These are Vancouver's best bars, according to an award-winning local mixologist
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Kaitlyn Stewart has seen a lot change in the world of bartending throughout her nearly two-decade career.
“The reason why I’ve stayed in this field is because no two days are the same, and I’m constantly learning,” says the Vancouver-based bartender, who was
the first Canadian to be named the Global Bartender of the Year in 2017.
One major shift she’s seen behind the bar has been the public perception of bartending as a career. Starting in the industry as a way to earn money during college, Stewart immediately enjoyed the “super creative” elements of the job.
“I fell in love with it,” Stewart says. “I never imagined that it would take me this far in life, writing a cocktail book and travelling around the world.”
Noting there will always be people who ask a mixologist what their “real” job is, Stewart says both social media and TV shows showcasing bartending as a skill set, not unlike cooking, have prompted a major shift in perception of the profession.
And Stewart is a major part of that visible shift.
The award-winning bartender and educator shares her passion for mixology on social media
for more than 455,000 followers on TikTok and 282,000 followers on Instagram to drink in.
“I think people are now realizing, like, oh, there’s a lot more to it than just pouring liquid into a glass,” Stewart says. “You get the transitional people who are just looking to make some quick money. But then you get the ones that are really dedicated to the craft, and see a future in it.”
Another major change, Stewart notes, has had to do with a main component of cocktails: alcohol.
“When I started 20 years ago, there was no such thing as non-alcoholic cocktails,” Stewart says. “And there sure weren’t any zero-proof spirits to be able to make a non-alcoholic cocktail a little bit more interesting than just juice and soda.”
Noting the variety of different personal reasons for choosing to nix alcohol — from medical to cultural — Stewart says it’s been exciting to see the industry evolve to a place where there is something special at the bar for all.
“In my family, my mom doesn’t drink, my sister doesn’t drink, my partner doesn’t drink. So myself and my dad are kind of the odd man out when we all go out together,” Stewart says. “It’s great to see that, when they order a cocktail off of a menu and it comes out looking just as good, if not better sometimes, than the drink that I’ve ordered.”
As a nod to that evolution of imbibing, Stewart recently released a new cocktail cookbook of sorts that is catered toward all types of drink enthusiasts.
“It’s a love letter to cocktails in all their forms,” Stewart summarizes of
Three Cheers Cocktails Three Ways: Classics, Riffs, and Zero-Proof Sips
(Penguin Canada, $30). Offering three versions of 55 classic cocktails — for a total of 165 recipes — Stewart mixes up different drink options in the book to suit every preference.
“I hadn’t seen anything out there on the market that was like this. And this is going back two and a half years now, and I still haven’t really seen it,” Stewart says. “There’s amazing no-and-low cocktail books out there. There’s amazing classic cocktail books out there, but there isn’t really anything that kind of brings it all together in one book. And puts them all in an equal, even playing field.
“It’s super inclusive.”
Noting she wanted her first cocktail book to be something that could offer a “drink to suit your every mood and every occasion and for everyone,” the book is both a straightforward how-to guide and a jumping off point for future mixology inspiration.
“I want people to actually make the drinks, but then also get inspired by them and start crafting their own versions of them,” she says.
Stewart points to the Porn Star Martini as a must-try in the book, in all of its forms.
“The Porn Star Martini is a drink from the late ’90s, and it’s typically like vanilla vodka, passion fruit, some lime juice, and is always served with a side of sparkling wine or champagne,” Stewart says. “It was fun to turn that one from a Porn Star Martini to the rift I called the Clearly Naked Highball, and then as the non-alcoholic version I called a Parental Advisory Sour.
“To try to take a martini and turn it from a martini to a highball to a sour in three different forms. That’s always a fun one for me.”
As for her own go-to drink, Stewart admits that she likes to keep it fairly classic.
“It really depends on my mood, but I will forever and always be a margarita girl,” Stewart says. “I like it in all of its forms. I prefer it on the rocks with a half-salted rim, but I will never say no to a frozen margarita.”
As for the expert’s favourite drink to create behind the bar for patrons, Stewart steered clear of picking one particular drink in favour of tapping into the power of a special sip.
“My favourite drink to make is the one the person who’s in front of me wants to drink,” she says simply. “There’s this joy in seeing somebody get excited about something that you’ve made them. And so I want to make drinks that make people happy.”
4 must-visit spots for cocktails in Vancouver
Global Bartender of the Year winner Kaitlyn Stewart dishes on the best places to order a drink in Vancouver:
• The Keefer Bar (135 Keefer St., Vancouver):
“The icon of Vancouver and the staple is always The Keefer Bar. You’re guaranteed to always get an excellent drink there. The vibes are always right, the music’s right. The mood is good.”
• June on Cambie (3305 Cambie St., Vancouver):
“They’re doing some really cool, inventive stuff. The room is gorgeous, and they’ve got a sneaky little listening bar in the basement, which is really cool.”
• Prophecy (801 W Georgia St., Vancouver):
“If you’re looking for something a little bit more of that gastronomy style of cocktails, Prophecy is great.”
• The American (
926 Main St, Vancouver):
“Send me somewhere where there’s a pinball machine and a really good cider. And for me, that’s The American. I’ll go and play pinball for hours and just sip on a Moscow Mule and be quite happy.”
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Source: vancouversun.com