Spirit of York Distillery: An Enchanted Speakeasy Hidden in Plain Sight…read more There exists within the Distillery District a sanctuary so conspicuously underappreciated that it borders on the miraculous--a place that paradoxically announces its excellence through deliberate restraint, drawing a discerning few while the many pass unknowingly. Spirit of York Distillery is precisely such an establishment: a hidden gem not because it obscures itself, but because it permits only those with genuine appreciation to discover its treasures. Upon entering, one is transported to an earlier epoch--the speakeasy lounge aesthetic suffuses every corner with an intoxicating atmosphere of Prohibition-era elegance. The seating arrangements evoke intimate conversations conducted beneath the weight of historical resonance; the bar itself commands attention as a stage for ritualistic craftsmanship. Yet perhaps most mesmerizing is the large glass partition separating patron from machinery--a transparent threshold revealing the intricate dance of distillation itself. One watches spirits transform from raw material to refined essence, a metaphor rendered literal. The "Cocktail Jammiest Jam" arrived as a demonstration of precision: each ingredient orchestrated to achieve perfect equilibrium, neither demanding attention nor withdrawing into oblivion. It was, quite simply, perfection as executed. The Gin and Tonic transcended its humble categorization. What might elsewhere be dismissed as elementary proved itself exquisite in execution--the botanicals dancing in perfect proportion, the quinine providing architectural scaffolding rather than domination. More remarkably, one possesses agency here: the opportunity to compose your own gin and tonic according to personal preference transforms the experience from consumption into collaboration. Here emerges the essential truth of Spirit of York: the spirits themselves, while commendable, become secondary players in a production where theatrical excellence, bartending mastery, and service refinement command the stage. This is not a destination for spirits connoisseurs seeking to dissect distillation notes--though they would not be disappointed. Rather, it is a refuge for those seeking an experience that transcends the strictly gustatory: an atmosphere so carefully curated, bartenders so genuinely attentive, that the act of ordering a drink becomes secondary to the privilege of their counsel. Remarkably, despite its proximity to your residence and its undeniable merit, the establishment maintains a refreshing discretion in its clientele. Quieter than its reputation deserves, it functions as a personal sanctum--a venue perfectly suited to entertaining visiting friends, providing them entry to an experience they would otherwise overlook. The space even accommodates those seeking private events, serving as venue for occasions requiring sophistication. Spirit of York Distillery stands as testament to the proposition that true luxury often dwells in obscurity--not through inadequacy, but through an absence of self-promotion. This is where ambiance, expertise, and grace converge to form something rarer than any spirit: a genuine, unpretentious sanctuary in an increasingly performative world.

The ambiance is that of a distillery/cocktail bar…read more Hubby and I ducked in for a tasting. I sampled three types of gin and hubby had a mix of liquors. I loved their original gin, and their strawberry gin tasted like medicine. We didn't have any food, so the four stars is for the good service, ambiance, and access to good booze!

Stopped by this distillery while walking around the neighborhood, and my bf decided to do a…read moretasting. Cost for a tasting is $5 for three (free if you buy something). One of the owners walked us through the options and was very patient - bf loves to ask a million questions. The bottles are on the pricier end - from high $40s to high $60s. The official tasting room will open in a couple of months. For now you gotta do the tasting in a small area at the entrance.

Stopped by here a couple times and have grabbed a few of their releases. Their Harbour White Rum…read moreand their old cask strength version are both fantastic releases(please bring this cask strength version back). Their products are a bit pricey, but it's sort of expected from any Ontario Distiller given the unfavorable laws we have towards distilleries. They've offered a wide variety of products and hit the mark on whatever I tried. The only true downside to the experience of going there is there limited hours, however I'd rather go to a good distillery that was rarely open rather than a mediocre one that was open all the time.

Really nice sake spot on a cold holiday Toronto night. Definitely a memorable place even though I…read morewas only here for about 20 mins. Sipping that hot apple cider sake is still something I think about and it's been over about a month now. Was definitely a nice way to stay warm through that Toronto winter!!!

Stumbled upon this sake brewery while taking a break from walking, and it turned out to be a gem!…read moreThe staff were extremely friendly and knowledgeable, patiently explaining each sake in detail. I tried the Complete Tasting Flight, which included seven different kinds of sake -- from the unpasteurized and balanced Nama-Nama, the creamy and slightly sweet Nigori, to the bold and undiluted Genshu at 17.5%. Each one had its own unique character and depth of flavor, making the tasting both fun and educational. Prices are very reasonable considering the experience, and it's definitely a great spot to relax and enjoy authentic Japanese sake in Toronto. Highly recommend! 行到攰，無意中走入呢間清酒廠，竟然有得飲日本酒，真係一個驚喜！店員非常親切，仲詳細解釋每一款清酒嘅特色。我試咗 全套清酒品嚐 (Complete Tasting Flight)，一共有七款：包括口感均衡嘅 Nama-Nama、帶有淡淡甜味嘅 Nigori、仲有酒精度高達17.5%、濃烈又純粹嘅 Genshu。每一款酒都有自己獨特嘅風味，飲落去唔單止開心，仲好有教育性。價錢合理，以呢個體驗嚟講非常抵，係多倫多一個非常值得停落嚟歎返杯日本清酒嘅地方。強烈推薦！

I saw a flyer promotion that one of the dessert wines at Magnotta was on sale so I decided to go…read moreover and Give it a try. I only drink sweet wines, so I was happy to hear that the sugar content on this wine was very high. when I got there multiple associates were willing to help me, and one took me around the store and showed me all of the sweet wine options. I settled on three different wines, and will be giving them a try today. Once I try them I will review how they taste. But great selection and excellent customer service.

Magnotta is a great place to pick up a large box of wine for a party or get-together. They also…read moresell wine in smaller formats (like, by the bottle) and you can sample the wines which interest you. The helpful staff is knowlegable about the wines, and will help direct you to the flavour profile that you would enjoy. They have many diverse wines and ciders, and cater to pretty much any preference. It is a fun place to visit if you are into wine, and the tasting bar is quite elegant. Highly recommended for wine lovers or anyone looking to buy wine for a large occasion.

Best spot in Toronto if not Ontario if you are looking for well made Belgian style beer. No one…read moreelse around knows as much or does it better for the style of beer they are making Go there expecting to get a pint or a tasting of their excellent beers inside their eclectic decorated tap room. Strike up conversations with the bartender and learn all about the place. If you are looking for a bite there is a food truck parked nearby you can pick up food from to eat inside.

Shacklands Brewing Co. is a small batch brewery that was established in 2017 in Toronto's west end…read moreStockyards neighbourhood. The place has quite a collection of eclectic things and Dave, our bartender/co-owner, had fun showing them off. They focus on Belgian-style ales. I'm a pretty boring beer drinker and enjoyed their Raspbretty Bates. It's a fun spot! Dave was entertaining to chat with. I'll be back!

Tips: - This store has a fridge full of craft beer and…read moreseltzer that you can buy and go. - There's another fridge with food items from local businesses, such as Juicy Empanadas. On Saturday, I drove over to Common Good Beer Company. Crosstown Craft Barbeque (CCB) was holding a popup event here. CCB had its first popup event at another beer place, but decided to try a different location. All meats were sold out by the time I got to the first event, so I needed another take. The popup started at 1 pm. I got here at 12:45 pm. Common Good is on the south side of Ellesmere, east of Warden Avenue. Although I was coming from the east, I recommend going eastbound on Ellesmere to turn right and get to this place safely. Common Good is in a small plaza. Eggsmart anchors this plaza. I had no problem finding a parking spot. I backed into an available one. I recommend backing into a spot because the distance between the two rows of parking is narrow. I like that Common Good has a lot of glass. I could see the lineup had already started. I waited in line. There was a bit of an issue with something, but it was fixed and customers were being served. Only two meats were sold out by the time I got to the front: - Turkey breast - Beef ribs Maybe it's me. I was surprised that the turkey went first. I would have thought that perhaps folks needed a break from turkey from Easter. Nope, it had sold out in a flash. Folks at CCB are nice. I ordered a bunch of goodies that didn't duplicate the sides that I had ordered two weeks ago: - Brisket - Spare ribs - Pork belly burnt ends - Cheddar jalapeno sausage - Mac and cheese - Coleslaw - Cornbread pudding I paid with a credit card. I tapped and tipped. All was great. I got a tray with my food. I got complimentary mustard and barbeque sauces. I also got pickled onions and pickles. Oh, and I needed a lid. On my way out, I saw a fridge full of craft beer and more. I had to check it out. I had a hard time figuring out if I wanted the Japanese rice beer or the dark lager. I went with the latter. I immediately saw field berry hard seltzer. I grabbed one. The woman at the counter was friendly and nice. She thanked me for supporting local. Common Good is all for supporting local businesses in Scarborough. I paid for my cans with a credit card. I tapped and all was good. This woman was so nice. She saw me with my tray and sides, and now cans of booze. She got me a paper bag with handles. I loaded my sides and cans into it. It helped a lot! I thanked her and left the store. Although I feel like I may have ordered way too much food from CCB, it was worth it. I have been eating a bunch of meals from it. The meats were half a pound each. They taste even better the longer they are left over. I can't pick a favourite protein. The brisket was so tender. The pork belly was on the fattier side, which gave you more flavour. The spareribs were so much better a day later. Meaty and yummy. The cheddar jalapeno sausage is my favourite sausage that I have had so far this year. It had the right combination of heat, meat, and cheese. I love sides. The mac and cheese had large shells, which made me happy. I liked the breadcrumbs on top. I love mac and cheese. I feel that there needed to be more sauce. Otherwise, it was solid tastewise. The coleslaw was excellent. It was garlicky, crunchy, creamy, vinegary, and delicious. Full marks! It also turned purple as time elapsed, which was cool. The cornbread pudding was also a pleasant surprise. It had chocolate mixed in with cornbread. It was dense and delightful to consume. I will be back for more field berry hard seltzer. It was excellent to down while watching game 7 between the Dallas Stars (more like the Rantanen show) and Colorado Avalanche. The berry flavour was perfect. It was cold and refreshing. It's the perfect lighter option as the weather gets warmer and nicer. I had the Japanese dark lager last night watching the Toronto Maple Leafs win their game against the Florida Panthers. The dark part had chocolate and caramel, which added so much flavour depth to the beer. The folks at CCB are so nice. They let me know that the next popup won't be here because the seating isn't as abundant as the other venue. It's true. However, the seating is more inviting here due to the number of plants soaking up all the sunshine that naturally beams in. I'm so glad that I dropped by Common Good. I'll be back for more beer and seltzer. I also want to get some empanadas from Juicy Empanada. This store also has a decent selection of pop (I saw Fanta in orange and pineapple) and snacks. I'd also like to play an arcade game. I didn't see Pac-Man, but I can do Millipede. (154)

A very good cradt brewery, and the only one anywhere near here. A range of styles, each one that I…read moretried was solid. Highly recommended!

Our server was always around when we needed her and great at describing the beers we were…read moreunfamiliar with. I also had my favourite beer of life. It's called Expelliarmus. It was like a margarita had sex with a beer that was a sour. It was also nitro which made it so smooth. We didn't try any food, but their sandwiches looked really good. I love the aesthetic of this place! It has this pagan look going on and it's so fun. The music was also amazing. It was all 90s hip-hop and R&B the day that we were there.

I went here to see ab amateur wrestling match. Tickets were available to be purchased in advance…read more There is nearby paid street parking. Upon entering the venue, we received a free bottle of hot sauce for the event and made our way to the bar. I ordered the mango and cherry sour beers - mango was my favourite. To order food, you also go to the bar and give you a number to take to your table. We ordered the beef brisket and pulled pork sandwiches. Both were fabulous and the fries were one of the best I've had - perfectly salted. The ambience was a warehouse but decorated with a large indoor palm tree, string lights and plenty of bar style seating. I really enjoyed both the event and the venue itself. I would return both for an event, their house made beers, and the tasty food!

The staff was nice and quick to set up for the event! Learned a lot of this event about the food…read morepairing with the type of wine

Wine / Customization / Batch / Experience…read more Had the honour of visiting this Vin Bon location owned by Michael from Yelp Elite Event and I had a blast. Carmen planned everything so perfectly that it made this so memorable. The location is very convenient with lots of available parking. Prices and design choices are clear and concise. Lots of colour and design choices to your liking. The bottling and labeling experience was a lot of fun. I highly recommend this for any kind of celebration or event. Contact them via email at Richmondhill@vinbon.ca