Chili and pineapples kind of go together. The tropical combo of spice and tart-sweet citrus also generates heat, making it the perfect thing to drink during a cold snap. That was the thinking when my husband ordered The Sawback at Park Distillery in Banff last weekend. He was intrigued by the idea of chili-flavoured vodka and quite liked the cocktail, which is named for a hiking trail that travels 74 kilometres between Banff and Lake Louise along the rugged Sawback range.
Blake loved The Sawback cocktail at Park Distillery in Banff.
It was our first visit to Park and we liked everything about it. It’s kid-friendly, has great campfire-infused food (delicious rotisserie chicken and cheesy fries served in camp mugs!) and the cocktails are made with spirits crafted in-house. Park makes a white (un-aged) rye whiskey, an alpine gin and four flavours of vodka. If you haven’t been, go west to check it out. In the meantime, shake up The Sawback at home.
This yummy spicy vodka number from Park Distillery in Banff is just the thing to transport you — vicariously — someplace warm.
The Sawback
- 1.5 oz Park Chili Vodka
- 0.5 oz triple sec
- 1.75 oz pineapple juice
- 1 oz lime juice
- 0.75 oz agave nectar
- Garnish: Pineapple wedge and palm frond
- Glass: Rocks
Method: Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and palm frond, if handy.
— Recipe courtesy Park Distillery
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