TORONTO — Library Bar has launched a new cocktail menu by Fairmont Royal York hotel’s award-winning director of Mixology, James Grant. As an exceptional first for the iconic brand, Grant levies inspiration from a collection of odd and daring to refined ingredients, showcased in themes of Martinis, Masterpieces, Poetry, Folklore, Science Fiction and Best Sellers.
Grant’s inspiration for the menu is derived from a canon of both literary and film classics, crafting a cocktail experience unlike any beverage menu ever before seen at the iconic hotel. Winner of the Diaego World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2021 and Canada’s 100 Best Bartender of the Year 2022, Grant’s hospitality ethos and creativity as a bartender is largely due to solely managing and bartending at his alma mater, Little Hong Kong, a 16-seat bar in Edmonton, Alta., where he honed the fine art of conversation to connect with each guest and craft bespoke cocktails.
Library Bar’s menu features 20 cocktails in total, including 17 new cocktails and three from the most recent menu.
- Martinis – The Classic, The Luxe
- Masterpieces – Master & Commander, Birthday Suit, The Curator, King of Dreams
- Poetry – Ghost Ships, Bespoke Tailoring, The Moon, Divine Comedy
- Folklore – Black Lodge, Wild 400, Gunslinger Punch, Little Seeds
- Science Fiction – Spice Melange, Last of Us, Sacred Beast, Southern Reach
- Best Sellers – Dominicana, Twist of Fate
“Stepping in to the role of orchestrating the guest experience for one of Canada’s most storied hotels requires a sense of reverence for its legacy and lends the opportunity to write your own chapter in Toronto’s history,” says Grant. “I’ve always had a passion for stories, which carried me through my academic career studying history, myth, and literature. As a bartender, I’ve found a medium through which I can share stories with my guest. More importantly, through these drinks, I can help craft new stories for those who join us in Library Bar.”
“Library Bar is a beloved international figure and a cornerstone of Toronto’s great history as a meeting place of the minds. James Grant’s creative character is showcased fantastically in this intriguing collection of charismatic cocktails. The menu is finely curated for our guest experience, and with it, James has certainly authored his unique legacy and talent in Library Bar’s history as Fairmont Royal York’s most forward-thinking establishment,” says Edwin Frizzell, VP, Central Canada and general manager, Fairmont Royal York. “There is an art to hospitable entertaining, and I believe James and our whole team have created a menu that is at first an enjoyable read, then, transforms into a surprising delight to the senses the moment the cocktail is served to our guest.”
