For those in the know, Edmonton’s cocktail scene is unlike any other. With award-winning spots like Clementine and exciting new additions like Fu’s Repair Shop, it’s safe to say there’s no shortage of delicious drinks to delight in this holiday season. Plus, there’s another reason Edmonton’s cocktail culture is so special: our city is home to the 2021 World Class Global Bartender of the Year, James Grant! We caught up with James to chat about life after winning and some of his favourite places to grab a drink in Edmonton.
It’s been over a year since you were named the World Class Global Bartender of the Year. How has your career changed since your win?
It has changed my career in some pretty fundamental ways. Funnily enough, I find myself behind the bar a little bit less than I used to be. I’ve also had the opportunity to bartend around the world and meet bartenders from all over Canada and the world. While it’s been a really great experience to be exposed to different markets, countries, and styles of bartending, it’s also made me recognize how lucky we are to have such a strong sense of hospitality here in Canada and here in Edmonton. It’s always nice to recognize how talented the people in your own backyard really are.
What are some of your favourite cocktail spots in Edmonton?
I love to go and have a drink at the bar at Yarrow. It’s a very quiet intimate little cocktail bar and their bar team has always been really excellent. Other favourites include Bar Bricco, Red Star, and Darling wine bar (which will be opening its new space in 2023!). After the pandemic, we lost a lot of bartenders and cocktail bars in the city, so it’s nice to see new people stepping into those roles and seeing the industry start to come back to life a little bit.
What makes bartending special?
What I really love about bartending and what keeps me doing it is that I genuinely like hosting people and making sure they feel looked after and taken care of. Some of the ways I do that is by making cocktails, but it’s also serving wine, making nonalcoholic drinks, making sure that the vibe in a room is what everyone in there is feeling. It’s so much more than making drinks and opening beers and pouring wine. It’s really getting a sense of what your guests need and going out of your way to make sure they are comfortable and having a really good experience. I did quite a few jobs before I started bartending and, when I arrived here, I realized that, because of the breadth of information out there on cocktails and spirits and beer and wine, I could keep learning about that everyday and still never know everything.
Favourite seasonal drink?
There’s a few cold-weather drinks that I always go back to. If I’m hosting a party, I might do a mulled wine, which is a really easy way to make a delicious drink for a large group of people. I tend to make things that are designed to serve a lot of people, so punch, eggnog from scratch, mulled wine. Maybe a hot toddy if it’s just me or a single guest.
Favourite cocktail you made as part of the Diageo World Class Competition?
I was really proud of the last challenge we did as a part of the competition, which was a speed and storytelling challenge that involved four scotch cocktails. I was very proud of all of them, but there was one that was a peated scotch whiskey, some creme de cacao, orange liqueur and hot black tea. Then, I floated some freshly whipped cream on top with a little bit of orange oil. It kinda looks like a classic Irish coffee but it was very different in its own right and I was so happy with that cocktail.
1 tablespoon honey
4 oz boiling water
Combine all ingredients in a warmed mug or teacup. Add the boiling water, stir to combine, and then garnish with a lemon wheel and a cinnamon stick.
Treat yourself to some of Edmonton’s finest cocktails!
Chanel No. 6 (Rose-infused Sake, Prosecco, Lemon) from Baijiu | 10359–104 St. | 780-421-7060
Sarah’s Spiked Mango Lassi (Bacardi Rum, Mango Puree, Cardamom Syrup, Yakult Yogurt, Token Chai Bitters) from Fu’s Repair Shop | 9902–109 St.
Angel in Disguise (Makers Mark Bourbon, House Brandied Cherry, Lemon, Egg White, Sugar) from The Common | 9910–109 St. | 780-452-7333
Barraquito (Cognac, Amaro Montenegro, Cold Brew Coffee, Coffee Liqueur, Absinthe Infused Condensed Milk) from Clementine | 11957 Jasper Ave. | 780-756-4570
