Tales of the Cocktail - Day 1 (Sunday)
So what we thought might be a kind of quiet, possibly even lame first day of TOTC given there was only one “official” event set up, turned out to be…well, not lame. Here’s how it went:
2:15pm - Saunter into Fairmont Pacific Rim for TOTC registration. Nice to see a mix of industry people and regular ol’ cocktail enthusiasts. Grab media pass & kit, swag bag. Between kit, freebies, umbrella, courier bag, camera, and coat - look like an alcoholic sherpa.
2:22pm - Alcoholic sherpa downs first drink of the day (FDOTD?), a spicy “Yellow” (chartreuse, tequila, cayenne pepper) courtesy Don Julio tequila who have a mixing bar set up. Yowzers, this drink’ll put hair…uh, never mind where it’ll put hair. Grand Marnier also have cocktail bar set up, but not a fan, so pass on that.
2:31pm - Head up to the Root & Snap courtesy suite. Try a straight up Snap - a gingery, slightly spicy spirit not unlike really nice European bitters. Next up - a straight up Root - slightly root beer-ish spirit but not as sickly sweet. Next - a mixed-on-the-spot Root Flip, followed by tasty Snap Punch. These soon-to-be-introduced spirits will do well here in hands of talented bar tenders. Also, you know - yum.
2:55pm - Jesus, got a buzz going already. Engage in hazy chat.
3:30pm - Forgo invite to unofficial TOTC event at Aquarium. Rather not end up face down in interactive tidal pool display. Home to re-group and eat. If this is just the beginning, a well-lined stomach will be required.
7:50pm - Clear-headed & recharged, we head into the Gibson’s Canadian Whisky’s “True North” soiree at that bastion of old boys’ networking glory, the Terminal City Club. Basically an orgy of Gibson’s-based cocktails. Some good (Gibson’s Mule - sharp and “limey”, Gibson’s Beauty - contains more fruit than we’ve eaten in a week), and some not so good (Atlantic Maiden - kinda sickly sweet and minty).
8:30(ish)pm - The place is packed. DJ spinning, all the various bar stations cranking out cocktails for thirsty punters at lightning pace. It’s also getting hot. Very hot. But it’s fun. Peeps gots they glad rags on, and it’s one big-ass cocktail party in full effect. Also - poutine station!
8:45pm - Despite being denied a Gibson’s on the rocks earlier (?), we knock back a shot of rye followed by a shot of pickle juice. Interesting. In a “don’t knock Durian fruit ‘til you’ve tried it” kind of way.
8:50pm - Thank God. Realize same bar dispensing shots of rye and pickle juice is also making whiskey sours (a Boozecan fave). And they pass the test. They’re good. Damn good. Also, no pickles.
9:05pm - Actually manage to focus eyeballs and notice little plaques with Canadian whisky history adorning the walls. Wow, boozey AND informative. Who’d a thunk it?
9:45pm - Bar stations staring to run low on supplies, tangible collective panic in the air. Desperados vying for last drops of rye. Crowd is thinning.
10:13pm - Yup, in true Van city style, they want the crowd out by the official event end time of 10:30pm. Whatever, was a good night for a Sunday.
Day 1 rating: 7 drinks out of 10. And that was only a Sunday. Jebus.
