The Science of Cocktails is possibly the best open bar money can buy in this city: you dress to impress (but in an unpretentious way), drink in one of Vancouver’s most iconic spots in a techno-modern ambiance.
My favourite food pairing was Pidgin’s Braised Pork Belly in steam buns paired with Fat Wash Boulevard. Maybe it was the bun that soaked up the alcohol, but Pidgin is known for their delicious pork belly. The other toppings that added to this great dish were carrot and daikon. The accompanying drink was made with Jim Beam Black fat-washed with Taiwanese pork belly, Campari and sweet vermouth, created by Kingsley Clark and Cari Leslie.
My second favourite food pairing was the Keg with their Prime Rib Sliders (back for another year!) and Shrimp Cocktail. That was paired with the Cubano – made with Havana Club rum, honey, bitters. A great cocktail that balanced out the meaty food flavour.
I wandered over for Parallel 49’s Nitro Coffee Porter; paired with their dessert that’s called One-Bite Butter – I was sold. The treat was pecan foam, freeze-dried raspberry powder and espresso caviar. The nitro porter is so good – I like dark beers but sometimes avoid coffee flavoured ones for being too smoky, but this was smooth and sweet. I ended up purchasing some a couple days later for home.
I had a Perfect Manhattan with Old Forester, The Smoked Caesar by Walter, talked to a girl with bell bottom overalls after downing a Pom-Arita, Cognac Old Fashioned, tried to drink something like to slow down with Sweet Tea Smash, gave up and had a Frose.
In the VIP lounge, I enjoyed the Guatemala Colada (pineapple, kaffir lime, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, vanilla bean, sugar, sweet vermouth) and met some new friends. I had another VIP drink called the Switchel (made out of Bulleit bourbon, Fernet, apple cider vinegar, fresh ginger, maple syrup and orange twist).
I haven’t had a fantastic night like this for a while and Science of Cocktails always delivers. The vibe of the evening is always fun, being a big kid learning about science while enjoying a night filled to the brim with cocktails. There’s enough science demonstrations, cocktail competitions and fun people from all adult age groups that make the event high energy, not rowdy and all around class. What a blast!
If you haven’t been, we suggest you check it out next year – tickets are now on sale for 2019 – the date is already set: February 7, 2019. Tickets start at $125. For more information, check out the website here: https://www.scienceworld.ca/cocktails
