La Distillerie no.1

If you are looking for a trendy spot with a nice atmosphere and affordable drinks, this is the place. This bar is a popular destination, and for good reason. The industrial decor creates a cool and stylish vibe, making it a great place to hang out with friends. While the prices are definitely friendly, the quality of the drinks doesn't suffer. They serve a great Bloody Caesar – my personal favorite – and their other cocktails are equally well-crafted. This place is always packed, which speaks volumes about its popularity. Despite the crowds, the service remains efficient and friendly. I'm a regular

My friend and I are visiting from Ottawa and were so happy we found this place. We loved the vibe, music, service, and cocktails. It was exactly the kind of place we were looking for & for a great price. Our server Philippe was wonderful, definitely a new favourite when we come back here:)

The Goldfish are addictive, and the cocktails always impeccable. This place specializes in perfectly balanced long drinks, in particular cocktails mixed in Mason jars, such as their perfect classic mojito. We've been coming for years; it's a mandatory visit every time we're in Montreal. In fact, they inspired a major part of our cocktail program at our own cocktail bar (RIP This End Up). I hope La Distillerie lives on forever. Chin chin!!! 08/09/2025 Back for our annual return to La Distillerie - same as ever, still amazing! Enjoying a happy hour Hurricane today. Thanks for being one of our favourite bars ever!

Nice place for a cocktail! We tried Patriot and Hurricane, both really good, especially the Hurricane. And the amount is very decent, and the price on the happy hour each cocktail costs 10$, which is a great deal! From food we only tried complimentary fish-shaped chips, which were really cute :) The atmosphere is really nice, relaxed and pleasant with cute lights and decor. The service was really good too, totally recommend!

I didn't go to this bar a long time ago. And I recently did. And there cocktails were still very amazing. Service was too notch. Everyone at the service was very friendly and professional. There cocktails were very delicious 🤤. I would definitely go back. This is a very casual bar with simple cocktails. So it's perfect for dates, hang out with friends or family. I highly recommended.

2025: great 90s rock music. Cocktail selection is a little limited, but what I had was good. Friendly efficient service. Crowd can be a little much. 2018: Great selection drinks and seasonal cocktails. Pleasant service. Great music. Usually very busy with lineups around the corner but I find it worth the wait. Good place to bring dates. There's a Snakes and Ladders board in the menu and you can ask for pieces.

Loved most of the drinks , it’s one of the few places where they don’t water down the cocktails. It’s a very lively atmosphere. Only thing is that food is not available and they said it’s bring your own food concept, we ordered olives like a snack and our only complaint was it was too salty ( I assume it was canned and need to be washed before serving) but it would be good to see some finger foods . Service was ok and I would love to see napkins on table too . Over all nice place would love to come back

Super fun atmosphere, very tasty drinks, and nice staff.

La serveuse Arianne était vraiment genial! Les cocktails qu'on a essayé etaient fantastiques!

We ended our night at a bar with the family, and it was quite a good spot. The ambiance was nice and inviting, though it was pretty crowded when we got there--so things were a bit noisy. Still, it had a lively vibe that made the experience enjoyable overall.

I'm stupid. I thought La Distillerie No. 1 was a distillery, and we were visiting a place to taste bespoke liquors. It's a nice pub/bar run by pleasant folks. There's nothing special about this place, and normally I would never schlep 30 minutes to get here.

10/10 recommend for quality cocktails and good vibes! Pro tip: go during HH to take advantage of their larger drinks! Definitely a must visit when in Montreal :)

They make creative and tasty cocktails. The atmosphere here is great - rusty style interior and various seating options. Would visit this place again next time in Montreal.

very casual bar with good vibes and cheap & yummy drinks! staff was attentive. they serve bottomless goldfish along with your drinks - they were unexpectedly a great pairing with the drinks! love - 10/10 recommend

The home of the cocktail in the giant sized mason jar? It can be if you want it to be. Probably half of the drinks come with that super-size option. Most of the cocktails here are rum and vodka based, so if you want something with a different liquor, your menu options are limited, or you special order something. It fills up quickly here after sunset, and it can get pretty crowded and cramped and loud - though the loud music was a really fun selection. It's definitely a fun place for a larger group to come for a celebration - if there's room.

Pina colada was tasty maybe a bit on the stronger side. Vibe is nice they play chill indie music

The bar is very cozy and has a warm atmosphere. The staff is exceptional and very welcoming. Great drinks and I would 100% recommend. Will be back soon!

Casual cocktail bar with friendly service and lots of options! I definitely liked the laid back vibe and it's great place to hang out with friends. They have small and large sizes for cocktails but be warned that the large are huge!

On vacation here we passed by this local bar and were very upset that we found it towards the END of our trip! this place is so awesome! they have great music and great drinks! our server was very helpful and also spoke english, which was great for us because we do not speak french! drinks were very tasty and they have something called "soft shots" that are pretty much mini cocktail shots, we had the lady marmalade shots and it was so good! not too sweet not too much alcohol punch so it was a perfect combo they DO have happy hour which is super cool i believe it is 1$off for a regular drink and 3$ off for a large one either way we found this place to be the cheapest place to get a drink but it was a nice find, would come again if we come back to montreal FUN FACT: they use biodegradable straws!

I don't drink often. I also don't love bars. However, if I am going to go to a bar, or drink, I'm going here. So, I was quite happy when I realized this was literally right across the street from my air bnb. This is the bar my friends and I went to during our undergrad and so when I was recently visiting Montreal with a friend and she wanted to grab an early drink, I knew this is where I was taking her. Personally I like fruity mixed drinks that don't taste like alcohol. My friend is a scotch drinker and goes for stronger drinks. We both were able to find something that made us happy. La Distillerie does mixed drinks like no other. They also do it with a heavy hand so while it may seem pricy to some, you definitely get what you pay for. My friend and I had some beer before arriving and then two drinks each here and both walked out very much not sober. The vibe is chill and a bit nostalgic and the menu options are exceptional. Definitely one of the best bars I have been to!

Excellent service Great atmosphere Nice location Definitely recommend and will plan to return

Mix-ology geniuses. I dont know of a drink that exist that they can't make. I arrived with coworkers the 1st night of snow in Montreal. Talk about a welcoming oasis in the middle of a snow storm, this place offers an inviting environment cater to a mix of all ages and hosting a wide range of alcoholic options. I enjoyed my mix of poisons. Each more inviting than the previous. You will need to eat before arriving as I do not believe they serve food but their homemade beef jerky is very good. Stay thirsty my friends. Bon Apetit.

3.5 La Distilerie No. 1 has nice casual University vibe. If that's what you looking for, this is the perfect venue. Drink is priced reasonably at around $10. I do like they do have a lot of options and the menu is really detailed and descriptive. A lot of juice based drinks in large format. I can't imagine downing one of those 1 Litre drink, I cannot even drink 1 L of water in one setting! Self served water bar is pretty cool! At least you can stayed hydrated through the evening. The place did get pretty loud with music even on a weeknight. Great as a pit stop during a bar crawl with its location. But if you want a more crafted cocktail or upscale experience, it might not be the one. Servers are friendly and upbeat.

We had dinner in the area and was looking for a place to grab a cocktail and was steered here by all the amazing yelp reviews. As always yelp didnt steer us wrong. The space was, we'll i'll call it cozy and warm. The decor is ADORABLE and is what i expect of a cocktail bar. I do wish they had like bar nuts or popcorn but the drink menu is great! It even has taste intensity for the level of alcohol which is nice because you know what your getting into before you order. All the drink combinations sound great and I went with the Light my Fire and was not disappointed.

When you're in Montreal & into cocktail drink then this is the place for you! I really like that they have lots of cocktail choices with different sizes. You can get the regular size or the jumbo size. Before we left montreal we decided to check out this place & it never dissapoint. Next door to this is a good burger place where you can order a burger & bring it inside this bar. Its a good size bar with good vibe. Lots of long tables & chairs. Our waiter is fast taking our order & very friendly & chatty. My bf got the hurricane regular size- rhum bacardi, superieur, rum captain morgan brun, passion fruit flavor. Very fruity & tasty. We can't even taste the alcohol but be careful because it was strong. What a trick! Mine was the caesar drink- I didn't really see this in their menu but I ask for it & it was so delicious! Its my favorite canadian drink. Its semilar to bloody marry but I don't even like bloody marry. Its just delicious in a way that its hard to explain & must try it yourself. Haha! They don't have much snacks choices. All I see is goldfish & popcorn on some tables but good thing they allowed outside food. Really love this place! Can't wait for the summer to go back.

Good cocktails and all the tapas are amazing. This place will be my go to whenever I am back in Montreal. Our server was awesome, I was amazed how she remember all 11 cocktail order without writing them down. She got it all right!

Saw the great reviews and decided to check it out. We waited TWO HOURS IN THE COLD. Honestly, it was worth it. We went at around 9:20 on a Saturday night. Tip: go during happy hour or after 11:45 to avoid the long line. The staff are super nice and helpful. I ordered an XL basilic romantique and my SO ordered an XL hurricane. The drinks are so good. They are served in mason jars. The place offers board games and serve your self water. The place is also bring your own food, so feel free to bring your snacks and munchies. They do have goldfish and popcorn. Overall, super fun place with fun cocktails. A tad bit pricey though, but and XL will be enough for most people.

Woow I had very low expectations before coming here. I thought it would be an old run down bar with poor service. To my very own surprise, I was served by two young very proactive gents. This place is super cool and casual. You really feel young and alive! The atmosphere of the bar is super vibrant. It resembles Bar Brotus a lot! The drinks were why I came here in the first place!!! They've got Piña Coladas!!!! They've also got plenty of other sweet and fancy cocktail drinks. Not only can you drink you can munch on some beef jerky, popcorn or mini goldfish hehe!! Service: Exceptional! They are always there to check on you, they make all your drinks at your request and fulfill your desire to add a few more tweaks to your cocktail. They even teach you how to play their board games!! Yess you can totally get smashed and play games .. its so much fun I really recommend this place for an awesome time!

We decided to check this place out after finding them on Trip Advisor - what a gem! We ended up coming here twice during our trip to Montreal. Me & Cienna, left saying, "I wish we had a place like this back home"... over the course of two nights we sampled about a dozen different libations (assortment of cocktails & shots). Each providing a unique and well balanced flavor profile - these drinks were amazing! To make things better, the staff is great! Very attentive, kind and generous. One of those places where you want to befriend most of the people who work there - super professional, yet chill staff. The vibe was great and the prices reasonable compared to the quality of the experience. From what I saw, there wasn't a food menu, but that's okay! You can bring food from outside the establishment... intact the staff encouraged it. We ended up ordering Uber Eats both nights. Incase you're curious, it was absolutely delicious burgers & Poutine from "Hero Certified Burgers" on Bishop St. Both times Uber Eats arrived to the to Distillery no.1 within 30 minutes.

5 stars if you are a college student, not so great if you are 60+ years old. We were the oldest people in the place by a factor of two. Our fault for not researching the place a little better. The cocktails were nice enough. The setting was quite cramped and loud, perfect for students. We were welcomed immediately at the entrance and seated in the middle of the place. They took our order quite quickly, and the drinks took about 10-15 minutes to be prepared. The selection is great, and you have the option on most drinks of getting the large (1L?) sized drink. Back in the day I could have gotten really hammered here. My Rollercoaster was OK, seemed like it was made from frozen fruit, but the flavor was not exceptional.

[LOCATION] - 5/5 This place is located on Rue Sanguinet and Rue Sherbrooke E. We went here on a Saturday night and saw a long lineup outside the entrance, so we decided to come back the following night. There was no lineup, and street parking was available outside. [SERVICE] - 5/5 Our server was wonderful. He made us feel like we were guests at his home. [DÉCOR] - 5/5 Cozy, warm, and inviting. Great place to hang out with friends. [QUALITY] - 4/5 The different types of drinks were very fun. There's a cocktail/mocktail for everybody. [ORDER] - 4/5 - Le Patriote Cocktail - $9.50: the blue drink. My personal favourite because it is so aesthetically appealing, and tastes sour because of the lemon and lime, but also sweet from the syrup. - Mohawk Cocktail - $9.50: peachy, lemony, and very intense gin flavour. - Hurricane 2.0 Cocktail - $9.50: refreshing passionfruit and orange flavours, mixed with tart lime juice and pretty intense rum. - Lime Mocktail - $3.50: non-alcoholic, sour, and tangy. Perfect for those who want to have a good time without alcohol. [OVERALL] - 5/5 Super fun ambiance, don't be afraid to say hi to the table next to yours, and I like how they had board games to entertain their guests. Overall, I would definitely recommend this cocktail bar to those who want to hang out with friends and enjoy delicious drinks.

Handcrafted cocktails served in mason jars has got to be the cutest, and most hipster, way to enjoy a cool refresher. My friend was recommended to come check this place out, so we headed on over after a day of museum hopping to quench our thirst. Arrived on scene around 5-6pm and the establishment was already packed, but the doorman said it would be about a 10 minute wait until the next table/seat opened up. Once seated, menus are already on the tables for browsing. The menus are broken up by flavor profiles with a list of ingredients and a scale of 1-5 for alcohol content. Since they are handcrafted, they utilize a lot of fresh ingredients from fresh fruits (puree/juice) and bitters to concoct a well-balanced libation. I got the Derby while my friend got the Yelo Melo. Although both drinks are fruit forward and hit at 3 on the alcohol scale, they were tasty and went down easy. You can even get a "Grand" size, also served in a massive mason jar, for a higher price. The establishment is small and the ventilation is lacking. They've only got two fans near the bar, so when the house is packed, it gets very warm. It was almost like a sauna even with the windows open, so I can only imagine how it would be as the summer warms up! If you can snag a seat before 7pm, you get FREE snacks (goldfish) during your stay.

Great vibes, incredible artistic and unique drinks! Bartenders were attentive and good at recommending drinks

I love this place! As silly as it sounds, I love drinks that come in cool containers and I've been wanting to try their 1L mason jar cocktails for the longest time. Came here around 5 pm on a Thursday which was perfect because an hour later, it was packed. It's a very small bar and it's since it's located right in front of a cegep there are always students abound. As others mentioned, they are strict on ID. My friend and I are in our mid twenties but immediately got carded at the door. For 17$, their large mason jar drinks are well priced, you also get 3$ off during happy hour. The Chupa Chupa, mango based drink was my favorite. Each drink ingredient is clearly listed on the menu along with a 1 to 5 scale to measure its intensity. I noticed on their menu booklet that it was dated October to December 2013 so I'm assuming they change their selection every now and then. Another fun perk is that they give free Goldfish crackers to munch on. Only thing that would make this place better would be free wifi and if they accepted debit. There do have an ATM though.

We arrived around 8pm on a Friday evening and saw a line of about 15 people. We debated leaving, but stuck it out and made it inside 20ish minutes later. And I'm so glad we did! I loved the vibe and the fun, creative menu that rotates with the seasons. I really wanted to get the cold brew coffee cocktail, but opted for lighter drinks due to a heavy dinner just before. Our server was great! I told him I wanted the pear-ginger drink but didn't want it too sweet (it's so hard to get a fruity cocktail that isn't overloaded with sugar), and he offered to bring the syrup out separately. This was perfect as I was able to get the flavors I wanted and adjust the sweetness level myself. I also tried a strawberry mojito, which was tasty as well. The games and self-serve water station were the cherries on top. I'd definitely frequent this spot if I was a local!

Came here with a buddy of mine while we were in town for the weekend. Loved this place! As soon as we sat down, we were greeted with free goldfish and Mason jars filled with some of the best mixed drinks I've ever had. Smaller place that is good for groups between 2-6. I would imagine you need to get here early if you want a seat. The atmosphere was exactly what we were looking for in a cool, chill bar to hangout. Music was fun -- think Billy Joel, The Police, Stevie Wonder... Overall, very happy with my decision to come here on a bitterly cold Friday night in February. If I ever come back to Montreal in the future, I will certainly stop here!

This place is great! I'm not usually a cocktail guy, but this place hit a home run by way of great people making great drinks. Went here on a Friday night after having some scotch at another bar. Waited in a short line to find a quaint bar with a couple of great bartenders. Originally planned to just have a beer, but ended up getting a Mad Man after the recommendation of the door man. While making the drink, I mentioned to the bartenders that I liked scotch, so my next drink was the From Smoke 'til Dawn, which was probably the best cocktail I've ever had. Awesome place to chill with a friend or two, or hell, do like me and go alone. Great vibe. I'll be back.

Commitment is going to La Distillerie when its -35degrees outside, or its raining and you don't have an umbrella. I have done both and I can safely say, when the mood calls for good cocktails- this is my go to place. This place has tons of cocktail varieties on and off the menu, unlimited goldfish crackers is a bonus (before 7pm). They have all kinds of fruit based cocktails which is my favourite, their Pina Colada is unique and a must try. This place is packed during weekends, they have board games, and BYOF? (just realized yesterday). They mention the alcohol taste intensity (which I found is useful while brainstorming choices). Watch out for the front cover of the menu, its usually snaps of their staff! This is a Montreal must try! Highly recommend this place to everyone (even drag your friends who don't drink)

*Started this review on 8/8/2016 and just now posting on 3/22/2107 - *sigh* I'll get my life together someday. Anyway, La Distillerie is definitely a great place to start the night in Montreal. Service was outstanding from both the cool doorman and our waiter. This place has a young, hip vibe and the menu & drinks are all so enticing. I enjoyed the watermelon something (oh my it was so long ago I can barely recall) but it wasn't artificially sweet and was nice & smooth. The place is dim and the line outside gets quite long but I'd say it was about a 25 min wait on a Friday night around 1030pm. The menu was categorized by drink type ( sweet, spicy, etc.) which I thought was fun and questions were so very welcomed by our waiter. I also remember munching on Goldfish crackers.... Ugh, I miss Montreal. Be back soon!

In honor of my 800th review, I had to dedicate it to one of my favorite bars of ALL TIME. While visiting Montreal with my buddies, we ended our night at La Distillerie in hope of a chill, laidback night over drinks, and this place was the perfect spot for it. Our quick ten minute wait allowed us to converse with the friendly bouncer and he seated us once a table was available. The place was dimly lit and the crowd was very lively and mellow at the same time. A party near us was celebrating a bachelor's/bro's birthday party while other smaller parties were casually enjoying their conversations over yummy drinks. I cannot express how yummy and dangerously delicious the drinks are here. The menu is very informative and helpful in telling you how strong a drink is and what it looks like and what it would taste like. And most drinks come in adorable hipster mason jars or huge glasses. I would recommend the Hurricane, Nostalgie, or Pepito Pasteque. They were all very yummy! Whether you are visiting Montreal or looking for a place for a night out in town with your buddies, La Distillerie is the perfect place! And a bonus about this place is that it is open until 3 AM EVERYDAY!

They had creative drinks that were tasted very fresh and their cocktail shots were very good as well!

My husband and I went to Montreal last November as bar was among the top 5 bars "must go to bars" that I'd researched prior to our tip. We went on a Saturday night and they were packed. We waited on line for about an hour in what seemed to be single digit temperature. My nose was frozen but I wasn't the only one, there were about 20 plus people behind us all freezing their asses off. In the end it was absolutely worth the wait. My point is the hype you read on Yelp about this place is absolutely true. They make AMAZING cocktails and the price is not too bad either. Yes everywhere in Quebec French is the primary language but in this bar you'll find the menu in English and meet great bilingual friendly folks.

Came here and night in the early evening. A line had to be started, but we didn't mind at all. The door guy was really friendly! He was really talkative and we had a fun time chatting with him about everything. The bartenders were attentive and so friendly. Honestly, way friendlier than the bartenders in the GTA. They did cool bar tricks. My partner and I saw all the *action* right up front because we sat at the bar. They had a million orders coming through but they were prompt. Really knew what they were doing. The drink selection was an easy process because of the menu separated into categories. You want something strong? Or sweet? Or sour? There's something for everyone here. The drinks my partner and I chose were really delicious, with complex flavours and complementing flavours. It's definitely a holy grail place. The dive bar atmosphere made it feel homey, but the drinks were high end. Loved it!

Really liked this bar! Came on a Monday night after dinner around 10p, no wait. Looks like a dive bar, but was really clean on the inside - none of the normal smells and stickiness of a typical dive. What was cool was the menu separates drinks into categories (e.g. fresh, delicate, powerful, tropical, etc) and also indicates the alcohol taste intensity of each on a scale of 1-5. I had a ziggy stardust, and a pear hot shot (literally a shot concoction with hot water added). Hubs had the gingerbread man and mad men. Very creative, tasty drinks and cool atmosphere. Would come back the next time I'm in Montreal!

I enjoyed the drinks served here. Lots to choice from and most of them are served in a mason jar. Really cool concept and good vibe. The place is small and gets crowded quickly. The staff were kind snotty play any of your fav songs as well. I would say this is one of the must try places in Montreal and would definitely come here if I am back to Montreal.

La Distillerie is a pretty hip bar. We came on a Thursday night and the place was PACKED aka we had to wait outside because of max capacity packed. The venue is quaint with several tables for your group. The server also comes to you to take your order (yes, finally, I don't have to wait 20+ mins at the bar). Drinks were pretty tasty. They serve a regular and a large size (both come in mason jars). I loved that they give you a rating of how strong each drink is on the menu. I ordered a pretty fruity one and it was like juice - you couldn't taste the alcohol at all (but definitely felt it afterwards). Cool place for a chill night out.

5/5 it was really as good as it gets. this was at the corner of rue (street) ontario. A small location but cozy in a good sense. the atmosphere is very low-key nerdy & hipster. kinda reminds me of old town library shelves stacked with bottles. our wait wasn't too long considering the bouncer was really friendly. there's no cover charge and we were seated by our bouncer as well. the waiter gave us menus and my favorite feature about it was the alcohol content from 1-5 and clear description of what the drink consists of. They also have two size, a petite and a larger one which is double the price (maybe knocks of $1 or so). drinks come in their own paired cup-mason, scotch glass, or pint glass. i highly recommend the hurricane for a fizzy berry drink for those who cant bare the taste of alcohol because its almost completely masked and still able to achieve that buzz ;)

Very nice cocktail bar thats suited for having conversations! Nice services and is nice even for going as a small group

If you are a cocktail lover, you have to check this place. Great ambience , free board games, goldfish snack and yummylicious liquor. The vibe is so great which makes you come over and over again. Sebastian made our drinks and was very friendly. I love their chupa chupa which is made with mango puree. This time since they ran out of mango puree, they recreated almost similar drink with pineapple puree. Don't afraid to come with your own food And best part is every day 5-7 is their happy hour

Great spot in Montreal for some delicious cocktails in Mason Jars! We came here during happy hour during our Saturday bday Day Drinking adventures and this place fills up fast so make sure you get here before rush hour. They have a variety of cocktails that contain various amounts of alcohol and can pleasure even the most picky tastebuds! I really like how they have communal tables and provide dice, board games, and cards and free gold fish just to help with some fun drinking games. I guess you can always talk to each other but HEY ...who does that nowadays?? Haha! I will definitely be coming back here and it is on my "must visit" list when Im in Montreal.

This is definitely an awesome place for unique cocktails if that's your forte! It was actually my first time having cocktails and I'm glad that I came here for it. I had a Mad Man, and a Teddy Pear. My friend and I were also lucky enough to get a free shot on the house (because the staff wanted to do a collective shot drink), which was fun. The prices might seem a bit steep but the quality is there, so I didn't mind ;) it's interior is also a bit on the small side and it can get loud, but so long as you go looking for a good time then you should be good.

Fantastic drinks ask for Mai and Sebastian they were so fun! Pina Colada as a large is massive and delicious

This is such a fun bar to come to if you're having a night out with friends or looking for a place for a date! They have pages of drinks to offer you in varying amounts of alcohol so you will find your pick in their for sure. It can't really get boring there because they have board games and cards for people to borrow. If you want some snack, you can get gold fish in a jar for 2$ as well! If you want a big drink with double shots, you will end up paying around 20+$ for it so beware. It was worth the experience for sure though. Also, the line gets a little long at peak times on weekends

This is my go-to place for some tasty mason jar cocktails and goldfish. I have been here so many times in the last 5-6 years that I have lost count. Also, they have board games which is pretty cool. They don't serve food but you can order from outside and eat there. Service is average and can be slow depending on how busy they are. Most of the times they are pretty busy. But a nice little joint to have great drinks with your friends or fam!

Beautiful, tasty drinks in fancy glasses -mine came in a mason jar :). The menu is easy to read and includes pictures, ingredients, and a 0-5 scale of how much alcohol is in the drink. You also have the option of getting a petite or large size drink. Overall setting was great. We were there on a Thursday night and even though it was still quite early, ~8pm, most of the tables were full, but definitely not overcrowded. Service was excellent -our group of 4 was seated at a table, menus given, few minutes later-orders were taken, and our yummy concoctions arrived minutes later. Payment was easy since they came to us to collect payment - both cash and card accepted. Another great spot to visit if you're in Montreal!

Excellent excellent excellent cocktail bar. They close at 3, but their drinks are strong enough where it won't matter. Loved their full color menu with ratings on how strong each drink was. We sat at the bar and were able to watch the bartenders mix the giant mason bar drinks as well as some flaming cocktails. Fun. Other than that, the ambiance is great. There are more private tables, and they play all sorts of good indie and 90s music (Bon Iver deep cuts, anyone?). The bartenders were super cool and joked around a lot. They also gave us Fernet shots to close out the night. They have two other locations, but sadly, we didn't get to go to any of them. At least we made it to #1!

I went to La Distillerie in the Latin Quarter. First off, you'll be golden if you get there on the earlier side (they open at 4pm), because you'll quickly see a line start to form outside. Not only because this bar is a staple in the area, and it's very popular, but because they're very strict on fire code and capacity caps, only letting in the max capacity.  Dimly lit, surrounded by warm wooden fixtures and a large chalkboard well, this bar is super inviting and cozy. The staff is very accommodating and friendly. They're well known for serving a bulk of their cocktails in Mason Jars (extremely efficient for mixing, shaking and serving...and not to mention fun and cool). Even so, I went for a drink that sounded especially good to me, even though it wasn't in a jar. I went for the Pistolero, lime, passionfruit puree, tequila blanco, Laphroaig Scotch, orange liqueur, agave nectar. It was incredible. Slightly sweet and with a kick of heat, it was perfectly mixed and served in a chilled glass. Even though my drink didn't come in a Mason Jar, all of their complimentary snacks do. Gold Fish. Awesome.