Newfoundland Distillery Co. is spicing things up with new fireweed flavoured vodka
Peter Wilkins is the co-founder of the Newfoundland Distillery Company. He says the new fire weed vodka can be used in multiple different cocktails. (Peter Cowan/CBC)
After almost eight years of distilling, the Newfoundland Distillery Company is still on fire with its new vodka.
The flavoured vodka is made with fireweed from Coley's Point and chilies by Roots Farm N.L. in Bay Roberts.
Company co-founder Peter Wilkins says the plant is called fireweed because it's the first weed that grows after a fire. The liquor is pink in colour, just like plant.
"We were so entranced by the colour, we wanted to use it. And then we made it," Wilkins told CBC News in a recent interview.
But he wasn't satisfied with the fireweed flavour by itself, so he decided to add chilies, hoping to add a little bit of spice.
"They go together really well. There's just a bit of heat when you have it neat. But if you put it in a cocktail, it adds quite a bit more structure," said Wilkins.
Cocktail Ideas
Wilkins said while the drink goes well in any vodka-based cocktails, he was surprised that it also worked well in gin-based drinks.
He recommends using it in a Negroni instead of gin, adding it is also good with just tonic or soda.
"It's a very pretty pink in the glass," he said.
WATCH | Newfoundland Distillery Co. co-founder Peter Wilkins discusses his new fire weed vodka:
The vodka can also spice up an Aperol spritz. Wilkins recommends mixing it with a bit of Aperol topped off with prosecco.
The distillery also recommends a fireweed martini, which includes the fireweed vodka and half an ounce of vermouth stirred over ice.
"It's very, very versatile," said Wilkins.
The Newfoundland 'spirit'
The Newfoundland Distillery Company has been making liquor and spirits since 2016.
Wilkins said the company started when he and William Carter discussed making whiskey. But because whiskey takes three years to make, they decided to start with gin instead.
The Newfoundland Distillery Company's new fireweed flavored vodka. (Submitted by Peter Wilkins)
"It was delicious," said Wilkins.
Now the company sells whiskey, gin, rum, aquavit and vodka.
Wilkins said they were fortunate to have the support of the Newfoundland Liquor Corporation, which made it easy for the company to get going.
The distillery is located on Clarke's Beach in Conception Bay, overlooking the popular seascape.
"We've been told that the closer the still is to sea level, the better the distillation process. So we are very, very close," said Wilkins.
Wilkins was once the co-host of a the British television show Dom Joly's Happy Hour, where he travelled the world investigating different drinking cultures.
For Newfoundland, Wilkins said the province has a social drinking culture. He said drinking alcohol is a great way to celebrate with friends and family.
"I think the province excels at that," he said. "Just the joy, you know, to be with friends on a Friday night, having one or two glasses of gin or whiskey or whatever it is you like."
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