DRAKE HOTEL

NOW's Best Cocktail Bar

Posted by Jon Humphrey, December 01, 2011

How did we commemorate being voted Best Cocktail Bar Citywide by NOW Magazine Readers? By creating new cocktails of course (for only $8) as a thank-you to everyone who voted for us! For the month of December, you can try The Old Time Strongman or Mommy Kissing Santa Clause in any of our bars. Meet us in the Lounge or on the Sky Yard to say cheers! Here's what our Bar Manager, Jon Humphrey, says about the new drinks.

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The Drake Hotel bar team would like to extend a warm thank you for all of those who recently voted us best cocktail bar in the NOW Magazine Best of Toronto readers’ poll. It is a huge honour and many glasses were raised toasting those who thought of us when voting!

In appreciation, the least we could do is develop a cocktail (at a very reduced price!) to commemorate the occasion. While we were developing the cocktail we asked ourselves, is one enough? The answer to that was a resounding no. So we developed the following two drinks.

The Bar team at The Drake Hotel had recently started working on an incredible in-house pear and walnut bitters. Michael Webster sourced ingredients like cassia bark, wormwood, gentian root and creating the base bitter, and Aaron Gaulke came in on his day off at 10 a.m (which, for us, is the wee hours of the morning), adding finely diced roasted pears and walnuts into the steeping mixture. This was our inspiration for both, very different, cocktails. After aging it 10 days, Michael twisted off the lid, broke the seal, and the air immediately filled with wonderful aromas of toasted walnuts, pears and soothing spices.

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Michael quickly took action knowing exactly what he wanted to create. First he reached for his mixing glass. Then the bitters, then Rittenhouse 100 bond rye, Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth was next, followed by Calvados apple brandy and finally his house made cinnamon vanilla syrup. He added ice to the glass and began stirring his potion. By the time he poured the chilled goodness into a glass over a two-inch ice cube, I knew I was in for a treat. That's how “The Old Time Strong Man” was born.

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Then there's the "Mommy Kissing Santa Clause". It features Guyanese 12 year rum, cherry liqueur, lemon juice, cream and of course, our house made orgeat + pear walnut bitters. But you might need to ask your bartender that story when you visit us and try it!

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Again, these cocktails were built in recognition and appreciation for your recognition and appreciation. I raise a glass to you all and toast, thank you NOW readers!

Posted in: Food + Drink

Tags: best bar  citywide  cocktails  NOW Magazine  Toronto 

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