Deanston Distillery is one that has always done things a little different than the rest. The founder, Brodie Hepburn was a visionary. He saw potential in an old cotton mill on the River Teith and the town of Deanston as a great place to make whisky. The River Teith has so much power that they...
My cocktail begins with my very first foraged ingredient, the blueberry! As a child we used to vacation in Sudbury in the summer, and I have fond memories of picking wild blueberries. I also wanted to use an ingredient that showcases the passage of time, so my fortified shrub is made from a blend of...
Inspired by the Deanston waterwheel and the idyllic nature of a picnic in the countryside by the water. This cocktail also pays homage to the queer cultural landmarks by the water. Places where we could run off to and escape; for a swim, a dance, a picnic or a romance. Embedded in this cocktail is...
The inspiration for my cocktail was the River Teith; the powerful river which fuels Deanston’s distillery. The river is symbolic of Deanston’s ambition and community, as well as a symbol for the need to progress and move forward in our industry. Naming my cocktail “Just like a River” represents my dedication to bettering my community...
The story and inspiration behind my cocktail is based on the caring quilt. Quilts that are handmade and passed down through generations for everyone to add their own story and part of themselves through a piece of cloth. Even when submitting my video I felt this rang true to not only the title of the...
In my opinion every drink should have a story or some type of connection with or to its creator. This being my first contest I really wanted to make sure this drink embodied my experiences, my love of mixology and me as a person. I really wanted to make sure Deanston was the star of...
Inspired by using in season local ingredients from my home province of British Columbia, Peachy Keen is a cocktail I created for a guest shift I did at The Offy Bistro in my home town, Chilliwack. Bright and fresh in colour and in flavour, I love this summer cocktail! 1 oz Raspberry-infused Gin* 0.5o z...
I wanted to create a play on one of my favourite cocktails “Don’t Give Up the Ship”. Being in love with old school sailor ghost stories I played around with different ingredients to see how I might create a great visual piece in a minimalist’s way. I was able to find that by adding Fernet...
The drink Journey is a clear representation of me. The struggles I have been through to become a bartender and, where I am right now, a bit of my background. I come from a place where alcohol is prohibited, and I still turned out to be a bartender and fought against everyone to be where...
Who | Calliope Kingdon Where | Toronto, Canada Current Bar | Famous Last Words Past Bar(s) | Generic chain sports bars that shall not be named. Favourite Spirit | Bourbon Favourite Juice | Acid balanced orange juice Favourite Classic Cocktail | Daiquiri Favourite Part of the Job | How incredibly special it is to be creative for...
