In late April, Vancouver firmly shook off its “no fun city” rep and welcomed the best barkeeps on the continent for North America’s 50 Best Bars. Restaurants and bars across the city hosted epic parties and exciting pop-ups, and it’s fair to say that the day after the awards Vancouver was the single most hungover place on the planet. But nobody seemed to mind because everyone was having so much fun.

It was a good reminder that “fun” is what cocktail culture is supposed to be.

The best reason to enjoy a cocktail is not just because it’s delicious, but because it is convivial. Sharing a cocktail with someone breaks down barriers, makes conversation easier and inspires us to kick up our heels and hit the dance floor. It’s a little bit glamorous, a little bit daring. It’s a good time in a glass.

Yes, there can be too much of a good thing, and it’s important to recognize that. (Charlene Rooke’s story on Good Night Out, an organization promoting safety for everyone, does just that.) And for sure these last few years have been serious ones, where the hospitality community has tackled serious issues including mental health, precarious economics and geopolitics. (For more on that, check out Christine Sismondo’s piece on how Canadian bartenders and distillers are handling the current U.S.-Canada trade war.)

But, every once in a while, it’s just enough to sip something well-crafted and a little bit boozy, to lighten up and forget the scary headlines for an hour or two, to find the courage to talk to a cute stranger or try that kooky dance move.

This fall, the cocktail world descends on Toronto for two huge events: the World Class Global Final in September and, from October 23 to 26, the inaugural Toronto Cocktail Festival, brought to you by The Alchemist magazine, the same team that’s behind Vancouver Cocktail Week.

We know that in between the seminars and competitions, Toronto is going to be serving up what Vancouver just did. It’s what we are craving most these days: a whole lot of fun.

Find The Alchemist in select distilleries, cocktail bars and independent liquor stores across B.C. and Ontario. Or make sure you never miss an issue, and subscribe right here.

—Joanne Sasvari, Editor