The Hangover Has Finally Worn Off

…just in time to say: Bring on 2026!

It’s been over a month, but I think I’ve finally recovered from the whirlwind.

Of course, I’m talking about the whirlwind: North America’s 50 Best Bars, which descended on Vancouver with the force of a perfectly shaken cocktail. For a few incredible days, our city became the epicentre of the continent’s bar scene – and I’m still buzzing.

If you’re not familiar with the list, here’s the quick pour: North America’s 50 Best Bars is compiled annually by an academy of over 300 industry experts, including bartenders, bar owners, journalists, and globetrotting drink lovers from across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean. It’s essentially the Oscars of bartending – and yes, the outfits and the cocktails were both showstoppers.

But the ceremony was just the beginning.

In the days surrounding the awards, Vancouver hosted a flurry of pop-ups, guest shifts, takeovers, and once-in-a-lifetime bar collabs. The energy was electric. It wasn’t just that the world’s best bars were here – it’s that they brought their full teams, their signature drinks, and their unmistakable vibe. Our city transformed into one massive bar crawl, where every stop was a bucket-list destination.

I got to sip cocktails from Hanky Panky (Mexico City), Jigger & Pony (Singapore), Penicillin (Hong Kong), Paradiso (Barcelona), Bar Mauro (Mexico City), Shinji’s (New York), and Double Chicken Please (also New York) – just to name a few. Each brought their own flair, whether it was Paradiso’s theatrical presentation, Shinji’s meticulous Japanese technique, or DCP’s playful, culinary-inspired creations. It was surreal to see these iconic bars under one Vancouver sky.

For someone who lives and breathes cocktail culture, this week was bigger than Christmas. The community, the craftsmanship, the celebration of creativity – it all reminded me why I fell in love with this world in the first place. And to have it all happen here, in my own backyard? That was the magic.

This was more than a moment for Vancouver – it was a milestone. A declaration that we’re not just on the map… we are the map. The kind of city where cocktail dreams come true.

Below is just a taste of what I experienced during 50 Best. And the best part? Vancouver’s doing it all again in 2026.

This wasn’t the main event. This was just the warm-up.

No. 1 is Handshake Speakeasy from Mexico City

Civil Liberties from Toronto

Paradiso from Barcelona

Penicillin from Hong Kong

Jigger & Pony from Singapore

Meadowlark from Chicago

Jeff Savage of Prophecy in Vancouver

Licoreria Limantour from Mexico City

Brujas and Hanky Panky from Mexico City

Candelaria from Paris