*Guest Post by Natalie Taylor*
Happy hour is a blessing isn’t it? Especially in the late afternoon, post-daylight savings time when we got an extra hour of sleep but as an exchange, have to live with sunset before 5 p.m., post-work cocktails are needed now more than ever! Luckily, our friends at East Thirty-Six are helping us adjust to the change. (Wink, Nod.)
Photo c/o East Thirty-Six
Just east of Toronto’s Financial District, near Wellington and Church Streets, this boîte serves up romantic ambiance and boozy libations, many of them made with house-made ingredients from expert mixologist Julien Salomone. The new fall/winter cocktail menu focuses on darker liqueurs. Think: the Nutcracker with Lot 40 rye, Drambuie, house spiced rum, walnut bitters, and black cardamom for those who really want a strong drink on Toronto’s bone-chilling nights. I’m partial to warmed liquors like their Night Capp of coffee vanilla infused bourbon, macadamia nut syrup, and espresso. Sweet, nutty drinks like these remind of being by the fire with the ones I love. The Night Capp is ideal if you’re only getting one drink at the bar at the end of the night (perhaps as a last stop on a bar crawl) or paired with a dessert (a perfect date night activity. Thank me later!)
The Night Capp. Photo c/o East Thirty-Six
That said, my mind is perpetually in what Nigella Lawson calls “Forevah Summah” and East Thirty-Six’s The St-Germain fit the bill for that state of mind (it was also the favourite drink amongst our group!) Beefeater gin was its base, filled with St-Germain elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup, and cava. The juxtaposition between sweet and sour in this cocktail makes me want to have three of them (and we did!).
The St-Germain. Photo c/o East Thirty-Six
Cocktails can make one thirsty and East Thirty-Six satiates the drunken hunger with an array of small bites. Its charcuterie platter is generous; crispy chicken skins with aioli addictive; and burrata with kabocha squash, pangritata, basil and eggplant, a different spin on the creamy fixture. East Coast oysters are fresh and plenty. Bring on the lemon!
East Coast oysters. Photo c/o East Thirty-Six
If you want a cozy, intimate place to imbibe and spend with friends or loved ones, East Thirty Six will take care of you. What’s your favourite holiday cocktail?
The Nutcracker. Photo c/o East Thirty-Six
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