In Good Spirits

In Good Spirits

Creativity rules in Vancouver’s top-listed bars

文 / Lauren Kramer

PROHIBITION

Vancouver has a diverse bar scene withlots of choices, but if you’re looking forcreativity, colour and innovation, you haveto know where to go.

“Vancouver was a leader in the craft cocktail renaissance,and the city continues to hold its ground,” says Alexandra Gill, editor of Canada’s Best Bars.

The definitive ranking of cocktail lounges, wine bars and craft beer destinations from coast to coast, Canada’s Best Bars is judged by libation experts across the country. This year, the experts named Vancouver’s Prohibition, The Cocktail Bar and The Cocktail Lab, among a few select others, to the top 50 list for 2019. Noteworthy for their creative cocktails, spectacular presentation and overall injection of innovation in environments that are comfortable and convivial, these establishments are the cream of the BC crop.

Located in the Rosewood Hotel Georgia, PROHIBITION opened in 2015 with décor reminiscent of the opulent 1920s speakeasies in its fixtures, lamps and seating. The 197-seat, dark, elegant room won architectural design awards and remains a popular, sophisticated place that’s frequently bursting at the seams — so much so that after 10:30 pm the seats are pulled out to create more standing room.

“We try to do avant garde things on our cocktail menu,” says Robyn Gray, head bartender.

Choose the Machine Gun Kelly, a brilliantly presented cocktail mixture of port, bourbon whiskey, house-made chocolate liqueur and maraschino liqueur, served on the rocks beneath a cloche with sassafras smoke. Another favourite is the Inception Negroni — classic Negroni in an ice sphere served with a Brokers Gin on top.

The 30-to-50-something crowd at Prohibition comes for the live music, the people-watching, the innovative vegan menu and, of course, the cocktails. Leave the sneakers behind as this place is swank and dressy. (801 W. Georgia Street).

THE COCKTAIL BAR

THE COCKTAIL BAR

THE COCKTAIL BAR at Hawksworth Restaurant is diminutive with just a sevenseat bar and a few lounge tables, but its spirits selection is second to none, carefully curated over the last eight years to reflect the preferences of different bartenders.

“Our spirit list is extensive and in some categories, including gin, vodka, tequila, mescal, rum, cognac, liqueurs, vermouths and whiskey, we have the largest selections in the country,” says Fraser Crawford, head bartender.

Three-quarters of the cocktail list is drinks original to the bar so there’s no shortage of innovation here. Try the Lavender and Vanilla Margarita, with Tahitian vanilla and Okanagan lavender, or the Hotel Georgia, with Beefeater Gin, orange blossom, egg white and nutmeg. The Dopamine cocktail is another favourite with Lot 40 rye, Amaro Averna and barrelaged maple syrup. Open for lunch and dinner, the 30-seat bar closes at 11 pm nightly. (801 W. Georgia)

Botanist at the Vancouver Pacific Rim is home to The Cocktail Lab, an artistic cocktail studio where bartenders are free to experiment with libations containing housemade tinctures, shrubs and syrups. The Italian terrazzostyle interior overlooks lush plant life in The Garden and is a calming space where both the décor and the drinks menu are inspired by the principles of botany.

The libations offering is meant to be adventurous, says Grant Sceney, creative beverage director. Choose Smoke on the Water, a cocktail of aged rum, Mezcal, charred lemon, birch sap and coconut oil. Served in a smoking box, this one adds a new dimension to the phrase “eye candy.”

The Candy Cap Magic is another show of cocktail innovation, featuring a fusion of wild BC candy cap mushrooms into Lot 40 Canadian rye whiskey, accompanied by sweet vermouth, root-beer-spiced cordial and bitters. (1038 Canada Place). ■