batch spirits anchor the backbar.
The Coupe: Elegance Meets Restraint
A vibrant “Flightless Bird” made with kiwi, cocktail served in a classic coupe glass.
Its shallow, wide bowl allows the spirit’s aroma to open up instantly, while the stem keeps your hand from warming the drink. The coupe feels vintage, intentional, and elegant.
Its shallow, wide bowl allows the spirit’s aroma to open up instantly, while the stem keeps your hand from warming the drink. The coupe feels vintage, intentional, and elegant.
The Highball: Tall, Bright, and Balanced
Two Canadian Caesars served in tall highball glasses — a classic example of how glassware shapes Canada’s most iconic cocktail.
Built for simplicity and refreshment, the highball glass is your go-to for longer, lighter drinks. Think vodka sodas, gin and tonics, or highball-style whisky cocktails.
Its tall, narrow frame preserves carbonation and encourages a perfect ice-to-liquid ratio. When you’re enjoying something built with bright citrus, effervescence, or crisp botanicals, this is the glass that carries it best.
The Goblet: Bold Flavour, Built to Impress
Purple Rain Gin served in a classic gin goblet, where the balloon-shaped glass enhances the aroma and elevates every sip
The goblet is the most dramatic of the five. It’s big, curvaceous, and made to amplify both aroma and impact, great for spiced cocktails, botanical creations, or anything involving bold ingredients and robust garnishes.
At Durham Distillery, we see the goblet as a stage. It’s where deep flavour profiles come alive, and where a little drama is more than welcome.
Real Flavour, Real Glass
Great cocktails aren’t rushed, and great glassware isn’t optional. When you match the right glass with the right spirit, you invite every note to shine—aroma, temperature, texture, and taste.
Because at Durham Distillery, we don’t just say real tastes better. We design every part of the experience to prove it.
A cheeky nod to New Zealand’s iconic kiwi bird, the Flightless Bird is anything but grounded. Crafted with our Apple Pie Moonshine, this cocktail soars with fresh apple juice, a hint of orgeat’s sweet and nutty flavour, a squeeze of bright lime, and the unexpected tang of muddled kiwi fruit. The result is a refreshing, orchard-inspired sipper that blends familiar comforts with an adventurous twist showcasing real, all-natural ingredients in every layer.
Bitters are the quiet alchemists of the cocktail world—used in drops but delivering bold results. At Durham Distillery, where we believe every ingredient should have purpose, bitters are one of the most powerful tools behind the bar. They’re not there to dominate; they’re there to balance, to elevate, and to deepen what’s already good.
So what exactly are bitters?
A display of Durham Distillery’s artisanal bitters for sale, including ginger, orange, chocolate, aromatic, rhubarb, and cardamom blends
They’re highly concentrated infusions made by steeping botanicals—like roots, spices, herbs, citrus peels, and barks—in high-proof alcohol. The alcohol extracts the flavours and preserves the intensity. What you’re left with is a small but mighty bottle packed with layers: bitter, herbal, floral, spicy, or citrusy depending on the blend.
Bitters work like seasoning in a dish. They cut through sweetness, round out sharp notes, and give a cocktail its finish. Take a Manhattan with our 100% Canadian Rye Whisky or a Negroni with our London Calling Dry Gin, adding bitters will give the cocktail a fuller bodied, more rounded and balanced flavour.
How Bitters Are Made
Crafting bitters is a process of patience and precision. Start with a base spirit (often neutral and high-proof), then layer in your chosen botanicals. The mixture is sealed and steeped for several weeks, sometimes with periodic agitation to draw out the full range of flavours. Once it’s strained and reduced, it’s bottled—ready to transform any cocktail it touches.
How to Best Use Bitters
A bartender pours Durham Distillery’s cardamom bitters into a stainless steel cocktail shaker.
When using bitters, less is more. Start with 1–3 dashes, depending on the recipe, and build from there. Add them directly to the mixing glass or shaker, or layer them on top for aroma. Use aromatic bitters in spirit-forward classics, citrus bitters in refreshing sours, or try chocolate in dessert-style or coffee cocktails. Stir, sip, and adjust.
For cocktail recipes using bitters visit our recipe page – Cocktail Recipes.
Bright, tart, and effortlessly elegant, this cocktail puts a summer twist on the classic lemon drop. Crafted with Durham Distillery’s Patio Lanterns Vodka, our smooth, all-natural vodka, it’s layered with ripe raspberry syrup and a citrus punch that sings in every sip. No additives, just pure fruit and craft. Whether you’re on a patio or dreaming of one, this is sunshine in a glass.
