drinks

This take on the quintessential Canadian cocktail was created by Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds for the 2022 book Caesar Country. “It’s the quintessential Canadian cocktail and one of the first drinks I ever had," he says. "We lived on Crescent Drive, hence the name.”

Kate Taylor Martin, owner of Toronto-based Nutbar, says oat milk is probably the least straightforward plant-based milk to make at home, because it can turn gooey if you use too-warm water, or if you overblend, or if you heat it up. However, homemade oat milk tastes great if you chill and use it soon after you make it. Depending on your preference or what you’re using your oat milk for (Martin enjoys hers in smoothies), she recommends adding a pinch of sea salt, a dash of vanilla and/or maple syrup, or even a pinch of cinnamon.—Ria Elciario

Raw unsalted cashews are key to good homemade cashew milk, says Ashley Wittig, founder of Honey’s, a plant-based ice cream shop in Toronto. For a creamier texture–ideal for sauces or soups—she recommends reducing the water to three cups. Wittig combines cashew and coconut milks to create luscious ice creams that will make you forget all about the dairy-based kind.—Ria Elciario

Sourcing organic where possible is important to Emma Knight, co-founder of Greenhouse Juice Co., which sells its organic beverages in grocery stores across Canada. “Conventional crops are sprayed with pesticides and herbicides that end up in the drink, and organic crops are better for the health of the soil,” she says. Aside from almond milk, her family also makes their own oat milk, which she recommends, as Canada is a large agricultural producer of oats, and as a crop they require less water than almonds.—Ria ElciarioI

Mix up this traditional cocktail and say cheers to summer.