Cocktail Emporium — Local services in Toronto

Stopped in to find that the items listed available on the website, were in fact not in store. The gentleman behind the counter was very busy flirting with the young lady he was helping, and as such, I was left to look for the item myself. After being unable to find the item, I was forced to interrupt the conversation to inquire about the product - a Boston shaker. I asked if he had any mixing glass tops as opposed to the weighted sets, which caused him to laugh aloud before mocking me, implying I was a pretentious hipster. Impoliteness aside, what was most frustrating was the confidence with which this guy shared misinformation - guess he’s unaware of treated glass. He then proceeded to wish me luck in drinking cocktails with glass particles that “go directly into your bloodstream”. Needless to say, not only is that not how the human body works, but he also ridiculed a potential customer while still managing to be wrong. Won’t be going back...

Lovely little place. The staff are usually friendly and know the answer to any question. They give nice little tips for you as well. I suppose a veteran bartender would be able to think of something they don't have, but any novice or intermediate mixologist will find whatever they need. You can find Angostura bitters at most large grocery stores and maybe some Dillon's here or there, but if you want anything fancier like Scrappy's or Peychauds, this is the only place. For that reason, the prices can be high, since there's no cheaper competition. Hence my four instead of five stars, because they take advantage of their proprietary position. I always somehow manage to spend over $100 when I'm in there– all I need was a few different bitters and some real maraschino cherries and maybe a new shaker... But a couple times a year, this place really livens up one's...

🎋EXTREMELY OVERPRICED! 🎋THEY NEED A BIGGER SELECTION OF TIKI GLASSES/MUGS. ALL THEY HAVE ARE VERY SMALL ONES. I WENT THERE BECAUSE ON THEIR ONLINE SHOP THEY SHOW A GOOD SELECTION BUT WHEN I WALKED IN THE ACTUAL STORE I WAS VERY DISSAPOINTED & STUNNED BY THE SIZE OF THESE THINGS! THEY ARE "NOT" LIKE THE "BIG" TIKI GLASSES/MUGS THAT YOU'VE SEEN EVERYWHERE! DEFINITELY DO NOT HAVE THE SELECTION THAT THEY HAVE ONLINE! 🎋THIS STORE IS VERY SMALL & PACKED! IF YOU ARE "CLAUSTROPHOBIC" THIS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR YOU!

🌺WHEN I SAY ITS EXPENSIVE, I SAY THAT BECAUSE... 🍹MARTINI GLASS +20$ each 🍹DRINK STRAINER 40$ each 🍹STIR STICK 8$ each 🍹COCKTAIL PIN 9$ each 🍹CANVAS APRON 185$ each 🍹BAR SPOON 20$ each 🍹3OZ BOTTLE OF A GOOD...