Written by Felicia Di Palma on 07.02.14

Montreal is known for many things. However many overlook the city’s hidden cocktail gems. Most of these great mixed-drink spots are not just bars. Restaurants are getting in on the specialty drink action. All of these locations deserve credit for taking alcohol originality to the next creative level.

Maison Boulud

This restaurant and bar-lounge is located in the newly renovated Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The menu does have a variety of wines, cognacs, and scotches, but its cocktail list and their presentations are not to be forgotten. Two drinks that must be experienced are The Borsch ($16) and the The Orient Cosmo ($15). The Borsch contains Cazadores Reposado tequila, black currant liqueur, beet juice, ginger, Tabasco and Sriracha bitters. The Asian Cosmopolitan is a whimsical delight. Served in a martini glass is a perfectly round ball of ice with an orchid frozen in the center. Patrons are given the actual cocktail in what looks like an espresso brew pitcher and pour the drink over the ball of ice, into the martini glass, and enjoy the drink perfectly chilled. The cocktail is made of Ketel One Vodka, Cointreau, coriander, ginger syrup and white cranberry juice.

Ritz Carlton Montreal
1228 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, Montréal, QC H3G 1H6 ‎
(514) 842-4224

Distillerie

With its three locations rocking the Mason jars, Distillerie places lots of emphasis on creating new and innovative drinks for their seasonal menus. Patrons could choose between a small 500ml Mason jar with two ounces of alcohol ($9.50) or a one liter Mason jar with four ounces of alcohol ($17). Customers can use the legend on the menu to help decide if a mixed drink is for them. The drink intensity is based on how bitter, sour, spicy, herbal, sweet and super sweet they are. For the winter season, Distillerie created Igloo. It includes lime, Appleton V/X rum, roasted pistachio syrup, Angostura bitters and Angostura orange bitters which falls under the super sweet and sour category. For those looking for something spicy and mildly sweet, Sangria Caliente is just for you. It made of Bird’s eye chilies, strawberry puree, basil, Cazadores tequila, Albernaos red wine, lemon juice, simple syrup and lemon-lime soda.

300 Ontario E, Montréal, QC H2X 1H6 ‎
(514) 288-7915

2047 Avenue du Mont-Royal Est, Montréal, QC H2H 1J7 ‎
(514) 523-8166

2656 Masson Site, Montréal, QC H1Y 1W2
(514) 528-9846

L’Assommoir

Along with serving up delicious tapas dishes, Assommoir has an extensive alcohol menu, which is broken up into nineteen categories. Under their Innovations category lies a cocktail list that is worthy of its name. Burlesque is made up of cognac, Drambuie, Grand Marnier, Galliano, orange juice, basil and maple syrup ($15). Looking for something a little more unusual, but still tasty? Try the Truffle Martini, made with a parsnip based gin, dry vermouth and truffled peaches ($16).

112 Rue Bernard Ouest, Montréal, QC H2T 2K1
(514) 272-0777

La Belle et La Bœuf

La Belle et La Boeuf has a whopping-sized, grease-included, mixology smorgasbord menu and is probably the best and most heart attack inducing idea you’ve probably heard of in a long time. With currently one location in Centropolis Laval and two more to open soon, including one near Concordia University on St-Catherine St and one in Boisbriand, La Belle et La Boeuf embraces guilty pleasures as it laughs at the mere idea of minimalism. Huge burgers aside, La Belle et La Boeuf has an extensive cocktail list (over 50 selections) that is broken up into different sections: Mason jars, heavy metal, sangria, whiskey, long drinks, old fashioned, and martinis. Heavy metal includes a flaming drink named Nirvana which is made up of absinthe, triple sec, egg whites, lime and basil syrup. Looking for something that is not the run of the mill martini? Try the Joue de la Guitare martini made of Absolut vodka, Beefeater gin, aloe juice, white grape juice, lime, aloe cubes and cucumber syrup.

510 Promenade Du Centropolis, Laval, QC H7T 3C2 
(450) 934-8777
St-Catherine and Guy St, Boisbriand location coming soon

Le Lab

If you want cocktails and mixed drinks done right with a side of zest and insane creativity, Le Lab is for you. With its skilled Labtenders, Le Lab proves that cocktails could be elegant enough to be served in a porcelain teapot. Looking to drink some meat? Hey, no judgment at Le Lab. Order the Jerky Lab Jack, made of sugar cane, barbecue sauce, orange curacao, whiskey and beef jerky, and watch it arrive at the table under a mini clothes line with a piece of jerky clipped to the line by a mini garment pin.

Think you are too cool to roast a marshmallow or too old for shots? Utter nonsense, especially when the two are paired up. The server will bring your Camp Fire #3 shots along with two mini marshmallows on a stick, and a straw. He will then light your maple vanilla, Pommeau de Normandie and Calvados Pays d’Auge shot on fire. Next up, you roast your marshmallows over the flame and when they are done, you can drink your shot through the straw while it’s still on fire. Urbanizing a camping staple has never been tastier and more frightening at the same time.

1351 Rachel, Est, Montréal, H2J 2K2
(514) 544-1333

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