Canadian Destinations

Many flavours of PEI include moonshine

What used to be a clandestine creation, cooked up in a backcountry still, is now above board in Prince Edward Island.

Moonshine PEI-style is now available on the shelves of the local liquor stores and not only that, you can visit the Myriad View Distillery in Rollo Bay and check out their Strait Lightning and Gin as well.

Nearby in eastern PEI, the owners of Johnson Shore Inn have developed another tasty Island spirit, in the form of potato vodka. They’ve taken the Island's most famous primary product and distilled carefully to produce a vodka that is more silky and smooth than grain-based spirits. Visitors can tour the distillery located in beautiful Hermanville.

Still thirsty? Rossignol Estate Winery in Little Sands produces fruit wines, liqueurs and traditional grape wines. Imagine the fresh taste of apple captured in a delicious Liberty Blossom dessert wine, or the fruity bouquet of blackberry mead.

Finally take a sip of history at the Gahan House brewpub in historic downtown Charlottetown, where the Sir John A's Honey Wheat Ale is only one of seven ales made on site with no additives or preservatives.

Drinking without eating is not recommended, so match up your sipping with some scrumptious Prince Edward Island meals. The restaurant scene has been hot over the past year, with a dozen or more new dining establishments opening up.

Also in the heart of Charlottetown, renowned chef Gordon Bailey just opened the doors to Lot 30. Near the Island's North Shore, the Pearl is a new café that serves a nice mix of affordable menu items. It’s a great spot for brunch.

Snacks or tea? Hurricanez by the Bay is newly opened in Darnley, while Grandma's Afternoon Tea Room is now open in Hunter River. Tucked away in Georgetown or Victoria are the Rusty Anchor and Ruthie's.

These round out the perennial favourites like Dayboat, Inn at Bay Fortune and Flex, where mussels are served 47 different ways. And by the way, Flex will soon open a sister restaurant in Manhattan!

Then there is Fall Flavours, PEI’s fine food festival featuring authentic island tastes and traditions. This year’s festival dates are September 25 to October 4.

Join local hosts and pick potatoes, dig clams, catch lobsters or harvest oysters. Choose from one of many unique Island experiences and enjoy food from the source.

Featured are events such as the Handcrafted Ales & Wine Festival, Farm Day in The City, Organic Harvest Meal, Chef’s Gala by the Sea, Taste Our Island Roving Feast with Chef Michael Smith, PEI Studio Tour and interactive taste workshops.

More than 20 of PEI’s best restaurants will offer a Fall Flavours PEI Menu paired with their favorite wines.

For further information go to www.tourismpei.com.