We were at Fairmont Pacific Rim for an industry seminar earlier in the day, and later found ourselves at Botanist bar for this Popup. Otherwise the restaurant is normally closed on Sundays.
The Popup was from 5-9pm with three prominent Canadian bartenders teaming up to showcase their mixing skills with two original cocktails each. Each made featuring Pernod Ricard’s Lot No. 40 and/or J.P. Wiser’s 10 Year Old Canadian Whisky. Botanist’s late night menu was also available for the duration of the event.
This quasi-bar takeover is following a successful Sips of the West collaboration this past summer. So now Botanist Bar is welcoming talent from Canada’s East Coast with the inaugural Sips of the East pop-up”. The line up includes Botanist Bar’s own Grant Sceney alongside Ana Wolkowski of Hoof Cocktail Bar (No. 9, Canada’s 100 Best Bars) and Andrew Whibley of Cloakroom Bar (No. 31, North America’s 50 Best Bars; No. 2, Canada’s 100 Best Bars).
Given that Grant and Botanist are local, we decided to focus on the two visiting bartenders instead. Although, had we ordered his two cocktails, we could have had either the “Beekeeper” with Lot 40 rye, honey, lemon, candy cap mushrooms, and yellow chartreuse. Or the “Peardemonium” with J.P. Wiser’s 10yo, pear, apple, ginger, lemon, green cardamon, and mint.
From Hoof Cocktail Bar we had Ana Wolkowski pour us out her pre-batched “Take Five”. J.P. Wisers 10yo, The Glenlivet 18yo, banana h2o, coconut h2o, shio koji, and banana leaf. This had the effervescent-ness and neutral base of sparkling soda. Easy drinking like a muted banana cider, which I confused with apple. The banana was not candied or artificial, but beautifully done to capture the natural flavour of this mellow fruit.
Similarly the “PB & J Boulevardier” was subtle. Lot 40 Dark Oak, sesame, carpano antica, campari, concord, and oloroso. I didn’t get much peanut or fruit, so felt the name was more for the draw, and it worked. The pickled grape garnish made all the difference. It changed the profile of the cocktail giving me a bit of jamminess, that I was searching for, and helping to highlight the liquid nuttiness in contrast.
From Andrew Whibley of the Cloakroom Bar we started with the ”Flip”. I imagined it more caffeine charged and coffee forward with the cold brew, so was delighted that this drank more like the whipped batter of a dessert before you baked it. Like a creamier nog and cakey from the whole egg, with the unshakable fragrance of chocolate mint. It was a delightful after dinner cocktail for those who don’t like their desserts sweet.
The “OFISH” was a different kind of herbal. Herbal like fresh rain and cut grass, perfumed by chamomile petals. This was a light cocktail with so much depth that it changed with every sip.
In short, this was a great way to travel without leaving the comfort of your favourite bar. I love a good bartender takeover and Popup and this was no exception.
Botanist
1038 Canada PI, Vancouver, BC V6C OB9
(604) 695-5500
botanistrestaurant.com
