Summer in Whistler is bountiful, and Braidwood Tavern is celebrating the best of the season with their Summer in Bloom events.
Braidwood’s Botanical Bounty
Braidwood is ever inspired by the changing seasons. Look out for special Christmas cocktails when the snow starts to fall, and last summer the team played with a margarita theme. This year, the inspiration is botanical.
Braidwood bartenders Rocio Mogollon and Robert Kharazmi have crafted some breathtakingly beautiful cocktails with Beam Suntory liquors inspired by wildflowers, bees, and overflowing summer gardens. A particular favourite of mine is the Bee Keeper. It is a veritable goblet of gold. The glass is adorned with bee pollen and gold leaf, and comes garnished with a piece of edible paper printed with Emily Dickinson poetry. As someone who loves Dickinson’s poems, and who has even written some of my own poetry, it was almost indescribably romantic to be able to eat a piece of poetry. The drink itself is made with Maker’s Mark bourbon and Suntory Tok Whiskey with chamomile-infused Liquor 43. There is also honey, lemon, and peach bitters, which is all topped with sparkling wine. It has a mellow sweetness.
Other Creative Cocktails
Bruce’s Garden is possibly the most beautiful cocktail service I have ever seen. Guests are served a literal garden replete with billowing morning mist. In amongst the flowers is a cocktail made with Earl Grey-infused Cruzan Rum, as well as cucumber, borage, lemon, and lime-leaf bitters. It tastes kind of like a green juice but with fragrant and floral notes, and alcohol.
Other special cocktails include the Tropics in Bloom with hibiscus infused Tres Generaciones Tequila and Ancho Reyes Mexican Chili Liqueur. There is also the Purple Jam, which is a Provençal style cocktail made with St. Germain and house-made lavender jam, served with lavender sticks for stirring. The First Blush cocktail honours sakura season, and so is, of course, pink. It is made with Haku Vodka and Gekkeikan plum wine, with Sakura bitters, and egg white for the colour and petal soft texture. The last of the Summer in Bloom cocktails is the My Name is Rose. This romantic, rhubarb, lemon, and strawberry drink is made with Sipsmith rose-infused Gin. It is even spritzed table-side with rose water.
Each Braidwood Tavern cocktail is artfully crafted and carefully fine-tuned but beautiful beverages are not all that Braidwood has to offer. The Four Seasons has partnered with local Whistler florist Senka to install a whimsical floral archway which makes for a great photo opportunity while enjoying Braidwood’s sprawling patio space. The Four Seasons spa is also offering Summer Floral Treatments but the Spanish feast known as El Patio Thursdays is the real highlight.
El Patio Thursdays
All summer long, Braidwood Tavern will also be hosting El Patio Thursdays with Spanish tapas and a choice of three paellas.
Tapas To Start
With a cocktail in hand, let the feasting begin with tapas. The Gazpacho Andaluz is crisp and refreshing, fresh and bright. Made with tomato, cucumber, and peppers, it is positively thirst-quenching. There is also a classic pan con tomate, and the Ensaladilla Rusa de Gambas, a potato salad with egg, prawn, and local summer vegetables. The Calamares a la Andaluza is another tasty tapas option. Crisp outside and tender inside, the Calamares comes with with a lemon pepper aioli. And there are also vegan tapas available upon request.
El Patio Paella
Braidwood is offering not one, not two, but three paellas to choose from, made right before your eyes on the patio by two Spanish chefs. The first option is a seafood paella overflowing with fresh seafood including mussels, calamari, and giant prawns. Next is a chicken and pork rib paella with juicy chunks of chicken, succulent pork ribs, and still crunchy green beans. Last but by no means least, is the asparagus and portobello mushroom paella which also includes roast peppers and vegetables. Dessert is another Spanish classic, the churro. The Chocolate con churros are served still warm with a side of melted chocolate for dipping.
Braidwood Tavern’s outdoor patio space, complete with outdoor fireplaces, is the ideal setting for summer feasting al fresco. The Four Seasons Resort and Residences offers luxurious accommodations in close proximity to many summer outdoor activities. While a renowned winter destination, Whistler has much to offer to summertime visitors as well, from hiking to biking and outdoor concerts but between the botanical cocktails and the Spanish feast, El Patio Thursdays at Braidwood Tavern is worth prioritizing. Reservations are recommended but walk-ins are accepted.
