Who | Xavier Aleba
Where | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Current Bar | Epic Market
Past Bar(s) | Dosc, Baijiu, Honi Honi Tiki Lounge, Bagheera (Vancouver)
Favourite Spirit | Tequila
Favourite Juice | Grapefruit
Favourite Classic Cocktail | An Oaxacan Old Fashioned, that being said the Mezcal doesn’t have to be from Oaxaca
First Classic Cocktail you ever had | Pisco Sour
Favourite Part of the Job | The ability to hold a space within the creative line between producers and our guests at the bar
Favourite After Work Drink | Dirty martini with habanero bitters. I’ll make it with tequila if the shift was extra spicy
Favourite bar in the world | Handshake (Mexico City)
Best known for | My hope would be that I’m known for sharing knowledge. I love learning from every member of our industry then sharing it within the bartenders and bar guests with in the close Edmontonian community.
Favourite “at work” memory | When I was creating the bar menu at Honi Honi, I had asked a few of Edmonton’s best bartenders for their opinions on my drinks. I was honoured and surprised when many of them took time out of their busy schedules to come try and critique drinks for a bar they didn’t work at. To me it showed that Edmonton bartenders truly care about making our city better.
What’s the most popular cocktail in your city? Old Fashioned. It’s cold here, they need it.
Favourite thing about your city | The community of bartenders
Who is your favourite fictional bartender? Nick Miller from New Girl
What was the last photo that you took? I took a picture of a bottle of wine that was one day past its prime and sent it to one of my bartenders asking them to take it home.
Where is one place that you have never been but would like to travel to? Argentina
Any claims to fame? Makers Mark Canadian Champion 2022, World Class Canada top 10 2023
Aperitivo or Digestivo? Digestivo
Sparkling or Flat? Flat
Paper Plane or Penicillin? I can handle two bevy’s
Sherry or Vermouth? Sherry
Are you available for freelance gigs? Definitely
Find them: Instagram
