Veneto Tapa Lounge is included in some pretty good company when it comes to gold medal winners in Whisky Magazine's Top Whisky Bars of the World. Whisky Magazine announced the coveted list of Gold Medal winners recently and included Veneto Tapa Lounge amongst the top whisky bars spanning the globe.

So what makes a great whisky bar? According to Whisky Magazine, the following elements are considered:

"There are really four tangible areas that make a great whisky bar: glassware; range of whiskies; the venue and the staff. Outside of these areas we get into the subjective realms of feel and ambience. "

 We are completely honoured to be mentioned on a list with some of the best bars in the world from Paris, Switzerland, Rome, New York, it's really quite amazing. We promise to not let it go to our heads and keep raising the bar for the betterment of cocktailing the world over.

Cheers,

This last weekend is where all the hard work and experimentation by our expert mixologists gets put on display to be judged by the public and their industry peers. This years Art of the Cocktail was very well represented by our team members.

Resident mixologist Josh Boudreau successfully defended his title of "Best Bartender in the Pacific Northwest" claiming top honours again this year. Josh pitted his creation "John Coffey" against the top professionals best concoctions to keep the title. If you ask nicely, Josh may make you one on your next visit.

Victoria's dream team consisting of Shawn Soole (Clive's) Solomon Seigel (Fire and Water) and our own Simon Ogden reigned supreme at this years "Ultimate Cocktail Challenge". Teams representing Seattle, Vancouver, The Okanagan and Victoria were presented with a "mystery box" of ingredients and given just 20 minutes to concoct and pour a cocktail.

The "Dallas Road Driftwood" was the culmination of Victoria's trifecta of mixology greatness. A cocktail force-carbonated and served over a hand-chipped ice globe, containing Driftwood Ale, thyme syrup, Bacardi 8, Regan's Orange Bitters, Barcode 8 Apple Bitters and ginger syrup.

Katie MacDonald was busy at this years AotC. Katie took a much larger role in assisting with the organization of the event, spearheading the "Useful Hooligans" (event volunteers) component as well as featuring her unique libation "The Fluffer" at this years Grand Tasting.

Those of you that know Head Bartender Simon Ogden, understand that when we give him a project related to cocktail history, he won't take it lightly (to be completely understated). So when we challenged him to do his research and create a cocktail to pay tribute to the City's 150th celebration...he went missing for a while.

When he emerged back into the light, he was holding the recipe to his "Incorporation Cocktail" inspired by local ingredients that were all the fashion to bar patrons of the era. Here are his notes:

The Incorporation Cocktail is constructed and presented in the Spirit-forward and nuanced style of the cocktails that were being served in fine Victoria bars in 1862, the year Fort Victoria was incorporated into the City of Victoria. The locally-distilled premium gin from Victoria Spirits drives the drink, combined with the honey and ginger-spice of Tugwell Creek Solstice Mead, the juicy citrus tang of Victoria-made New Theatre Tonic concentrate, all balanced with local organic lavender bitters. Top aromatics are supplied by a spanked basil leaf from my garden. A love letter to our delightful city.

Couldn't have said it better ourselves Simon (no really, we couldn't have). Join the staff at Veneto as they do their best to recreate the experience of cocktailing and hob nobbing back in the day. The Incorporation Cocktail will be available at a featured price as will be other beverages common in the period to try as well. Chef is going to pass out some complimentary nibbles that might have been seen in local public houses at the time.

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Sip, dine then shop downtown Victoria.

The first Thursday of every month, Veneto Tapa Lounge offers ladies in groups of 2 or more $4 glasses of Prossecco. What a great reason to get together with a group of girl friends for a night of shopping and dining. May we suggest that you join us post shopping so that you have a clear mind for all those retail descisions.