The Loch & Quay is renowned for its exceptional dining experiences that showcase the finest local ingredients and culinary traditions. Beyond our acclaimed menu, we’re delighted to introduce you to the region’s exceptional spirits and liqueurs – each one a unique reflection of our terroir and heritage.
Artisanal Distilleries Capturing the Essence of the East
Over the past decade, a wave of passionate distillers has emerged across the eastern maritime regions, determined to showcase the rich diversity of our local botanicals, fruits, and natural resources. These artisanal producers are crafting gins, rums, whiskies, and even a entirely new spirit category – acerum – that capture the essence of our territories.
At the Distillerie Témiscouata in Auclair, guests can discover the innovative potential of maple sap, which is transformed into a pure, unaged White Acerum or a barrel-aged Brown Acerum. Further east, the Distillerie Mitis near the Mitis River produces a bold, award-winning Mugo Gin using hand-picked mountain pine, as well as an intriguing sugar cane spirit aged over torrefied wood.
Perched on the Gaspé Peninsula, the O’Dwyer Distillery has become known for its Radoune Gin, crafted with four wild mushroom varieties, and the delicate, lichen-infused Darmouth Amaretto. Meanwhile, the Distillerie Cap-Chat welcomes visitors to witness the creation of its vibrant ImaGin series, each bottle infused with a different array of local botanicals and flowers.
Across the region, these passionate producers are not merely making spirits – they’re distilling the very essence of our landscapes, traditions, and identities into every bottle.
The Art of Liqueur-Making
While our local distillers push the boundaries of spirit-making, the Loch & Quay also celebrates the rich liqueur heritage of Eastern Québec and beyond. These captivating libations often showcase botanicals, fruits, and other natural ingredients in unique and innovative ways.
Herbal and Botanical Liqueurs
At the Distillerie La Société Secrète in Percé, guests can explore the Les Herbes Folles Gin, a premium dry gin infused with a dozen wild botanicals hand-picked within a 330-foot radius of the distillery. Similarly, the Distillerie Puyjalon in Havre-Saint-Pierre offers the Betchwan Gin, a spirit that seamlessly blends floral aromas with notes of salty air and boreal forest.
Heading further north, the Distillerie Québec North Shore in Chute-aux-Outardes has crafted the unique Amy Amaretto, flavored with mountain ash berries that are hand-picked after the first frost. This liqueur pays homage to the pioneering spirit of Colonel Robert Rutherford McCormick’s wife, who left Chicago to join him in building the Quebec North Shore Paper Company.
Fruit-based Liqueurs
Beyond herbal profiles, the region’s distillers have also embraced the abundant local fruits as inspiration for their liqueurs. The Distillerie La Société Secrète, for instance, produces a grape eau-de-vie and an apple eau-de-vie, each capturing the pure essence of the region’s orchards and vineyards.
Meanwhile, the Distillerie Puyjalon’s Rubis Nordique is a striking lingonberry gin liqueur, made with berries hand-harvested from the sandy soils near its peatbogs. Across the bay, the Distillerie des Marigots in Caplan is experimenting with small-batch, ephemeral products that showcase the seasonal brilliance of local botanicals and fruits.
Cream-based Liqueurs
While the Loch & Quay is renowned for its refined, modern cuisine, we also appreciate the decadence of classic cream-based liqueurs. At the O’Dwyer Distillery, guests can indulge in the Pudding Stone, a rich, creamy liqueur that evokes the region’s history and geography.
Exploring the Diverse Flavor Profiles
The diverse spirits and liqueurs of Eastern Québec offer a truly remarkable range of flavors, from the aromatic and floral to the sweet and decadent.
Aromatic and Floral Notes
Many of the region’s gins and gin liqueurs showcase the wild botanicals and flowers that thrive in our boreal landscapes. The Distillerie La Société Secrète’s Les Herbes Folles Gin, for instance, presents a bouquet of delicate herbal notes, while the Distillerie Puyjalon’s Betchwan Gin balances salty, evergreen flavors with a distinct floral character.
Sweet and Decadent Tastes
For those with a more indulgent palate, the Loch & Quay recommends exploring the region’s creamy, fruit-forward liqueurs. The O’Dwyer Distillery’s Pudding Stone liqueur, for example, offers a luscious, velvety texture and rich, caramelized flavors. Meanwhile, the Distillerie Québec North Shore’s Amy Amaretto enchants the senses with its tart cherry notes and smooth, comforting finish.
Bitter and Herbal Undertones
While sweetness and floral notes often dominate, several of the region’s spirits also showcase more assertive, herbaceous profiles. The Distillerie Témiscouata’s Acerum expressions, for instance, present a refined balance of maple’s natural sweetness and subtle woody bitterness. Similarly, the Distillerie Mitis’ Mugo Gin delights with its bold, piney character and lingering spice.
Embracing the Rituals of Consumption
Across Eastern Québec, the enjoyment of local spirits and liqueurs is woven into the fabric of our cultural traditions and culinary celebrations.
Ritual Serving Practices
Many distilleries welcome guests to explore their production processes and sample their creations on-site. At the Distillerie Cap-Chat, visitors can marvel at the immense copper pot still that gives birth to the distillery’s vibrant ImaGin series. Meanwhile, the Distillerie des Marigots in Caplan offers guided tastings that provide a behind-the-scenes look at their small-batch, experimental products.
Pairing with Local Cuisine
At the Loch & Quay, we delight in showcasing our region’s spirits and liqueurs alongside our thoughtfully crafted menus. The Distillerie Témiscouata’s Acerum, for instance, pairs beautifully with our signature maple-glazed salmon or a decadent crème brûlée. Conversely, the Distillerie Puyjalon’s herbaceous Betchwan Gin complements our wild mushroom bisque or grilled game meats with subtle finesse.
Seasonal Consumption Patterns
Many of the region’s spirits and liqueurs are deeply intertwined with the rhythms of the seasons. The Distillerie Québec North Shore’s Amy Amaretto, for example, celebrates the first frost that transforms the mountain ash berries into their signature tart-sweet profile. Similarly, the Distillerie des Marigots’ ephemeral, small-batch offerings reflect the ever-changing bounty of the surrounding landscapes.
Whether you’re seeking a refined aperitif, a captivating cocktail ingredient, or a delightful pairing for our seasonal cuisine, the Loch & Quay invites you to embark on a sensory journey through the exceptional spirits and liqueurs of Eastern Québec. Each bottle tells a story of our region’s rich history, diverse terroir, and uncompromising artisanal traditions.