Freshly Pressed : Blog

Made With Love Cocktail Competition – 2019 Toronto Regional Finals

Spring is here(ish). It’s time to brush ourselves off, get outside, and enjoy the delicious food and drink that makes our city so unique.

Speaking of drinks, consider yourself a cocktail connoisseur? Then surely you’ve heard about MADE WITH LOVE, the most extravagant cocktail competition in Canada. The best bartenders from each region compete locally, with the winners battling it out for the national crown. The Toronto Finals are just around the corner, on April 8, at the Fermenting Cellar in the Distillery District.

Since we’re always looking to up our cocktail game, we asked three of the Toronto Finalists to give us their best Spring Cocktail. Ready to get drinking?

Bartender’s name: Albert Chan 

Representing: Victor Restaurant

Cocktail’s name:  To The Victor

Ingredients: 

• 1 oz. Woodford Reserve Bourbon
• 0.5 oz St Germain
• 0.5 oz lemon juice 
• 0.24 simple syrup
• 3 slices of cucumber

Method: Add all ingredients in shaker, gently muddle, then shake and strain into champagne flute. Top with a dry sparkling riesling (I used “Kew”) and drop an angostura soaked sugar cube. Garnish with a cucumber ribbon. This cocktail evolves as you drink it and is a refreshing take on French 75 that’s approachable and simple to do at home.

Bartender’s name: Jess Morton

Representing: Drinksmith

Cocktail’s name:  The Dixon

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz thyme-infused Ungava gin
• 0.75 oz pink peppercorn syrup
• 0.75 oz lemon juice 

Method:  Shake all ingredients and pour over ice. Topped with Flying Monkey’s 12 minutes to destiny, and garnished with Spanish lavender, purple basil, and peppermint. 

Bartender’s name: Derick Dubblestyne

Representing: Antler Kitchen & Bar

Cocktail’s name: Maliki Tiki, inspired by his friend Malik, who is allergic to nuts. 

Ingredients:  

• 1.5 oz of Flor de Cana Gran Reserva
• 0.5 oz of Edmond Briottet Gingembre
• 1 oz avocado orgeat
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 3 oz tropical passion juice (mix of 9 tropical fruits)
• Angostura bitters
• Dehydrated apple and lime to garnish 

Method: Shake all ingredients and pour over ice in a Collins glass. Garnish with dehydrated apple. 

Think these cocktails look tasty and refreshing? So do we!

Want to win a chance to attend the MADE WITH LOVE Regional Finals in Toronto on April 8? The fine team at MADE WITH LOVE provided us with 2 sets of tickets to giveaway. Enter below for your chance to taste Toronto’s best cocktails at this amazing competition.