Cocktail Corner – The Last Sip

Posted on July 23, 2025 by Daniel Wilson

Looking at the last meals of death row prisoners can be a fascinating exercise. With that in mind, I thought I’d put together my own final feast. I didn’t want to make it an open-ended buffet, so I limited how many items I could pick in each category. After many hours of agonizing over the options, here’s what the Sip Advisor would prefer to be munching if my ultimate indulgence was due:

Mains (3):

I decided to break this down into three categories, each one satisfying an entrée I particularly enjoy. First, in the Asian food phylum, I went with a poke bowl over items such as chow mein or fried rice with any number of proteins. I find the ingredients of a Poke Bowl to be so fresh and satisfying. Like I’m eating well for a rare occasion. Speaking of proteins, it’s a tough decision to select what would be the feature of my bowl, but I think I’d have to go with salmon over tuna. Second, I needed to have some sort of sandwich, opting for a club sandwich (fried chicken, bacon, lettuce, tomato), complete with pickles. The sandwich narrowly beat out selecting a burger. Third, a true top dish needed to be picked and I went with lobster tails. I’m not sure there’s a more decadent dish on earth than buttered lobby!

Sides (4):

This was the most difficult category to figure out. Some of the indecision came from figuring out what exactly qualified as a “side”, as well as enjoying many accompaniment dishes. My criteria for being a side was whether the dish generally appears on the starter or appetizer section of menus. I also used this category to make amends for some of the items that got squeezed out of the mains group. Curly fries poutine and Caesar salad were no brainers, followed by sliders to make up for my neglect of burgers above. The final addition I’d make is gyoza, which have become a favourite appy dish of mine in recent years. Missing the cut was chicken strips, as despite being an all-time favourite starter of mine, I’d get the crispy chicken portion settled in my club sandwich.

Snacks (2):

Truth be told, I created this category so I could slip a couple more side dishes into the meal! My 40^th birthday party was potato chip themed, so you better believe they would play some role in my last meal. If I had to narrow down which flavours I could have, that would be a tough choice, but I’d be happy with a mix including Pink Himalayan Salt, All Dressed, Sour Cream & Onion and Barbecue being among the chosen options. One final note on the chips, they must all be ripple/ridge/wavy or I would send them back! I’d also like to have a bowl of Trail Mix on hand, comprised of Smarties/M&Ms, peanuts and cashews. I guess you can throw some raisins in the mix, but not nearly as much as companies overfill their bags with.

Desserts (3):

The Sip Advisor loves completing any meal with something sweet. My first choice would be some Chocolate Chip Cookies, preferably made by Ma Sip, who has been providing me with amazing baked goods since I was a wee little sipper. Next up would be something I’ve only been introduced to in recent years, Chocolate Babka. Lastly, I’d want some sort of chocolate bar, but narrowing which one down is incredibly difficult. Among my all-time favourites are Snickers, Twix, Wunderbar, Peanut Butter Oh Henry, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Let’s take all those preferred choices and melt them into one super bar! A couple European faves, Black Forest Cake and Raspberry Danish, fall just outside being selected.

Beverages (2):

This was perhaps the easiest category, as I don’t regularly drink a large variety of things. Therefore, my first pick would be my favourite simple cocktail, the one I’m synonymous with and drink regularly with friends/family, Spiced Rum and Dr. Pepper (aka The Sip). My second choice would be an easy drinking Amber Ale, which pairs perfectly with a number of the food items I’ve curated. Narrowly missing the cut is plain ol’ water, which as much as I love, isn’t what I’d want to go out sipping.

Sauce/Dips (Unlimited):

I’m a big sauce/dip guy and I feel like this is the one category where infinite selections is okay. A few I’d definitely want on my palette include Ranch, Honey Mustard, Hotiyaki (mix of hot sauce and teriyaki), Sesame-Soy, Truffle Aioli, and Honey Garlic.

Cocktail Corner: The Last Sip

1.5 oz Spiced Rum
1 oz Root Beer Schnapps
Top with Lemon-Lime Soda
Splash of Honey-Yuzu Lemonade
Garnish with a Lime Wedge

Where the hell I would put all this food, given I typically eat half of my meals and save the other half for the following day, is anyone’s guess. My stomach would just have to find the space. The interesting thing about this Sip Advisor original recipe is that the inclusion of Root Beer Schnapps is an homage to the first soda I ever enjoyed. The rest of the ingredients are adult favourites of mine, making for an all-encompassing Sip Advisor experience!

Cocktail Corner – Porch Swing

Posted on July 11, 2025 by Daniel Wilson

Given we’re mired in summer heat, folks are looking to cool down in any way possible. One solution is to eat things that are lower in temperature. With that in mind, here are the best things to eat cold, that normally aren’t consumed that way:

Pizza

I’ve come to prefer my pizza cold, only heating up a slice if I feel like firing up the air fryer. Regardless of toppings, pizza is very good fresh out of the fridge 24/7, 365. I’ve even converted Girl Sip into similar thinking, like some awe-inspiring cult leader.

Chocolate

Throughout the year, I’ve begun tossing chocolate bars into the fridge, conducting research to find the perfect cold chocolate treat. I’ve found you can’t go wrong with items involving peanut butter, such as Peanut Butter Oh Henry or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, while some bars containing caramel should be eaten with caution, as the hard caramel may be difficult to chew through.

Asian Noodles

Whether it be chow mein, lo mein, yakisoba, etc., I have no problem pulling some leftovers out of the fridge and going straight into consumption mode, skipping any reheating rituals. The one thing I may do is splash some soy sauce on the dish and then get to munching.

Sushi

In a similar vein to noodles, I don’t mind sushi straight out of the fridge. I hear you complaining “But Almighty Sip, sushi is meant to be cold”, but I argue that the rice is typically warm, while the other items within the roll or topping the rice are also heated. Either way, sushi is ready-to-eat in any fashion.

Pie

While I don’t dabble in pie as often as I probably should, when we do have some, I have no problem going to town on cold leftovers. Any of the fruit-based pies (cherry, strawberry-rhubarb, apple) are particularly good unheated, with the crust still holding up.

Chicken

This category includes items such as Chicken McNuggets/McChicken sandwiches, popcorn chicken and boneless wings. Especially while travelling, the Sip Advisor has been known to stock up at the nearest Mickie D’s, then enjoy sandwiches or nuggets throughout the rest of the vacation as quick breakfasts or midday snacks. No microwave in the room, no problem. Just eat it fridge-to-table.

Tea

While the Sip Advisor loathes drinking hot beverages, often criticizing Mrs. Sip for doing so, I do have a soft spot in my blackened heart for iced tea, stemming from enjoying the drink as a wee little sipper. Now that there’s multiple companies that have produced a hard iced tea product, I can relive my fond childhood memories, while also working towards not remembering anything at all!

Cocktail Corner: Porch Swing

1.5 oz Bourbon
Top with Peach Tea
Splash of Lemon Juice
Dash of Honey
Garnish with a Peach Slice

Given the nature of this article, I had to make a drink featuring iced tea and I altered this recipe slightly to do so. What items do you prefer to eat cold on a hot summer day or whenever you feel like it?

Sip Trips #247: Limited Edition Love

Posted on July 3, 2025 by Daniel Wilson

With Mrs. Sip away for a chunk of the month, I didn’t get up to a whole lot in her absence. That said, June still had a lot going on, as we wound down the school year and entered the summer season. Here’s what we got up to:

To begin the month, the Sip Family found themselves at Ma and Pa Sip’s new home in Tobiano for a visit. As Mrs. Sip wrapped day one of her trial, we convened at Bright Eye Brewing for happy hour. While the adults took advantage of food and drink deals, the Siplings enjoyed the breweries arcade games, which are free to play on Mondays. My meal consisted of the Secrets Krush Hazy IPA and Throwback Burger, while I also couldn’t help steal a number of Mrs. Sip’s Crispy Brussels Sprouts. Bright Eye has quickly become a favourite stop for all of us.

On our return journey home, we dropped into the Mr. Mikes Steakhouse in Chilliwack for dinner. I hadn’t been to a Mr. Mikes in some time and found many contenders to choose from amongst their menu. On this occasion, I went with the Chinatown Stir Fry, along with an Antler Ale. Once again, I could keep my fork to myself and picked away at Mrs. Sip’s Crackling Sirloin Bites.

To celebrate Father’s Day with Pa Sip, I treated him to a Vancouver Canadians baseball game. During the afternoon match, I had a hotdog, PBR Strong Iced Tea and Phillips Blue Buck Ale. In future, I’ll have to try the ballpark’s yard-long hotdog, which can be split up into as many servings as requested. Following the game, Pa Sip wanted to try the nearby Chaise on Main, where I drank a pint of Steamworks Flagship IPA.

The following week, with Ma and Pa Sip kindly taking the Siplings off my hands for the weekend, a buddy and me met for dinner at Kelly O’Bryans. This has become my go-to place in New Westminster and this visit did not disappoint. I really enjoyed my Tuna Poke Bowl, consumed with a trio of Molson Canadians.

Mrs. Sip’s return home from her tour of Turkey brought a number of new additions to the liquor collection. Joining the family were bottles of Jagermeister Orange, Mermaid Spiced Rum and Twin Fin Coconut & Lychee Rum.

To celebrate Girl Sip’s last day of school, we went for dinner at Boston Pizza. I tried the Cherry Cola Beef Sliders off their summer menu and really enjoyed them. To drink, I had a pair of Blue Moons, completing the yummy meal.

Lastly, I finished the month with some more limited edition items in the Nashville Hot Chicken Pizza (complete with pickles) from Pizza Hut, as well as the Teriyaki Chicken Burger off the International Heist menu from McDonald’s. Both were excellent and I will be sad to see each disappear. Mrs. Sip added the McPizza Bites and Biscoff McFlurry to our feast, so we’ve worked our way through a good chunk of the International Heist options.

That wraps an eventful June. July promises to be busy, as we delve into as much fun as possible during the warmer months. Mrs. Sip and I also have a couple weeks of kid-free on the horizon, so that should provide ample opportunity to get out and about!

Bottle of the Month #6: Tumbleweed Raspberry Moonshine

Posted on June 27, 2025 by Daniel Wilson

[The Sip Advisor has been growing his liquor collection for a decade plus. It is something I’m very proud of, my children before kids and my legacy to leave to this world. I’d like to share what I’ve curated with all you little sippers via this project.]

On a family trip to Osoyoos, BC, a couple years back, Mrs. Sip and I, along with Cousin Sip and her husband, got a brief spell of no-kid time, so we rushed out to hit a couple locations in the area adjacent to our hotel. One of those stops was Tumbleweed Spirits, where I picked up their Raspberry Moonshine.

The product is made with BC raspberries and won gold and bronze medals at the 2023 Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition in the Distilled Audience Favourites category. I’ve personally enjoyed using the libation in various cocktails and shots.

On our recent return to Osoyoos, Tumbleweed Spirits had a tent at the farmer’s market we checked out. I learned that they’ve dropped the moonshine title from their creations, going with the vodka classification, so customers better identify with the releases, as well as helping to get onto liquor store shelves.

Tumbleweed has an extensive line of products. Other releseas offered by the distillery include Haskap and Fireweed, along with a line of whiskeys. They also have a line of ready-to-drink bottles, such as Haskap Margarita, Old Fashioned and today’s feature cocktail.

Bottle of the Month: Raspberry Lemonade

1.5 oz Raspberry Moonshine
Top with Lemonade
Garnish with a Lime Wheel and Maraschino Cherry

I plucked this recipe from the distillery’s website. It’s basic, but good. Probably why they serve it at their location and have also bottled it for quick service.

If I Had $500

Posted on June 13, 2025 by Daniel Wilson

For Mother’s Day, Mrs. Sip treated herself to a luxury item. I joked that maybe I should get to do the same for Father’s Day. While I won’t, I thought it would be a fun exercise to come up with some ideas if I did. So, in the vein of ‘If I Had a Million Dollars’ by the Barenaked Ladies, here’s the Sip Advisor’s ‘If I Had $500’:

Get Something for the Sipplings

Mrs. Sip and I are always looking to give the kids the best childhood possible. Therefore, an item like the new Nintendo Switch 2 does pique my curiosity. That said, this list is about treating myself and not others. Sure, I would likely play various games with the Sipplings, but I doubt I’d be able to dedicate much time to any video game system to justify buying one primarily for myself.

Do Something Practical

Our vehicle needs new tires, we are still making some upgrades and settling into our new place, investing/saving is always a good idea, etc. None of these are very much fun and I’m disappointed in myself that I even brought them up.

Cocktail Maker/Soda Machine

While one of these machines would be neat to have, I actually prefer building a cocktail from scratch myself and I’m not sure how much use I’d get out of a soda system.

Beer Fridge

Among the items on my long list of future acquisitions for our home is a second, smaller fridge, set up either outside or in our rec room, saving us time from having to go inside/upstairs to get beverages and snacks. Right now, though, a second fridge is lower on the totem pole than other necessities, so there it shall remain.

Air Hockey/Pinball Machine/Arcade Unit/Pool Table

I like these ideas, but space is limited in our place, at least until the kids grow up and share a similar interest in such items. One day, we will have a movie/games room, but today is not that day. Also, it would be hard to settle on just one of these games and an entire games collection would likely be necessary.

Driving Lessons for Mrs. Sip

Do you know what Mrs. Sip and I fight about more than any other element of our relationship? That’s right, her lack of driving ability. I’m basically Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Sip – minus any racism. It is my dream to one day attend a friend’s party and be the one who doesn’t have to limit myself to one or two beverages. It is my dream to one day not have to pack up the whole household to run errands Mrs. Sip needs done. It is my dream… I think you get the point.

Sauce Shopping Spree

In the Barenaked Ladies song I referenced above, they joke about getting fancy sauces for all the Kraft Dinner (macaroni and cheese) the band would buy. Whenever I go down a condiments aisle at grocery stores, I marvel at all the different options. Some can be a little pricey, so picking a few options – or at least what I can fit in our fridge – is actually a legit contender for how I’d spend my money.

Fancy Potato Chips

Similarly, I could see myself wasting a small fortune on obscure potato chips. We’re talking unique flavours from around the world, as well as expensive releases found domestically. Then I’d throw them all into a small pool and pull off a sweet Scrooge McDuckian dive into the snacks below.

Expensive Cocktails

An epic night could be spent trying some of the best mixology I can access. I already have a few locations in mind, should I do such a crafty crawl. Let’s put this idea in the maybe pile.

Exercise Equipment

Lol, nope!

A Pet

Part of my reasoning to get a pet would be to prank Mrs. Sip. That said, there’s only one pet I would ever consider bringing into our home and that’s a honey badger. Seriously, it would be a cat and given I’d probably end up doing most of the work, a pet doesn’t seem like much of a treat at all.

A Kayak

The one weekend I went kayaking, I really enjoyed it. More than a decade later, I have yet to sit my ass down in one of those weird looking watercrafts again. Let’s be honest, the device would simply be a garage filler and rarely used, so why bother.

Second Air Fryer

My theory is one air fryer is a godsend, so two air fryers would be… two godsends!? Sometimes, particularly when guests are over, I curse the fact I only have one of these amazing machines. Given they can be found for reasonable prices, I could have a whole army of air fryers at my disposal!

Clothing Essentials

The Sip Advisor hates shopping, so I often put off buying even the most basic of clothing items. Sure, I have a list of items I need/desire, but that doesn’t mean I’m actually going to go out and achieve said shopping.

Meal Kit Subscription

We’ve all seen the memes about not realizing adulthood meant figuring out what to eat for the rest of your life. I’m chief cook at the Sip Advisor headquarters and it can be exhausting planning and preparing dinner in perpetuity. A meal kit helps, but you still have to pick your dishes and then make them.

Tickets to an Event

Despite the logistical headaches (travel, finding babysitters, etc.) that going to events nowadays holds, I still enjoy the occasional night out. Sporting events, concerts, evening on the town all sound like a great way to blow this windfall, but it would have to be just the right event to do so.

Tattoo

The Sip Advisor has long had a tattoo in mind, but I’ve just never got around to actually getting the ink done. Cost is definitely a bit of a deterrent for me, but now I have five hundy in hand!

Charity

The only charitable organization I’m willing to donate to is the Church of Sip. Then I’ll embezzle those funds for my own enjoyment!

The Maestro

1.5 oz Patron Tequila
1 oz Lillet Blanc
Dash of Angostura Bitters
Garnish with Edible Glitter

The most expensive cocktail in the world today is The Maestro, created by iconic mixologist Salvatore Calabrese at the Dubai cocktail bar Nahaté. Using rare bottles and even rarer glassware, the drink comes in at whopping $41,160 US. My version uses similar, but more common ingredients, so I’d probably sell it for 0.0001% of the price.

So, what should the Sip Advisor spend his theoretical fun money on? In all likelihood, I’ll probably just treat myself to some bottles of booze that fall well below what Mrs. Sip spent. Happy Father’s Day, y’all!

Sip Trips #246: Wine and Recreation

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Daniel Wilson

May wasn’t crazy compared to our usual levels of activity. Sure, we still got out and about, but it wasn’t the type of month where you can’t keep track of everything you did. Let’s see what the Sip Family got up to:

Offered a date night early in May by the visiting Ma and Pa Sip, Mrs. Sip and I decided to finally use the Rec Room gift card I got her for Mother’s Day 2023. Prior to our game playing, we had dinner at The Amazing Brentwood Tap & Barrel location, requesting a table on their rooftop patio. My meal was comprised of the Russell Angry Scotch Ale and Korean Fried Chicken Bowl, which provided a great start to the evening.

We quickly used up the Rec Room gift card on one of their gaming packages and our first round of beverages. My drink choices while we played were the Twin Sails Dat Juice Pale Ale and Parallel 49 Trash Panda IPA. I enjoyed Rec Room and am glad we have something similar to Dave & Busters in the area, but felt there was something lacking compared to our many visits to D&B locations. We’ll have to return to use the rest of our gaming credits and perhaps also eat at the location. Mrs. Sip really wanted to take advantage of the date night and catch the recently released Thunderbolts at the adjacent VIP theatre. There, I enjoyed a Double Spiced Rum & Coke with the film.

Our major outing of the month, was going to Osoyoos over the May long weekend. On our way to the town, we stopped at the Bear’s Den Pub in Manning Park for lunch. Here, I ordered the Grilled Chicken Clubhouse, along with a pint of Old Yale Amber Ale.

Once we arrived at the Spirit Ridge resort, we had to rush to our dinner reservation at The Bear, The Fish, The Root & The Berry. This restaurant features a menu of Indigenous cuisine. Our group shared a number of items, including Bannock (along with various spreads), Cornbread, Empanadas, Roasted Bone Marrow, and my contribution to the meal, Five Spice Maple Brazed Pork Belly. To drink with our feast, I had a pair of Firehall Stop, Hop & Roll IPAs.

Full disclosure, I’m not into wine much nowadays and don’t love winery weekends. This is largely because the girls get to drink and the fellas have to drive and look after the kids throughout the unnecessarily long days. Well, wineries is pretty much all the Osoyoos region has going on, so I found myself on an all-day wine tour. We paid about $150 per person for the full day, which included a combo of sites we picked and ones the tour suggested.

Our stops included Over the Fence, Night Bird, Kismet and Rust, with a stop for lunch at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards’ Miradoro restaurant. There, I had the Beef & Pork Meatball Sandwich and a serving of Cannery Muse Pale Ale, to cleanse the palette, of course. Throughout the tour, I was really digging rosés and syrahs. By the end of the afternoon out, though, I was definitely done with wine and ready to switch back to my traditional loves of spirits, beer and vodka sodas.

On our return home, we stopped at Rocko’s Diner, as Mrs. Sip was craving breakfast items and a milkshake, so decided a diner setting was best to accomplish both. I went with a really tasty Eh-1 Burger, which featured crispy chicken, bacon, poutine, maple mayo, lettuce, and tomato. The maple mayo was the star of the burger.

Later that week, prior to checking out the new live-action Lilo & Stitch movie, we dined at Browns Socialhouse. I drank a glass of Social IPA, while trying the Teriyaki Salmon Bowl. The bowl was good, but doesn’t top my Red Lobster favourite, which gets the nod thanks to the inclusion of Brussels sprouts.

To wrap the month, we visited Boston Pizza for dinner, a treat earned by the Sipplings for taking a round of vaccinations so well. At the eatery, I tried the Wing-Man Pizza, featuring chicken bites in your choice of sauce (I went with Sweet Thai Honey Garlic), from their limited time menu. I also downed a Boston Pint of Molson Canadian, as it was on special during NHL playoff games.

While May was lighter than usual, things look to be building up again in June, as the weather improves and we move into the summer season. Mrs. Sip will be away for a couple weeks, so we’ll have to see what trouble the ol’ Sip Advisor can get up to!

Bottle of the Month #5: RubyBlue Chilli Pepper Liqueur

Posted on May 28, 2025 by Daniel Wilson

After sticking around a few extra days than the Sip Advisor could spare following our group trip to Ireland in fall 2016, Mrs. Sip brought home this bottle for me as a sort of consolation surprise. She may have purchased it at the airport Duty Free prior to her flight home.

The product – from Hughes Craft Distillery in Lisburn, Ireland – is comprised of an Irish grain spirit paired with whole chilli peppers. In fact, there’s a pair of the little bastards floating in the bottle. The result is a decent burn that can add an extra element to cocktails and shots.

Serving suggestions include adding the liqueur to Tomato Juice to up a Bloody Mary or simply pouring the cordial over ice. If adding it to any cocktail, the recommended measurement is 25ml or between 0.75-1oz.

Other products from RubyBlue included Blackcurrant, Cranberry and Blueberry, each using real fruit in the distilling process.

Bottle of the Month #5: Red Hot Santa

1.25 oz Vanilla Vodka
0.5 oz RubyBlue Chilli Pepper Liquer
0.5 oz Crème de Cacao
Splash of Lemon Juice
Dash of Simple Syrup

I’m well aware we’re nowhere near the Christmas season, but this is one of the few recipes I could find directly from the distillery. As best I can tell, RubyBlue doesn’t exist anymore, so I’ll enjoy what’s left of my liqueur.

Disneyland Rides/Shows I Miss

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Daniel Wilson

[Over 2025, the Sip Family will use their Magic Key year passes to attend the Disneyland Resort frequently. Therefore, a fair bit of my content will be Disney based this year, while also presenting a Disney-themed cocktail recipe.]

Over our many visits to the Disneyland Resort, we’ve had the privilege of experiencing countless attractions. Some of those have disappeared from the parks and, in some cases, I wish what we once had could return. Here are some of the rides and shows I dearly miss:

Rocket Rods/PeopleMover

Really, I just wish they did something with this deserted track. Apparently, Rocket Rods was a mechanical/technical nightmare, breaking down frequently. I remember standing in line for two hours the first time we ever rode it. If the track won’t be utilized for anything else, why not at least bring back the PeopleMover for guests young and old to enjoy a great view of Tomorrowland, while taking a load off their feet for a bit.

Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train

While I thought A Bug’s Land was a general miss and am glad they converted the area to something else, the Chew Chew Train nestled itself into a soft spot in my blackened heart. I’m sad the Sipplings never got to experience it, even though they love the Spider-Man ride that sits close to where it once resided. Something about gently moving past giant food objects, while Heimlich described his love of each of them, made the Sip Advisor so happy.

Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror

Despite enjoying the movie franchise, I am not a fan of the Guardians the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! ride. For me, it’s too chaotic and overstimulating. The Tower of Terror was different, taking a subtle approach to the thrills. While Mission: Breakout! bounces guests up and down while a rock soundtrack blasts and various scenes are quickly shown, Tower of Terror gave you a couple solid drops and let you focus on that, rather than coming at you from all angles.

Splash Mountain

I understand why this ride needed to be repackaged, but I will miss it. Having now been through Tiana’s Bayou Adventure – which I found to be very lackluster and only enjoy for the fact Boy Sip loves it so much – the ride had a lot to live up to and didn’t. Part of my dislike is that the ride has nothing to do with the movie, which I think would have been a better story to tell than Tiana trying to put together a party.

Muppet Vision 3D

I’ve long been a Muppets fan and was sad to hear the 4D show – yes, physical effects such as bubbles and smoke gave the attraction a whole extra ‘D’ – was closed in 2014 at California Adventure. The theatre now shows Mickey’s PhilharMagic, a decent replacement which the Sipplings love, making me wish they had a chance to enjoy Muppet Vision.

Space Mountain: Ghost Galaxy

This Space Mountain adaptation is by far my favourite rendition of the popular rollercoaster. In it, riders are chased by space ghosts (scarier than it may sound), as you enjoy the typical dark thrill ride. The Halloween seasonal hasn’t appeared since 2018. Rather than bringing back my beloved Ghost Galaxy, Disney seems to prefer using the Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain spinoff because who doesn’t want more Star Wars in the park… oh yeah, ME!

Billy Hill and the Hillbillies

Somehow, I had never seen this show until Mrs. Sip and I were a couple and made our first trip to the parks together in 2004. It was a lot of fun, while The Golden Horseshoe venue offered air conditioning on hot days and food options. Various performers still entertain guests in the space, but Billy Hill and his band were the ones I recognized the most.

Skyway

I understand the safety concerns this ride presented, but it offered an amazing viewing experience, while also allowing guests to transport themselves between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. Not tot mention, passing through the Matterhorn was a neat experience. As an homage to the ride, a few Skyway vehicles can be found on the Matterhorn, destroyed by the Abominable Snowman who inhabits the mountain.

Mad T Party

This extravaganza was so much fun the one time Mrs. Sip and I were able to check it out. The drinks, music, entertainment, etc. I’m not one for dance parties, but this one was enjoyable even for me. It probably helped that the Drink Me cocktail bar was slinging some great drinks, highlighted by the Mad Long Island-Iced T.

Disneyland Rides/Shows I Miss: Bayou Beauty

Muddle Cucumbers
1 oz White Rum
1 oz Ginger Liqueur
Garnish with a Cucumber Slice

This Princess and the Frog cocktail was surprisingly delicious. I mean, I like all the ingredients, but wasn’t sure how it would come together and they did in a way that is far superior to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Is there anything I missed that you have a lasting fondness for? Sadly, with the park always evolving, you never know when your favourite attraction may disappear from the landscape.

Sip Trips #245: Easy Easter

Posted on May 5, 2025 by Daniel Wilson

April was busy, despite my declaration last month that it’s okay to have a slow month every once in a while. Let’s see what the Sip Family got up to with another jam-packed calendar:

Early on, when visiting friends to see their new home, I picked up the Verve Tequila Soda Mix Pack (Pineapple Piquante, Grapefruit Blanco, Mango Tropicale, Salted Lime), which I really enjoyed. Amusingly, I had originally wanted the get the Verve Tropical Vodka Soda Mix Pack (Coconut Lychee, Mango Lime, Pineapple Lemon Basil, Passionfruit Orange Guava), but they were sold out and when I finally did get my hands on the case, I did not like it. This was the first time I’ve felt disappointed by a Verve product.

That night, we ordered in from Cactus Club and I tried the Feenie Burger for the first time. This burger was very good and you can’t go wrong with the restaurant’s Sea Salted Fries, which I’d rank among some of the best fries from chain eateries.

Our Easter weekend started with a trip to Abbotsford to visit Taves Family Farm. Prior to that, we had lunch at Loudmouth Brewing, which has always been a go-to stop for food for me over their beers. To eat, I had the yummy Single Cheese Burger, while Mrs. Sip and I shared some Waffle Fries with a delicious Truffle Aioli dip. We tried a few of their beers as well, in the Hurt Feelings IPA, North East IPA and Nevada Cascade Pale Ale. Despite arriving as the place opened, we had a long wait for food, getting in our order last amongst all the others who beat us to the punch.

For our Easter family meal, I created the Easter & Chill cocktail, which was comprised of Vodka, Honey-Yuzu Lemonade, Sprite Chill (new cherry-lime flavoured edition of the soda) and Egg Whites. The drink was very good, one of the best I’ve ever created, and when garnished with a Peep marshmallow, was perfect for Easter consumption.

As the Easter long weekend came to an end, I wasn’t ready to return to work just yet. With Mrs. Sip heading to Kelowna for work, I played chauffeur and tagged along for the journey. On our way there, we stopped at Old Vines, the Quails’ Gate Winery restaurant for happy hour. We put together quite the feast of appies, including the Caramelized Buffalo Milk Brie Cheese, Yarrow Meadow Duck Wings, Truffle Parmesan Fries and Ahi Tuna Carpaccio. Each was tasty, with the tuna perhaps being my favourite. To drink, I began with the Sweet Basil Heat (Tequila, Limoncello, Basil, Hot Sauce, Lime Juice) cocktail, followed by a glass of what the server called a Chestnut Winter Ale. She didn’t seem to have much knowledge about the beers offered, saying it was from Neighbourhood Brewing, although the only chestnut beer I could find in my searches was the well-established release from Whistler Brewing.

After settling into our room at The Royal Kelowna, we were off to The Hatching Post Brewery and Smokery, which was offering a trivia night, hosted by Tremendous Trivia. We really enjoyed this trivia – it helped that we placed first – as well as the location, which makes you feel like you’ve walked into a saloon. Having stuffed ourselves earlier at Quails’ Gate, we just split the Smoked Queso with Corn Chips, as well as a slice of Cornbread. Over our stay, I drank the Ghost Pony Hazy Pale Ale and a pair of The Saint Winter Ale, which we learned was only $5 for a pint for clearance purposes. Our reward for winning trivia was a tall can four-pack of their Parlour Tricks Hazy IPA. Also of note, this was the Sip Advisor’s 250^th brewery visited, an achievement I’m very proud of!

The next day, Mrs. Sip and I went for lunch at Cantina del Centro, which had amazing food and even better cocktails. My An Avocado, Thanks! (Mezcal, Tequila, Avocado Cordial, Tomatillo-Cilantro Syrup, Lime) was interesting and paired well with our meal of Quesabirria Tacos, along with Mushroom, Al Pastor and Camaron Tacos. Being the only ones in the restaurant, we received top notch service from Nicole and we hope to return to try other feature menus in the future.

Continuing our crawl of sorts, we next found ourselves at Rustic Reel Brewing for happy hour. Despite a cool vibe to the place, I didn’t love that beer pours were only 10 ounces for $5, although it did come with a tiny serving of popcorn. I went with the Amber Ale, but was happy to move on after one drink.

The Office Brewing was our second stop, where I was served The Receptionist Blonde Ale, although I’d ordered the Second Draft Hazy IPA. I didn’t realize my brew wasn’t hazy at all until I’d drank a few sips. Mrs. Sip went with the Orange You Glad It’s Friday Cran Orange Hefeweizen. To finish, we shared a Cocktail Flight (Blood Orange Margarita, Mango Mimosa, Salted Caramel Shaft, Broken Down Side-by-Side), which looked amazing and was fun to try.

Wanting to enjoy our hotel more, we ordered takeout from the nearby Cactus Club. I enjoyed my Tuna Poke Bowl, but felt it may have been better to eat in house. Speaking of the hotel, it was cool that they not only allowed you to have drinks at their rooftop pool and hot tub, but seemed to encourage it with plastic glassware available and even an ice machine.

Before heading home, we had to stop at Born to Shake when it opened the next morning. This amazing cocktail bar offers numerous syrups, salts, cocktail kits and more, while also serving up their lineup of scrumptious drinks. I tried the Take Me Away (Anejo Tequila, Cherry Bomb Syrup [cherry and warming spices], Lime, Spicy Ginger Beer), which was spectacular. Mrs. Sip tried both the Clover Club and Carrot Cake Old Fashioned, not having to worry about driving.

Our next adventure was hosting a murder mystery dinner, where I decided to make a cocktail for each character of our Saloon Stand-Off game. I’d say one of the drinks was a total hit, fours others were good and one was a slight miss. The best of the bunch was comprised of Spiced Rum, Root Beer Schnapps, Honey-Yuzu Lemonade and Lemon-Lime Soda.

Our last event of the month was attending the Banksy Exhibit. Prior to the eclectic art experience, Mrs. Sip and I had dinner at Arcana, which is an occult-themed speakeasy in Gastown. Part of the draw of eating and drinking here – as if we needed any more inspiration – was their witching hour, which runs from 5-7pm every day. My meal consisted of the Beelzeburger, which was so delectable, paired with a glass of Parkside Dreamboat Hazy IPA. After eating, I spun the Wheel of Fortune to figure out my next potion for the evening. Here, daring drinkers spin once to find out the spirit that will be used in their beverage and another time to learn the style/flavour of the cocktail. I ended up with Gin and Savoury, which resulted in a strong drink made with Absinthe, Green Chartreuse and Crème de Violette. Other cocktails tried by myself and Mrs. Sip included the Empress (gin, cranberry, rose and tonic, chilled with dry ice and decorated with edible glitter), Lovers (mezcal, crème de cassis, crème de violette, rhubarb liqueur, amaro, lime, and apple foam, garnished with boozy gummy bears) and Magician (rum, pineapple, lime, banana-coconut foam, electrodust). To sum up, this place was so cool and I can see us returning for more beverages (each themed after a tarot card) in the future.

Following the Banksy Exhibit, Mrs. Sip wanted some cheese and another drink, so we ended up at Water St. Café. There, I selected the Saturn cocktail (Gin, Lemon, Passionfruit Puree, Falernum) and the Mini Duck Springrolls for a bite to eat. Both items were quite good for our little nightcap.

And that wraps our quiet April! Who needs busy months when our “quiet” ones are filled to the brim. I won’t even bother saying May will be easy and breezy, as we already have events dotting the calendar.

Bottle of the Month #4 – Rogue Chipotle Spirit

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Daniel Wilson

When Mrs. Sip was off to Vegas for her first of many girl trips, I joined Ma and Pa Sip for a weekend getaway in Portland, Oregon. While not beer drinkers in the slightest, my folks were cool with stopping at a couple craft breweries for me. One of these locations was Rogue Brewing, which I became a fan of quickly.

Fast forward to a return visit to the City of Roses, this time with Mrs. Sip in tow, and we once again dropped into Rogue. While there, this bottle caught my eye, as I had discovered a love of smoky and spicy things, chipotle being both.

Using smoked jalapenos, grown at Rogue Farms Hopyard, the spirit is distilled from Rogue’s award-winning Chipotle Ale. The story goes that while making a batch of Chipotle Ale, brewmaster John Maier got the idea to bring some across the street to Rogue Distillery.

Sadly, this product no longer exists, although the brewery/distillery does offer a Chipotle Whiskey that piques my curiosity. I’ll just have to enjoy what’s left of my bottle for the time being.

Bottle of the Month #4: Chipotle Coyote

1 oz Rogue Chipotle Spirit
1 oz Tequila
Top with Wildberry Juice
Splash of Lemon Juice
Garnish with a Lemon Wedge

It was surprisingly hard to find a good recipe for this article, in part because the alcohol is no longer available. This beverage was good and I later found out I made a similar drink years ago, without even realizing it.

Sip Advisor

The Good, The Bad & The Bubbly

Category Archives: Crazy & Classic Cocktails