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Similar Canadian whisky, Oreilles de crisse, Flapper pie, Figgy duff, St Catherine's taffy | ||
Caribou is a sweet Québécois alcoholic beverage composed of red wine, hard liquor (usually whisky), and maple syrup or sugar.
Caribou can be made at home but is now available as a premixed beverage by the Société des alcools du Québec. It can be consumed hot or cold depending on the weather and served with citrus and cinnamon in the manner of mulled wine. Cloves and nutmeg are also commonly added to flavour the drink. The beverage has numerous variations but it is usually made by mixing:
These two are usually combined with a proportion of 75% to 25%, respectively, and sweetened with maple syrup or sugar as desired.
The drink has been traditionally served at the Quebec Winter Carnival, where it is carried around by carnival goers in hollow plastic walking canes or available at outdoor bars at the event. In recent years, it has also been served in celebration on the National holiday of Quebec. It is also a staple of the Festival du Voyageur in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where it is sometimes served in glasses made out of ice.
Origins
Caribou is supposed to have derived its name from a drink consisting of a mixture of caribou blood and whisky which was consumed by hunters and loggers in colonial times to stave off the cold when working.