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Who | Stephen Flood
Where | Ottawa, Canada
Current Bar | Riviera
Past Bar(s) | El Camino, The Black Tomato
Favourite Spirit | Gin
Favourite Juice | Lemon
Favourite Classic Cocktail | Negroni
Favourite Part of the Job | Getting the chance to greet someone, find out how their day is going and make them something that’ll make their day better and put a smile on their face.
Favourite After Work Drink | Good mezcal, neat
Favourite at Home Drink | Negroni
Favourite bar in the world | Dante NYC
Best known for | Negronis & gin based cocktails
Favourite “at work” memory | I once served a couple who had come in to where I was working to have a beer. They saw me making cocktails for the other guests at the bar and got curious. After a few hours, and a few rounds of dealer’s choice cocktails they decided to wrap it up. When the woman in the couple got up to go to the washroom the gentleman quietly told me that they have been separated for awhile, but decided to come to Ottawa from where they live in Kingston to spend the weekend and see if there was any way the re-ignite the spark they’d lost over the years. The bar I was working at was the first place they’d stopped after checking in to the hotel they were staying in, and he said the experience was so wonderful he already felt the were connecting in a way they hadn’t in a long time. It made me very happy to have been part of that, and while it happened awhile ago, it’s not something I’ll ever forget.
What do you collect? Gin, amaro, mezcal, vermouth
Favourite thing about your city? The close knit nature of the bar/restaurant community on the independent level. The intelligence, curiosity & encouragement of the customers. And having organized the past three Ottawa Negroni Week Cocktail Competition/Parties I had to chance to see the best of that scene come together in our majestic space at Riviera. So many reasons to smile.
What was the last photo that you took? Yesterday, wandering the quiet city with my camera I came across some neatly drawn chalk graffiti that said “Hold Strong”. It seemed so perfect for these strange days.
Where is one place that you have never been but would like to travel to? Berlin – seems like such a hub of creativity.
Any claims to fame? I was one of the two Canadian winners of the Campari Cask Tales competition. It’s been awhile since I balanced a soon on my nose though.
Prosecco or Cava? Cava, every time (unless Champagne is an option)
Angostura or Peychaud’s? Angostura (I also love Peychaud’s, but Angostura is a workhorse for a reason – those terrible 1950’s ad campaigns not withstanding)
Singapore or San Francisco? San Francisco
Grapefruit or Pineapple? Grapefruit
Are you available for freelance gigs? Yes
Find them: Instagram