What to know
- Calvados Boulard, a French apple brandy, was featured at all three bars on the crawl.
- Each bar created a unique cocktail with the spirit, ranging from strong and bitter to sweet or tea-like.
- Small food pairings accompanied each drink to balance the bold flavours and keep guests from getting too tipsy.
- The crawl offered a mix of atmospheres, from a lively enclosed patio to a cozy bar and a speakeasy, but some stops were less organized than others.
Little Italy got a French twist as apple brandy Calvados Boulard shook up the cocktail scene at these three local bars for the Toronto Cocktail Festival.
On Sunday, Oct. 18, the Toronto Cocktail Festival raised a glass to the event’s second year in the city, spotlighting Toronto’s award-winning bartenders.
Now Toronto went to the Toronto Cocktail Festival’s Little Italy Cocktail Crawl and to check out the drinks and atmosphere at three bars.
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This crawl focuses on crafting cocktails using premium Calvados Boulard, an apple brandy from Normandy, France.
Each drink came with a small food pairing to complement the flavours and balance out the alcohol.
Bar Raval
Location: 505 College St.
To start the crawl, attendees met at Bar Raval for the first drink.
The bar is gorgeous inside, filled with captivating architecture and dim lighting, but we were on the enclosed patio, which was comparatively pretty plain with basic stools.
Before the experience even started, I found the crawl wasn’t very organized—at least not for that location. There were more people than chairs.
People ended up standing around the tables and the bar, which forced everyone to socialize and make friends, which admittedly made the experience a bit better.
Finally, we were given our first drink: “House of Blondes,” listed on the menu for $22.
The three-ounce drink includes Calvados Boulard, green apple, Amaro Alpino Riserva, Cocchi di Torino, Angostura & hickory.
House of Blondes gave apple cider vibes, perfect for the current fall season, but it felt a bit too strong for a first drink.
Another attendee, from Normandy, France, told me the drink is usually a digestif, meant for after a meal, not as a first drink. With that knowledge, I feel like Bar Raval should’ve been the last stop.
At least the olives, cheese, and nuts helped cut the drink’s bitter aftertaste.
Lonely Diner
Location: 432 College St.
Next up, attendees walked over to Lonely Diner for the second cocktail of the crawl.
Lonely Diner ranked 47th on Canada’s 100 Best list, so I had high expectations—and I’m happy to say it exceeded them.
As I entered, the bar was filled with comfortable seats and a cozy vibe, with great ambiance—not too bright, not too dark.
The next drink arrived: “Autumn Sensation,” which the bartender explained is a pineapple-based drink using apple cider vinegar, slightly adjusted with baking soda to reduce the acidity, with cloves, Sichuan peppercorns, rye for body, and Calvados to bring it all together.
From the first sip, I was obsessed; now this should’ve been the first drink.
The cocktail gave piña colada vibes, with a touch of cinnamon at the end for a little spice.
Personally, I love sweet drinks, so this was perfect.
But that wasn’t it. Lonely Diner is apparently known for fire breathing tricks — and the bartender gave us a show.
Everyone gathered around the bar as the bartender took a sip of a 60 per cent alcohol drink, then sparked a lighter to breathe fire like a dragon.
This fire-breathing experience isn’t limited to the cocktail crawl; the bartender explained that anyone can request it during their visit, since they’re all trained in this skill.
The drink also came with a slider — which I don’t quite know what was inside, but it was a nice, sweet and filling touch.
Suite 115
Location: 532 College St.
For the last stop of the cocktail crawl, we went to Suite 115. First of all, I love speakeasies, so walking in through that door felt like the coolest vibe.
The chairs weren’t as comfy as Lonely Diner’s, but the vibes were definitely there, as the bar was quite gorgeous.
Finally, we got our last drink: “Life at Suite,” which is typically $23.
“Life at Suite” includes Calvados Boulard, yuzu, ginger, lime leaf, lemongrass, jasmine flower, curry, wine & Chimay ale reduction, served with a curry chicken crisp.
The menu describes the drink as “S115 bartenders’ favourite ingredients united in a harmonious sour.”
The drink had 2.5 ounces of alcohol, but its smooth taste masked its strength — which can be dangerous when you don’t realize how much alcohol you’re consuming.
This drink gave a tea-like experience, with jasmine notes, and it felt nicely balanced.
My only complaint was that the curry chicken crisp tasted way too bitter for me.
At least the experience came with fries, which helped cut through that bitterness.
Overall review
Overall, I loved experiencing three different bars in just a few hours. They were also close together, making it easier to travel, especially with the wind and winter coming soon.
Sometimes on nights out, it’s hard to find bars nearby, but this crawl showed just how connected Little Italy is.
The three bars really showcased their ability to use a strong alcohol base to make both bitter and sweeter drinks.
All the bars were pretty cute; the only real complaint was the lack of seats at the first bar, but I genuinely loved how the experience encouraged everyone to speak with each other.
The Toronto Cocktail Festival has a few events left; check out their website for more.
