Last Thursday (August 29th), Commercial Drive’s The Flamingo Room hosted the Havana Club Rum Bar Brawl, and I was honoured to be there as a judge. Organized by The Flamingo Room’s Bar Manager, Alexa Greenman, this event brought together nine competitors from some of the city’s most notable bars for an afternoon of spirited rivalry, laughter, and some seriously nice drinks. Being in the room for a showdown between bartenders from Main Street and Commercial Drive was a blast!

Commercial Drive vs. Main Street

MAIN STREET
Liam: Published on Main
Kabir: Good Thief
Levi: The Narrow

COMMERCIAL DRIVE
Cody: The Flamingo Room
Charlie: Havana
Taylor: Bar Corso
Aron: Lunch Lady
Steven: Loula’s Taverna
Gabriel: Pax Romana

PART 1: CREATIVITY AND TASTE

There were two parts to the competition. First, competitors presented their unique take on a daiquiri to the judges, focusing on balance, flavour, aroma, and presentation.

PART 2: SPEED AND ACCURACY 

Next, bartenders had to prepare three rum-based cocktails (Jungle Bird, Classic Mojito, and Rum Old Fashioned) as quickly and accurately as possible.

THE WINNERS

Despite a few last-minute dropouts from Main Street’s roster, the more westerly team still managed to clinch victory. Kabir from Good Thief wowed the judges with “The Goat” (Grapefruit Of All Times) daiquiri: Havana Club 3yr, strawberry-infused brandy, salted grapefruit cordial, Lillet Rosé, and tarragon oil, accompanied by a refreshing grapefruit and passionfruit granita. The drink was not only perfectly balanced, interesting and tasty, it was also zero waste – not a technical requirement, but an impressive detail. Meanwhile, Charlie from Havana killed it in the speed round, completing all three rum-based cocktails in a blazing one-minute-39-seconds, leaving everyone else in the dust.

Both neighbourhoods brought their respective A-games; however, between the best cocktail and overall speed round results, it was Main Street that ultimately took home the bragging rights (this time…) From somewhere in the bedlam of the end-of-the-competition crowd I heard someone yell “Watch out Main Street, Commercial Drive is coming for you!” If there is a rematch, then we definitely want to be there to see it!

Congratulations to all of the competitors; plus special shoutouts to Kabir and Charlie for their standout performances, and Alexa Greenman for organizing such a rad event!

The Flamingo Room

Neighbourhood: Commercial Drive

1212 Commercial Drive

604-253-9119

WEBSITE