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It’s Toronto’s time

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World Class Cocktail Festival set to shake up the city—and the country—this September

Kate Chernoff (centre) accepts the trophy for World Class Canada 2025 Bartender of the Year, surrounded by previous winners. Photos courtesy of World Class Canada

The World Class Cocktail Festival, to be held August 16 to October 3 across Canada, promises to be one of the biggest and best parties this country has ever seen.

“Our ambition is to give the World Class Global Final a Canadian feel even though it will be centred in Toronto,” says Michael Armistead, who oversees the World Class Canada Bartending Competition as National Onpremise, Reserve and Sponsorship Manager at Diageo Canada.

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B.C. summer distillery guide

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Enjoy summer with these Canadian-distilled spirits

Copper Spirit Distillery

Verity Rye Spirit

40% ABV, $55 (750 ml)

Our unaged rye spirit is an aromatic and flavourful expression made with 100% organic B.C. rye grain. A perfect gift for the curious spirits collector.

World’s Best Grain Spirit (2024)
“Cleanly distilled with a fine grain character that is both complex and enticing. Berries with a touch of stone fruit join on the palate, along with a little amaretto nuttiness. A lovely, balanced digestif.”

Available at our distillery, select private liquor stores, and at copperspirit.ca

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Ontario summer distillery guide

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Taste these Canadian-distilled spirits and explore distilleries around the province this summer

John Sleeman & Sons

Rye Whisky

40% ABV, $44.95 (750 ml)

Our Rye Whisky is a masterfully crafted blended spirit that highlights the characteristics of classic Canadian rye. Comprised of corn whisky aged in mature American oak as well as rye whisky aged in first fill American oak, this blend also features Rye Whisky matured in new Canadian oak, which lends to a layered sipping experience rich in character from start to finish.

Available in the LCBO, Manitoba, select stores in B.C., and for delivery online any time at johnsleemanandsons.com

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The ready-made fresh juice mixers revitalizing the art of bartending

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Born in Mexico and raised in Canada, Drink Arte’s cold-pressed juice solution is designed to elevate mixology with time-saving convenience for bar operations

Drink Arte is a juice that works as hard as you do. Photo via Drink Arte.

Citrus is at the core of many classic cocktails. Whether you’re shaking up a Daiquiri, blending the perfect Margarita or layering a Tequila Sunrise, that bright burst of acidity is what brings these favoured concoctions to life. But let’s be honest—prepping freshly squeezed juice day in and day out isn’t exactly the highlight of a bartender’s shift.

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A tasteful journey with Nikka Whisky

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Savouring nine decades of history

Celebrating 90 years of craftsmanship, Nikka Whisky offers a diverse range of whiskies. Gather your friends, raise a glass and enjoy the unexpected journey of taste and discovery that awaits.

I spent 25 years in the hospitality business and during this time, I had the opportunity to taste thousands of wines from many different countries. Tasting so many styles and varieties allowed me to decipher nuances of quality in every type of wine. It was those years of tasting experience that worked in my favour when I was introduced to Japanese whisky for the very first time.

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At the top of World Class

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Now a four-time global winner, Canada prepares to host the big event

World Class Global bartender of the Year 2024, Keegan McGregor of Halifax (second from left),
is flanked by Canada’s other global winners: Kaitlyn Stewart, James Grant and Jacob Martin.
Photos courtesy of World Class Canada

As Canadians, we don’t like to boast, but even so, Michael Armistead can’t help but be a little bit pleased.

A Canadian bartender, Keegan McGregor of Halifax’s Highwaymen Restaurant & Bar, has just won the World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2024 competition in Shanghai. That’s the fourth time Canada has won the planet’s biggest and most prestigious cocktail competition since this country started competing in 2013.

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B.C. summer distillery guide

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Taste these locally-distilled spirits and explore distilleries around the province this summer.

Maple Leaf Spirits photo
Maple Leaf Spirits

Cherry Liqueur

25% ABV, $39 (375 ml)

Visit our family-owned craft distillery tasting room in Penticton on the beautiful Naramata Bench. Get to know our locally inspired liqueurs, spirits, Genie Gin, and Lady of the Cask. Our Cherry Liqueur got the Best in Class award at the Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition 2024. South Okanagan sun-ripened cherries, distilled, and infused with Sour Cherries. Your easy summer treat for desserts or cocktails. Available at mapleleafspirits.ca.

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Canada wins again

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A Canadian wins World Class for an unprecedented third time. So what’s next for our talented bartenders?

Bartender Jacob Martin shakes things up at the World Class Global Final in Brazil. Photos courtesy of World Class Canada

On September 29, amid confetti and cheers, Toronto’s Jacob Martin became the World Class Global Bartender 2023, the third time a bartender from Canada—or any country—has won the world’s biggest, most prestigious cocktail competition. It’s an extraordinary accomplishment, and a fitting finale to Canada’s 10th year of competing in the event.

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