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Who | Alex DeRoo
Where | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Current Bar | The Standard
Past Bar(s) | Undefined, Stock Bar (Toronto), Victoria’s Steak & Seafood, Berkeley North
Favourite Spirit | Bourbon or Tequila
Favourite Juice | Lemon
Favourite Classic Cocktail | Boulevardier
First Classic Cocktail you ever had | Negroni
Favourite Part of the Job | Getting to meet so many diverse and interesting people
Favourite After Work Drink | Paper Plane on the rocks or a House Cerveza from The Mule
Favourite bar in the world | Bar Sazerac (Hamilton)
Best known for | Espresso Martini
Favourite “at work” memory | It was a late summer evening in 2024, one of those humid, heavy nights that seemed to cling to everything. The restaurant was nearly empty, with just about an hour left until closing. I was behind the bar, keeping busy with small tasks, when a woman walked in. She approached the bar and asked if it was alright for her, her husband, and their son to come in.
“Of course,” I said. But as she spoke, I noticed something in her demeanour—she seemed weighed down, sadness etched into her face. When her family joined her, it became even clearer. All three of them looked exhausted, shaken, and deeply upset. I asked how they were doing, expecting a polite, neutral reply. Instead, her response caught me off guard: “It’s been a very hard day for us.” She went on to share that the father had just lost his mother earlier that day. The weight of their grief was palpable. I did what I could to take care of them the best way I knew how—through kindness, attentiveness, and the quiet comfort of hospitality. By the end of the evening, they made a point to thank me. “You’ve given us comfort in a difficult moment,” the woman said, her gratitude deeply genuine. Weeks later, they returned, this time to buy out the restaurant to host a celebration of life, with family flying in from around the world to honour his mother’s memory.
That moment remains the most profound of my hospitality career. It reminded me that it’s often the small things we do for others—simple acts of care and connection—that can leave the greatest impact.
What’s the most popular cocktail in your city? Espresso Martini
Favourite thing about your city | Sunsets at Bayfront Park
Who is your favourite fictional bartender? Weasel portrayed by T.J. Miller in Deadpool
What was the last photo that you took? A screenshot of an order I just made from Cocktail Emporium
Where is one place that you have never been but would like to travel to? Japan – I love sushi
Any claims to fame? I write songs and release them sometimes
Aperitivo or Digestivo? Aperitivo
Sparkling or Flat? Sparkling
Paper Plane or Penicillin? Paper Plane
Sherry or Vermouth? Vermouth
Are you available for freelance gigs? Oui, Chef!
Find them: Instagram | Spotify (CODA FACTO)