Beverage Concept
Fresh squeezed juices, house made syrups, locally sourced brews, high end liqueurs, and a passionate team of barkeeps, characterize my most recent list of libations. The intention is simple: Options for all occasions, at a price that breeds adventure.
Too often the opportunity to enjoy a well-made cocktail, or craft brewed beer goes hand in hand with an atmosphere of elitism, where few beverage options exist below $12, and requests for a cosmopolitan are met with looks of disappointment from a highbrow peanut gallery. No longer will this suffice.
Allow me to present you with the opportunity to enjoy the best of both worlds: Top quality wine, beer, and spirits, constructed with care, in an inviting atmosphere, for a reasonable price. Picture, if you will, a Caol Ila single malt, glass of house wine, Sloshed, and Old Fashioned, all sharing a table with four shots of Jager; a beautiful sight indeed. So, whether warming up with a single malt, heaving back smashes on the patio, experimenting with our feature punch, or introducing yourself to a classic cocktail, we’re here to quench your thirst and brighten your smile.
This list is far from a solo effort. With dozens of people to thank, and little space to do so, please forgive me for limiting this recognition to three particularly supportive gurus: Bryce Parsons, for taking the time from his busy schedule in Scotland to completely repair our scotch selection; Dave Crothall, for bringing Bourbon back into my life and basically initiating this entire journey, and most notably, Shawn Soole, without whom this list truly would not exist. Shawn is the head Barkeep at Clive’s Classic Lounge, and a legend in the world of mixology. Nominated for many national and international awards, it is his knowledge, passion, and vision that have inspired me to take the drinks at Sauce to the next level.
Quality ingredients, creative techniques, and careful precision make a tasty cocktail, but personality and enthusiasm create an experience. Whether your barstool finds you faced with Jon, Kassia, Kyle, Josh, or myself, if you’re open to a good time, that’s exactly what you’ll find in the lounge at Sauce. No arrogance, no attitude, no judgment…….Bar’s Open!
Steve Hof
Owner/Operator
Sauce Restaurant & Lounge
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For more information and to keep up to date on our beverage program, please check out our blog.
Mixed Drinks
As a devoted fan of classic cocktails, I often find myself pushing customers in one direction. Powerful but balanced, drinks such as the Old Fashioned, Negroni, and Manhattan seek not to hide the alcohols involved, but rather to celebrate their presence. With age comes understanding, however, and arrogant is the belief that my tastes represent the masses. Therefore, whether you crave crisp and refreshing, bold and bitter, or light and fruity, I believe you’ll find a satisfying option at Sauce. While I encourage you to experiment with the cocktails presented, I’m quite aware that the day’s goals often call for nothing more than a whisky coke, vodka soda, or shot of Jager. Feel free to have these, those, or any other combination our ingredients allow.
Our mixed drinks are categorized into five sections: Heroic, Well Balanced, Lighter Notes, Mojitos etc, and Ode to New York. While the first four sections are self explanatory, Ode to New York is simply a tribute to a city always on the cutting edge cocktails.
Beer
As a Draught Wise certified establishment, our systems and equipment are consistently inspected to to guarantee our beer is poured to perfection. Each line is configured to the specific beer it houses, ensuring every pint is delivered just the way the brewmaster intended. A locally owned and operated company, Draught Wise provides consumers with a greater level of confidence about the manner in which their pints are being poured. Rather than open up their services to to just anyone, Draught Wise has chosen only to work with establishments who share their passion for quality and flavour. Look for their logo at establishments around town, and feel confident ordering a pint wherever you see their sign.
Our draught line-up is a rotating selection of award-winning, locally brewed beers chosen for their quality not marketing budget. Below are our current offerings:
- Lighthouse Lager
- Phillips ‘Blue Buck’ Ale
- Phillips ‘Hop Circle’ IPA
- Craig Street Kolsch
- Rock Creek Cider
We also carry a selection of bottled beers including a Craft Brewed section I’m especially fond of. Brewed right here in British Columbia, these unique and delicious brews are served in over-sized bottles, perfect for sharing, and priced to sell.
- Driftwood Ale
- Howe Sound Garibaldi Honey Pale Ale
- Phillips Chocolate Porter
- Phillips Amnesiac Double IPA
- Driftwood Farmhand Ale
- Salt Spring Island Pale Ale
- Salt Spring Island Golden Ale
The Little Wine List That Could
I present to you a small but intelligent selection of wines from British Columbia and around the world that, in my opinion, taste well above their price point. With more than fifteen wines offered in 3 oz, 5 oz and 9 oz pours, a rotating selection of wines grown right here on Vancouver Island, and a focus on bottles under $40, my intention is to provide a list full of options for casual enjoyment and open experimentation.
The ability to note “subtle undertones of petrol” or that “maduro tobacco lingers on the finish” is not a prerequisite for the enjoyment of wine, and the Blind Wine Taste Test is my attempt to ensure that the wines we offer are highly thought of, not only by professionals, but by the people that matter most, our guests. Over the past two months, dozens of my customers, friends, and employees have come together to drink unknown wines from paper bags. While this may sound like a misguided party of college freshmen, its importance cannot be overstated. Tasting wines ‘blind’ removes people’s misconceptions and preconceived notions about the wines they love, or hate. The original intention of the taste tests was simply to aid me in the wine selection process (a daunting but fabulously enjoyable task I might add). What materialized, however, was far more substantial. Many of those involved had their eyes opened to vineyards and varietals they had past dismissed. Opening remarks such as, “Oh, I don’t care for BC chardonnays,” or “that vineyard’s always made poor wines,” were quickly replaced by looks of astonishment when the tasted wines were revealed. If this list contains vineyards or varietals unfamiliar to you, I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. From Cortes to Occulus, I stand behind every single wine we sell. If, however, after the first few sips you find yourself cursing my name and regretting your courageous decision, we’ll certainly replace it with another selection. Believe me when I say that I’m more than happy to finish what you’ve started.
Supporting local famers, breweries, and markets is a big part of what we do here at Sauce, and the wine list is no exception. In addition to the choices before you, a rotating selection of wines produced right here on Vancouver Island is available. In an effort to support our local community, these wines are offered at a considerable discount. Hopefully this reduced price point will encourage you to sample some of what our little island has to offer.
Many restaurants choose to offer very few wines for under $40; some none at all. By offering the majority of our selections for less than this, I intend to show that, in some cases, price does not dictate quality. At the time of its release, I was unable to find a restaurant in downtown Victoria selling any of these bottles at a price lower than ours.
Whether unwinding after work, sharing a special moment, or sampling an unfamiliar varietal, more than anything, I hope you find enjoyment in your experience. If you have any suggestions, comments, or stories about your wine experience at Sauce, or if drinking wine poured from paper bags intrigues you, please email me at drink@saucevictoria.com. I’d truly love to hear from you.
Featured Wine
We’re currently featuring a delicious Ortega from Muse Winery on Vancouver Island. Ortega is the white wine our island is known for. Hard to describe due to its earthy undertones, this is a fresh, crisp, and lively wine. Pairing well with cheeses, mushrooms, and breads, it’s especially perfect with our macaroni and cheese.
Pairing wine with food
When pairing wine with food, nothing is more important than a person’s individual tastes and preferences. If you enjoy how the flavours work together, then it’s the right combination for you. There are, however, some basic, and generally accepted guidelines to use when first starting out.
Salty foods require a sweet wine for balance
Flavours should balance. By this I mean it is generally recommended that a full flavoured meal be paired with a full flavoured wine, and conversely, a lighter meal requires a lighter wine.
Young, tannic reds often pair well with meat cooked on the rarer side, while well done meats need older or fruity reds with little to no tannins.
Hot or spicy dishes should be paired with fruity wines with a lower alcohol content.
When pairing a wine to a meal consisting of many different flavours, attempt to match your wine to the strongest flavor on the plate.
Please remember that these are general guidelines, no two palates are the same, and the only way to learn what works best for you, is to experiment. Practice makes perfect; enjoy the journey.
Dessert Drinks
Sauce Restaurant & Lounge is extremely proud to serve Oughtred Founder Series as our house coffee. A locally owned and operated business in Victoria for more than 35 years, Oughtred continues to exceed our expectations in the quality of their coffee, and their extreme dedication to maintaining as low a global footprint as possible.
We encourage you to enjoy Oughtred’s products not only here at Sauce, but wherever else your travels take you.
