Ampersand Gin

Fraser Valley, Canada

Ampersand Distilling Company's estate gin from their Duncan, BC farm distillery in the Cowichan Valley, grown and distilled on-site. A genuine farm-to-bottle spirit: the grains, botanicals, and even some aromatics are grown on or sourced near the Ampersand farm. The gin's character is shaped by coriander, citrus, and a proprietary botanical combination; the estate approach gives it an unusual freshness and integration. One of BC's most thoughtful grain-to-glass operations.

Pairing intelligence

• aperitif: A gin and tonic as the charcuterie aperitif: the quinine bitterness and aromatic juniper contrast sharply against the pork's richness, continually refreshing the palate. The European aperitif tradition applied to BC craft gin.
• aperitif: Ampersand's locally foraged botanical character — BC fir tips, coriander, and Okanagan citrus — is amplified by the grapefruit garnish's bitterness, while the premium tonic's quinine provides structural support.
• casual: The Ampersand Gin's BC botanicals and clean juniper foundation cut through the calamari batter's richness; aioli amplifies the gin's natural richness while lemon bridges the citrus botanical notes.
• starter: Ampersand's clean juniper-and-citrus profile is a direct aromatic complement to cucumber's cool, green, watery character and dill's anise-adjacent herbal notes. Fennel frond adds botanical depth that mirrors the gin's distillate character. Crème fraîche's lactic brightness matches the citrus lift. This is a gin pairing for the table, not the bar — served as a short mixed or with tonic.
• any: A dry gin and tonic provides sharp aromatic contrast against fatty cured meats. The quinine bitterness of the tonic cuts through pork fat while juniper aromatics provide a cleansing counterpoint. European aperitif tradition applied to PNW spirits.