From Tourism BC….

Organic Potatoes yield spirited crops in Vancouver, Coast & Mountains: : In British Columbia’s lush Pemberton Valley just north of the mountain playground of Whistler, home-grown wonders don’t just flourish in the fields. Here’s a taste: add ice to a short glass and pour Pemberton Distillery’s maiden production, Schramm Vodka. The region’s first and only ultra-premium potato vodka crafted from Across the Creek Organics farm produce, the spirit splashes into glasses, courtesy of the Schramm brothers — Tyler, Jonathan and Jake. For the brothers three, two local ingredients proved key to bottling this liquid treasure: premium potatoes from farmland dubbed “Spud Valley” and the endless stream of glacial waters sourced from mountain creeks. It was Tyler, armed with a Masters in Brewing and Distilling from the prestigious Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, that hand-distilled the Schramm’s first crop of potatoes in early 2009; family members followed by hand-bottling Pemberton Distillery’s first robust taste of the valley. The result? A smooth mouth-feel and a richness characterized by the area’s raw ingredients. And with the operation’s own tasting room slated to open onsite this fall, visitors and locals alike can settle in for a taste that is distinctly spirited. www.schrammvodka.com

Looking for the perfect keepsake from your 2010 experience? Pick up a bottle of Schramm Vodka before, during or after the Games. For more destination story ideas related to the 2010 Winter Games, visit www.destination2010.ca or to read more story ideas from the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region, visit www.hellobc.com/vcmbcmedia.