Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon is a fantastic wine that doesn’t cost a fortune, making it a great pick for anyone who loves a good glass of red.

With you first smell, you’ll notice a rich, fruity aromas like blackberries and plums, along with a touch of vanilla and spice. As you take a sip, those fruity flavors come through, balanced nicely with smooth tannins, giving it a really pleasant finish.

What’s really great about this wine is how easy it is to drink. It goes well with all sorts of foods, from steak to pasta, making it perfect for any meal or gathering.

Whether you’re a wine expert or just enjoy a good glass now and then, you’ll find Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon to be a reliable and enjoyable choice.For the price, this wine offers a lot. It’s got the kind of quality and taste that you might expect from a more expensive bottle, making it a smart buy if you want to enjoy something special without spending too much.

7/10

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Isle of Harris Gin is a delightful spirit that truly captures the essence of the Isle of Harris through its unique blend of botanicals. This gin is crafted with a careful selection of local ingredients, starting with the signature juniper berries, which provide a distinctive, slightly sweet, and piney flavor that’s the heart of any great gin.

What sets Isle of Harris Gin apart is the inclusion of local heather, which adds a delicate, floral note to the gin. This botanical is a true reflection of the island’s wild, heather-covered landscapes, bringing a touch of nature to every sip. Another standout ingredient is sugar kelp, a type of seaweed that grows abundantly in the island’s clear waters. The sugar kelp contributes a subtle marine undertone, evoking the fresh, salty air of the coastline.

The combination of these botanicals creates a gin that is both complex and balanced. The juniper provides the classic gin base, while the heather and sugar kelp add layers of depth and intrigue. This unique flavor profile makes Isle of Harris Gin a fantastic choice for those who appreciate a gin with a story and a taste that’s a little different from the norm.

Whether you’re enjoying it in a cocktail or savoring it neat, the botanicals in Isle of Harris Gin come together to offer a sensory experience that truly reflects the beauty and character of the Isle of Harris. It’s a gin that not only tastes great but also tells a story of place and tradition, making it a must-try for any gin enthusiast.

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Phantom Creek’s Kobau Vineyard Syrah is a fantastic wine.

It’s expressive, well-made, and presents as a high end red.

Right away, you get juicy blackberries, plums, and cherries, mixed with a bit of black pepper, flowers, and smoky meat. There’s also some chocolate and spice from the barrel aging, but it doesn’t take over.

It’s big and rich in your mouth but not heavy, thanks to bright acidity that keeps it fresh. You taste dark fruit, black licorice, and spice, with smooth, grippy tannins that linger nicely on the finish.

It’s super balanced, not too sweet or harsh, with lots of flavors that change as it sits and breathes. The mouthfeel is smooth with a long aftertaste.

It’s a tad young right now, so it could get even better with a few years of cellaring.

If you like bold reds that are easy to enjoy but still impressive, grab this one.

Solid 9/10

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Tommy Bahama Island Gin leans into that laid-back, vacation vibe, and it actually tastes the part.

It’s a bright, modern gin that still keeps enough juniper backbone to feel classic, but layers in a lot of sunny, tropical character.

On the nose, you get clear juniper lifted by citrus and soft floral notes, with grapefruit and cardamom peeking through. There’s a fresh, almost garden-like quality some tasters describe as vegetal or herbaceous, with hints of spearmint, anise, and even a touch of celery adding a cool edge.

The palate is light, crisp, and very approachable, with a mix of citrus, juniper berry, and spice that quickly opens into grapefruit, hibiscus, elderflower, and cardamom.

It drinks more refreshing than brooding: smooth and clean, with an easy, slightly floral finish that makes it work neat, on the rocks, or in simple highballs.

Where it really shines is in long drinks: gin and tonics, spritzy cocktails, or anything you’d happily sip by a pool or on a patio.

If you like your gin heavy on pine and pepper, this won’t be your benchmark bottle, but if you’re into bright, citrus-forward, gently floral styles that feel like an “island” twist on London Dry, Tommy Bahama Island Gin fits that relaxed brief nicely.

9/10

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Gray Monk Meritage 2023 is a really enjoyable red from the Okanagan that’s easy to like and even easier to drink.

The first thing you’ll notice is the rich, fruity smell—think black cherry and plum, with a little hint of vanilla and sweet spices wafting through.

When you take a sip, it’s smooth and balanced, delivering juicy dark fruit flavors but not too heavy. The tannins are soft, so you don’t get any harshness—just an easygoing mouthful that finishes with subtle layers of spice and a touch of black tea.

This is a wine you could easily bring to a gathering or open on a quiet night; it feels pretty versatile.

At around $35 a bottle, it’s a great way to have one of he better, local red wines from BC without breaking the bank.

Score: 8/10—super reliable, friendly, and tasty.

I would definitely this one again.

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Well okay, I’m not actually going to wait, let’s get this party started.

So this is a gin and tonic, with Empress Indigo gin. Crafted in Victoria, Empress not only gives it a beautiful purplish hue, it also has great traditional notes of citrus that makes a great gin, complemented with warm herbal undertones.

But if I don’t get some food in me before the real drinking starts I’m gonna be in trouble.

Some protein sounds like a great idea.

Quick question, does it look like there’s one missing here?

I don’t know, it just looks funny to serve it like that.

The meatballs himself okay but they should have been a bit softer.

There was a mildly disconcerting feeling to the meatballs when trying to cut through with a fork. Like the skin didn’t want to give way at first, almost a rubbery feeling. I wonder if they have been the the coler too long?

What you got through that the flavor of meatball was quite good. However I did find the marainara a little too reminiscent that’s something that comes out of a jar. Not fresh enough. Not alive enough.

Does that garlic bread didn’t look over toasted to you? It didn’t look like it to me. It was very crunchy, almost crostini like. Not anything I’d want to eat plain, but once dipped in the marinara I didn’t feel like it was going to break my teeth.

Did it satiate my hunger and prepare my stomach for the onslaught of alcohol to come?

Yes

Was I overly impressed with it as a meal?

Nope.

5/10

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This place is pretty lively, live music and it’s hopping.

And ok value for this part of town. 195 pesos for a pretty large drink.

This Is the regular sized margarita.

Mango with a spicy drizzle.

It tasted great, but a little hard to drink as it was very viscous. The mango flavour really was vibrant and that drizzle added a great little kick.

Merilynn had the strawberry basil.

Her’s was even better. That strawberry/basil combination is a perfect combination.

A pretty good stop in the Zona Romantica when you’re looking to get a little tipsy.

8/10

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Live music, lots of people and great smells waft from within.

And it’s close to our hotel. I swear we can smell the place from our room every night, as well as hear the live music.

We really didn’t feel like venturing far tonight so the location was ideal. A short walk down the hill is perfect.

From the moment we walked in the ambiance was fantastic.

The waiters were dancing.

The musicians were rocking it.

The whole place was alive.

There’s a waiter dancing with a bonfire in his hands. Turns out this is how they serve the fajitas.

This is how they serve the guacamole.

I’m not much of a guacamole fan. I’ve never enjoyed the stuff that comes out of a jar from the supermarket.

But this was fantastic. Likely the best I’ve ever had.

I love how much lime he put in. And fresh Mexican avocados are the best in the world.

Along with the guacamole we got fresh made salsa.

It tasted very fresh. I usually prefer Pico de Gallo this was so tasty. And no vampires here. Lots of garlic!

And of course fresh made tortilla chips, a must in any Mexican restaurant. If they don’t serve you fresh made tortilla chips just head right on out the door.

As usual I ordered way too much food for us. I just love to try things.

Here we have Cilantro fried cheese.

If you’ve had Saganaki at a Greek restaurant you’ll be cool with this. Gooey, salty, melted cheese in a tomato/cilantro sauce. Though it could have used more cilantro. I tasted no soap.!

And my first ceviche this week. Why did I wait this long?

I’ll skip the octopus ceviche and stick with the fish.

It was very good. I do prefer a ceviche  that’s a little more citrusy, but no complaints. Still very tasty. A very good balance of tomato, fish, onion and avocado.

Drinks were a margarita,

And a Mojito,

I guess the show they do here sometimes of pouring your tequila into the drink at your table is supposed to impress you by how much they appear to be adding.

I find this makes a very unbalanced drink though. The tequila floats on the top of the drink, so unless you mix it in really well yourself you end with with iced lime juice to start and then watered down tequila to finish.

Best to mix the drink properly to start with.

The mojito was very good. It’s essential to get a nice balance of mint and sweetness to balance the rum, often not achieved. This one was perfect.

And tonight’s bill came to 1200 pesos. That’s $84 CAD.

For the amount, and quality of food and drink we got tonight I think that’s pretty reasonable.

We have eaten cheaper this week for sure. but it wasn’t quite this good.

8/10

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Normally I avoid restaurants like this like the plague.

Always overpriced and often not very good.

But it’s our first night.

After crap weather in Vancouver for the last three months.

We want to sit on the beach, have a drink, and enjoy the sunset.

So we did. Reputation of tourist traps like this be damned.

And it lived up to expectations!

Ok yes the magarita was pretty good.

They do make a show of pouring the tequila into the drink table-side. From a Patron bottle no less.

I highly doubt it was Patron.

At any rate the drink was fine.

We just had an appetizer, the crab tacos.

They completely met my expectations for a beachfront restaurant. The flavour was ok, real crab I’m pretty sure. But very greasy, and I could feel it in my gut almost immediately.

And $60 US. For two drinks and an appetizer.

If it wasn’t for the view…

Tomorrow we will be looking for some street tacos.

6/10

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Boodles Gin is a dependable and well-crafted London dry gin that delivers a solid, traditional experience. Its aroma is clean and classic, featuring juniper as the star, supported by soft herbal and earthy undertones. There’s a subtle hint of spice that adds a pleasant warmth to the nose.

On the palate, Boodles is smooth and mild, with juniper leading the way, complemented by coriander, angelica, and a whisper of citrus. Its flavor profile is straightforward and balanced, making it an excellent choice for gin purists who appreciate simplicity. However, it may lack the complexity or bold character that some gin enthusiasts seek.

This gin performs well in traditional cocktails like gin and tonics or martinis, where its clean profile can shine. While it may not stand out in more adventurous or flavor-forward cocktails, it’s a reliable choice for everyday use.

Overall, Boodles Gin earns a 7/10 for its quality, approachability, affordability and classic style. While it doesn’t push boundaries or deliver extraordinary depth, it remains a respectable and versatile option for fans of a traditional London dry gin.

BCLD $29.99

7/10

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