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Dining
Wine Bar Kensington
If you ’ re a fan of rum just like Captain Jack Sparrow , check out Ricardo ’ s Hideaway , Calgary ’ s only rum bar , which serves up dozens of rums and specialty cocktails . The rum is flowing at Proof every Sunday night for their tiki nights , while rum from Secret Barrel , a local distillery , is available at dozens of bars and restaurants across the city .
PHOTOGRAPHS : ( OPPOSITTE PAGE , CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT ) COURTESY RIVER CAFÉ ; BY DAN CLAPSON , COURTESY TOURISM CALGARY ; COURTESY CONCORDE GROUP ; BY JASON DZIVER ; COURTESY OLLIA MACARONS AND TEA ; BY NEIL ZELLER . ( THIS PAGE , TOP TO BOTTOM ) BY JANET DAVIE ; BY JASON DZIVER
Great
Cheers !
Visit Last Best Brewing for unique beers ( and awesome " Albeerta " shirts and hats ) including a local favourite , the Caramel Latte beer . Known across the country for their beers , Minhas Micro Brewery has headquarters and a restaurant right in Calgary . Brewsters is an Alberta chain with a delicious selection of beers and food . Visit the home of Big Rock for limited-edition brews and delicious pub food in their Big Rock Grill . Wild Rose Brewery has a tasting room with a full food menu in a rustic warehouse space . Beer Revolution serves up a rotating selection of local beers as well as a few in-house varieties that pair perfect with their delicious pizzas .
BEST FOR COCKTAILS
No matter what your liquor of choice is , a visit to the cocktail-focused bar Proof will satisfy . The massive shelf behind the bar is filled floor-toceiling with just about every type of liquor imaginable , and the menu is full of custom creations unique to Proof . In the summer , a drink on the patio of Container Bar makes for a unique experience . Renowned Vancouver mixologist Lauren Mote designed the bar program at The places to enjoy beer , wine , and cocktails
Nash & Off Cut Bar , so be sure to head there for an expertly crafted cocktail .
When you ’ re perusing the cocktail menu at a restaurant or bar , look for drinks made with vodka or gin from Alberta ' s Eau Claire Distillery ( Turner Valley ), Wild Life Distillery ( Canmore ), or Raw Distillery ( Canmore ). Or , head straight to the distilleries themselves for a tour and cocktail .
The beloved Caesar cocktail was invented in Calgary ( it ’ s said to be a Canadian twist on the Bloody Mary ) and is typically a mix of clam broth , vodka , tomato juice , Worchestershire sauce , and hot sauce . You can find it on most drink menus , but for a unique take , try the K / H Caesar at Klein / Harris . Cocktail expert Christina Mah created this one with made-in-house clam and celery broth , and you have a choice of vodka or gin from Eau Claire Distillery .
If gin is your drink of choice , visit the refined-yet-contemporary British restaurant Whitehall and ask the bartender for a drink from their wellstocked gin bar . Head to Barcelona Tavern — a lively , large bar — for unique flavours of gin and tonics , or to The Derrick Gin Mill for ginbased cocktails , customized martinis and gin and tonics , and dozens of gins served straight up .
Fans of whiskey will be in good spirits when they find out they can try whiskies usually reserved exclusively for members of the Scotch Malt Whiskey Society ( SMWS ) at a few places in Calgary — three of only 22 bars around the world allowed to do so . One18 Empire stocks over 100 whiskeys including an always-changing selection of exclusive SMWS varieties . Mix one up in a custom Old Fashioned . In the back bar of Buchanans Chophouse , sample a variety of whiskies with a flight or select one from hundreds of options . At the trendy Brasserie Kensington their small selection of about one dozen whiskies is made up entirely of ones from the SMWS . If you want to enroll in the club ’ s membership and buy some bottles to take home yourself , visit Kensington Wine Market ( and ask to chat with owner Andrew if you want a serious whiskey conversation ).
Re : Grub Burger Bar
BEST FOR WINE
Vin Room has three locations in Calgary , including one in the new terminal of YYC Calgary International Airport , and offers a cozy , approachable space for enjoying some vino . Divino , Mabou , and Wine Bar Kensington are cozy , intimate spaces that are perfect for enjoying a glass of vino and some cheese and charcuterie . If you ’ re looking for wines that are unique and notable , the well-curated selection at Pigeonhole won ’ t disappoint . For wine in a unique atmosphere , check out Frenchie ’ s Wine Bar , a speakeasy-style lounge . For a no-frills , relaxed vibe , head to Wine-Ohs .
BEST CREATIVE NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
The under-18 crowd ( or those who eschew alcohol ) will love the homemade cream soda and clove and cola soda at Raw Bar . Everyone loves the creative , dessert-topped milkshakes and hot chocolates at Re : Grub Burger Bar . Ten Foot Henry ’ s homemade lavender iced tea is a refreshing treat any time of the year . Enjoy Clive Burger ’ s creamy , thick , custard milkshakes with their burgers and fries . calgary . be part of the energy . visitcalgary . com