Best Cocktail Bar: Proof
Captured by Neil Zeller
Over the last four years, Proof’s extensive cocktail list combining classic concoctions with some of the bar own original creations has built up quite the reputation. Originally the brainchild of two local boutique liquor store owners, Jesse Willis and Jeff Jamieson, this bar is run by industry professionals who know their way around a bottle, including Calgary’s Best Bartender Makina Labrecque. Today, Proof is a hotspot in Calgary for innovation and creativity, helping them snag the Best Cocktail Bar in the city for another year running.
With over 300 different liquors to choose from, your cocktail at Proof may include a combination of rare finds in the vodka, gin, bourbon, whiskey, tequila or rum department. Browsing the menu, you’ll find classic choices like the New York Sour complete with rye, syrup, lemon juice, egg white and red wine as well as more unique concoctions like the favourite ‘A Necessary Evil’ which combines rum, sherry, pineapple, agave syrup, lime juice and bitters. Pair your cocktail with bite-sized snacks, their most popular being the steam buns, for a delicious night out. So you’re not sitting at the table for hours browsing the menu before you order, take a look at Proof’s creations online first.
FIRST RUNNER UP: BETTY LOU’S LIBRARY
SECOND RUNNER UP: MILK TIGER LOUNGE