Tucked away from the bustle of Richmond Road in a sunny, green courtyard, you can find the new home of Split Tree Cocktail Co. More than just the beloved cocktail mixes we’ve all come to know and love from Split Tree, the expansive space offers everything a home mixologist might need in their bar cart. From glassware, to cookbooks, to bar tools and mixes, this retail space is a one-stop shop, with on-site expertise to help you on your cocktail-making journey.
The jewel in the crown of this incredible space is The Habit, a welcoming workshop at the back of the store stocked with all the tools to make your own show-stopping cocktails. Split Tree offers regular cocktail workshops there, with different themes and ingredients. In October, you can attend a class on making cozy fall drinks, whiskey cocktails, or spooky Halloween creations. This is a perfect experience for cocktail lovers of all ages. It’s not only a fun and delicious night out, but a great way to learn how to make bar-quality cocktails at home.
Each workshop includes three cocktails to learn and taste, and there is space at the table for about a dozen attendees. You can book individual tickets around the big community table, or opt for the cozy Date Night tables for two if you’re bringing a hot date. There is a delicious charcuterie board set out for grazing as well (which happens to be bottomless, we were pleased to find that out after a couple of strong drinks!). Each participant is encouraged to take notes and write down the recipe for the cocktails, as each ingredient, tool, and step is explained fully by the expert leading the workshop. Jesse is the friendly and fun in-house mixologist, with over a decade of experience in all facets of the bar and spirits industry. He creates a welcoming, accessible atmosphere with incredibly precise instructions.
“There is a bunch of science in bartending. Some rhyming, and a sh*t ton of alcohol. And of course, lots of fun.”
—mixologist Jesse Baillie
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- A classic egg white sour
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- The tools of the trade
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- The Boulevardier
During the class, you’re welcome to take full advantage of the instructor’s expertise. With his wealth of knowledge, he could answer any question about spirits, their origins, uses and ingredients, as well as cocktail culture in Ottawa and around the world. If you have ever wondered what makes Canadian rye distinctive, what moonshine is made of, where in Ottawa to find the best negroni, or the best shape of ice to use in your favourite cocktail—they got answers. Not only were we learning about the individual cocktails that we had signed up to enjoy, but we got a lesson on the styles of glassware we were using, and honest reviews of the bar tools, ingredients, and garnishes typically found behind most bars.
As we sipped each finished cocktail, Split Tree staff cleaned away the used bar tools, and reset the tables for the next drink. During these intermissions you can shop in the store, fill up on more charcuterie, and quiz the mixologist about any and all things cocktail. Some common cocktails myths were dispelled, and we were armed with new knowledge for future trips to LCBO, SAQ, and favourite watering holes. It certainly feels less like a workshop and more like a masterclass.
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The space is also available for special events and is the perfect venue for a private party or a custom cocktail class! They also sell a good selection of non-alcoholic spirits in store, and offered a sold-out mocktail workshop during Dry January this past year. There are options to create non-alcoholic cocktails during the regular workshops as well, making it flexible for all audiences.
Right now, Split Tree is building on its partnerships with other local businesses around town, and a new pizza and wine workshop is already running. Partnering with 613 Plant Based and a local sommelier, you can learn the secrets to the perfect wood-oven fired pizza and pair it with five unique wines, which are mostly not found in LCBO. These are the sorts of events that owner Steve Morrier is working to create in the coming months, and they are perfect as a night out or as a gift to the foodie who is impossible to shop for.
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- The sunny courtyard. Photo: Kiersten Vuorimaki.
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- Everything you need to entertain. Photo: Kiersten Vuorimaki.
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- A treasure chest of ingredients. Photo: Kiersten Vuorimaki.
Speaking of gifts, they also offer curated gift boxes of products and tools for the bartender in your life. You can order charcuterie boxes to go as well, pulled from their expansive collection of pickles, preserves, nuts, nibbles, and local meat and cheese connections in store. Their collection of unique spirits is also growing, offering options that are not found in LCBO, but are integral to the perfect bar cart.
This is a one-of-a-kind experience, offered by a truly local business, and is the perfect night out for any season.
Split Tree Cocktail Co. is located at 98-J Richmond Road in Westboro. Cocktail workshops cost $100 for the two-hour workshop, including all ingredients, instruction, and the charcuterie spread. Workshop attendees can also shop the retail space with a 10 per cent discount after the workshop. The space is accessible, and all workshops are 19+. You are encouraged to arrange a safe ride home ahead of time if you intend to drink all three cocktails.
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