We sat down with recently anointed Bartender of the Year Shaun Layton yesterday for a long delayed interview and were surprised to learn that he’d just given his notice at George Ultra Lounge in Yaletown after two and a half years of solid service there.

As he tells in the interview above, Layton is heading to the much anticipated L’Abattoir in Gastown (in the original Irish Heather location) to lead their bar program and man the wood. It’s a great score for owners Paul Grunberg, Nin Rai and Lee Cooper (who have hired other marquee players which we’ll be letting you know about soon as well), and while I don’t doubt that Patrick Mercer and David Hannay at George will find the right someone to fill his very capable sneakers (mackdaddy Tigers, by the way), I’m sure they’ll miss him just the same.

Layton’s a first rate gentleman, all class, and anyone who has had ever had the pleasure in indulging in his cocktailery knows he’s the real deal.

Get to know him a little by pressing play.

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