Who | Witek Wojaczek
Where | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Current Bar | Bar Ocelli
Past Bar(s) | Sidecar, Beaufort Bar at the Savoy (London), Artesian Bar at Langham Hotel (London)
Favourite Spirit | Islay Scotch, Lagavulin in particular.
Favourite Juice | Verjus
Favourite Classic Cocktail | Adonis
First Classic Cocktail you ever had | Whisky Sour
Favourite Part of the Job | Making people smile and seeing their reactions to a delicious beverage.
Favourite After Work Drink | 0% Asahi Super Dry
Favourite bar in the world | Satan’s Whiskers (London, UK)
Best known for | Taking too much onto my plate and somehow making it work.
Favourite “at work” memory | Kings of Leon playing the piano and singing, drinking champagne while we were closing Beaufort Bar. Or any time hosting Mike Mills from R.E.M., loveliest human being I have ever met.
What’s the most popular cocktail in your city? Margarita / Martini – hard to tell which.
Favourite thing about your city | It has a small city vibe with the big city amenities. Not too much hustle and bustle, but still enough things to do, just need to know where to find them.
Favourite drinking song | Whatever is playing. It is all about the company!
What was the last photo that you took? My perfectly poured Snakebite.
What is your dream travel destination and why? Japan. Always was, since I was a kid. Love the culture of the country and would love to experience it first hand.
Any claims to fame? I trained my cat Kali to be a parrot and sit on my shoulder. Other than that, I’ve been up to some things over the years. Global winner of Beluga Signature 2017. Runner up in Courvoisier Toast of Paris International Competition 2016 (Winner in the UK). WorldClass UK 2017 Top 50. Ex Brand Ambassador for Stoli Group in the UK. Canadian runner up for Patron Perfectionist 2022, Top 3 in Wild Card. I’m one of the organizers for Crave, Ottawa’s Food and Drinks show. Did fair share of takeovers, brought fair share to Ottawa too. Got Sidecar onto Canada’s 100 Best list at 32 before leaving to open Bar Ocelli. I also make a great pickle soup.
Soda or Tonic? Soda
Gibson or Gimlet? Gibson
Naked & Famous or Last Word? Naked & Famous
Dog person or cat person?Both, but have a cat.
Are you available for freelance gigs? Sure thing.
Find them: Instagram
