Radio Royal York – Episode 11: Queen Victoria Look-A-Like Contest
In this episode of Radio Royal York: Host Melanie Coates talks queens, history and gin with Victoria Spirits’ Mia Hunt and the Fairmont Royal York’s own resident historian, Bruce Bell.
Click below to listen or download this episode as an MP3 (runs 19 minutes).
Listen to Episode 11
[powerpress]Show Notes:
* Melanie intros the podcast and delivers a royal proclamation on the first annual Queen Victoria Look-A-Like Contest.
* Melanie welcomes Mia Hunt of Victoria Spirits. They talk about the company, the very talented Hunt family, and the distillery’s unique Vancouver Island location.
* Mia tells us why her family got into the gin business.
* Melanie confesses that she’s not a big fan of gin but admits to having her preferences changed by Victoria Gin.
* Mia tells us why booze connoisseurs are turning to gin.
* Mia describes how gin is made and explains what’s in the “heart” of the run.
* Mia lists the 10 botanicals used in Victoria Gin: juniper, orange peel, lemon peel, angelica, orris root, rose petals, coriander, cinnamon bark, star anise and a secret ingredient. Hint: If you attend the Look-A-Like Contest on May 24th, you’ll find out what it is!
* Melanie asks Mia why Victoria Gin features Queen Victoria on the bottle and inquires about Queen Victoria’s drinking habits.
* Mia tells Melanie where people can find and purchase Victoria Gin, including at The Fairmont Royal York’s Library Bar.
* Mia pumps some of the new products being developed by Victoria Spirits, including Left Coast Hemp Vodka, Oaken Gin, and Twisted & Bitter bitters.
* The ladies toast Queen Victoria and sign-off.
* Melanie introduces The Fairmont Royal York Hotel’s resident historian, Bruce Bell.
* Bruce explains why Queen Victoria was never able to visit Toronto, the “queen city”.
* Bruce talks about how the city “grew-up” with Queen Victoria and how important Victoria Day is to Torontonians.
* Bruce describes the kind of person Queen Victoria was and her grand relationship with Price Albert.
* Bruce recommends that contestants in the Look-A-Like contest take a trip to Queen’s Park to see the statue of Queen Victoria.
* Melanie explains how people can enter the Queen Victoria Look-A-Like contest.
* Melanie and Bruce exchange final pleasantries and share a cuppa Victoria Gin.
This episode features “The Rosebud Waltz” performed by Parlormuse.