In Exile
Parts and Labour
You might not mind being in exile if this is what they're serving. In typical Parts and Labour style, this cocktail is equal parts suave and hella strong. (Thanks, tequila.) On the sophisticated side, there's a little calvados and that oh-so-refined French herbal liqueur, Benedictine. On the boozy side, there's a sugar cube soaked in overproof rum. In Exile gets spiced up with a double hit of jalapeno and chocolate mole bitters. Olé indeed...
When the heat spikes above 30 degrees, there's really only one thing for it: an ice cold marg. If you're partial to something more sophisticated than the typical lime-infused slushie, check out the spiced version over at d|bar. In typical Boulud style, this cocktail hits the ideal balance of sweet (that's the cherry juice), sour (lemon juice), spicy (jalapeno) and savoury (a generously salted rim). Luxardo and Cointreau are welcome additions for those who fear anything too tequila-forward.
Elaine Fancy Photography
If you like whisky sours, you're gonna love this spicy take on the classic—as Kanpai Snack Bar owner Trevor Lui puts it, "a uniquely Taiwanese ode to Canada." It starts off with Lot 40, the small batch Canadian whisky crowned our nation's best this year. (The talented folks at Kanpai designed this cocktail to highlight Lot 40, so if you're a whisky connoisseur who hasn't tried it yet, get your mitts on this.) The really unique twist comes from their house made Birds Eye Chili syrup. It takes the place of simple syrup and adds a not-so-simple hint of heat.
Like everything on the cocktail list at this Queen West hotspot, the Veracruz is a labour of love. It all starts with the pear and jalapeño syrup, a house-made concoction that takes the better part of a day to make. That gets shaken up with Olmeca Altos blanco tequila, green Chartreuse and freshly squeezed lemon juice. The final flourish? A few drops of Angostura bitters to garnish the strained cocktail. It's almost too pristine to drink...
A cocktail inspired by a pizza? And you thought tiki cocktails peaked with service in a treasure chest... Cresta's Tiki Timebomb is based on one of their chef's beloved pizza specials. As you'd expect from the tiki theme, there's spiced rum, pineapple juice and some fresh lemon. The kicker? A dash of bird's eye chili syrup for that unexpected (but entirely welcome) heat. Insert heart-eye emoji.
