Gentle, green Prince Edward Island is known for many things: Warm ocean waters, beaches, Anne of Green Gables, mussels, potatoes, oysters, lobsters. Well, there is one more thing that should be added to that list: Very superior alcohol. The Myriad View, founded in 2006, is located near the town of Souris and overlooks scenic Rollo Bay. Myriad View describes itself as an “artisan distillery.” SJ discovered the place, while visiting the Colville Bay Oyster Co. a few weeks ago and bought some of their “Distilled Strait Gin.” This is what the label copy reads: “Crafted by the slow distillation of our purest grain spirit. Distilled through our unique blend of eight organic herbs and spices gathered from five continents. Sophisticated, elegant and smooth. For Gin lovers everywhere.” Yes, the prose is a bit flowery but it is not an exaggeration. HG is not a gin lover but Myriad View’s gin is unlike any HG ever tasted — wonderful bouquet of wild herbs and juniper reflected in extraordinarily complex, lush flavors. HG does not sully it by using it in cocktails. Drinks it over a bit of ice as an after dinner digestif. SJ reports that when he tasted the gin at the distillery and remarked how wonderful it was, the bee-hived woman behind the counter responded — in typically under-stated PEI fashion: “Well he (the distiller) does love his gin.” And Myriad View is not a one-trick-pony, HG’s pre-dinner drink is Myriad View’s Pastis. Some ice and water creates the desired cloudy effect and HG drinks it facing the sea and feeling like a character out of Marcel Pagnol. Pure Provence. Myriad View also crafts vodka and rum but HG will ignore them. Moderation has come late to HG.
