I used to think of cocktails as "girly drinks," fruity, sugar-loaded concoctions that required the addition of up to half a glass of water just to make the sweetness palatable. But over the years I've come to appreciate the art of a true cocktail - a drink often containing only a few ingredients, yet alive with layers of flavour that can be appreciated by people of either gender. 

So I was thrilled when David Wolowidnyk, the bar manager at West Restaurant, invited me down for drinks and a short interview during my visit to Vancouver. David has mixed drinks for over two decades at bars across Vancouver and The Grand Cayman Islands and won many awards, including Bombay Sapphire's title of World's Most Original Bartender in 2012. 

When David makes a cocktail it's both a science and an art. During my visit, he spoke of genetic pairings for flavours in his cocktails, chatted with a fellow bartender about methods for making the clearest ice and patiently explained how and why he put together each drink he served me. Just watching David work is a treat. His hands move with grace and certainty as he measures, pours and shakes. And despite his years of experience and many accolades, his service remains casual and free of pretension. 

Enjoying an Old Fashioned with David across the bar