SCORE: SPORTS BAR SERVES COCKTAILS | IN GOOD SPIRITS,
Craft cocktails make it a perfect score for the Shark Club’s new vision
Think of the traditional sports bar and you’re probably thinking beer, and not terribly exciting beer at that. Well, you may want to think again, at least if you’re heading to the Shark Club.
The 22-year-old Vancouver sports bar recently reopened after 18 months undergoing a renovation that was much more than a mere cosmetic change.
In fact, it was a complete rebranding of the chain’s flagship location (there are now 12 Shark Clubs across Canada), and a thorough rethink of what a sports bar can be.
And that includes the drinks, which go well beyond basic Bud and Blue.
“We’re trying to tailor ourselves to being the place to go for the Vancouverite who likes to watch sports,” says Andrew Young, Shark Club’s bar manager. “And the average consumer has become very educated about cocktails.”
Along with a stylishly redesigned room and an updated menu, the Shark Club team introduced a serious drinks program. For that they brought in some of the city’s bartending all-stars: Gez McAlpine (The Keefer Bar), Justin Taylor (Boulevard Kitchen + Oyster Bar), Shaun Layton (Juniper), Grant Sceney (World Class Ambassador and Fairmont Pacific Rim) and Joel Virginillo (Wirtz Brand Ambassador).
Each of these bartenders has a created a cocktail that will be featured for one month in addition to the regular cocktail list. For instance, in December, it’s McAlpine’s Canadian Tuxedo, a maple-enhanced take on an Old Fashioned. Next month, it’s Virginillo’s pineapple-and-whisky Cascade Sour.
“People who used to drink beer now like to drink cocktails and whiskies,” says Layton, whose Negroni Branca is featured in April.
Adds Taylor: “It’s smart for these people to pick up on that, too.” (His fruity take on the Caipirinha, Pele’s Punch, is featured in May.)
Of course, it’s a different experience slinging drinks in a highvolume sports bar than in a craft cocktail lounge, so the guest bartenders have tailored their drinks for the environment.
“You want to be able to give a cocktail that’s easily executed and it’s going to be the same every time,” Taylor says.
For that, they turned to the classics. Easy to make and easy to enjoy, classic cocktails are also easy to personalize with a small change or two, while still being familiar enough not to intimidate those who aren’t cocktail geeks.
Layton has four classics that he tweaks to create drinks that are almost universally appealing: the Negroni, Manhattan, Old Fashioned and sour.
So far, customers seem to love this new take on the sports bar. It’s also attracting a new crowd: It’s not just guys in jerseys cheering on their team, but business people meeting over lunch, couples on date nights and, increasingly, women out on the town.
“It’s been really well received,” Young says. “When people try it, they just connect. And they love that we’re doing the twist on it.”