New cocktail series to crown Toronto's top bartender

The cocktail competition is alive and well in Toronto. The latest local iteration comes from upstart distillery Dillon's and is aptly titled the Cocktail Cup. It's a series of head-to-head elimination challenges between Toronto bartenders taking place at different bars and restaurants around town. Get the full schedule here.

The series is designed to showcase Toronto bars that are known for their creative cocktails, so running the competition over the course of many months should serve to highlight the overall state of cocktail culture in the city.

Some of the participating restaurants and bars include Churchill, Valdez, Home of the Brave, Cold Tea, Parts & Labour, and Hopgood's Foodliner.

The list of competing bartenders can be found here. Tickets are $30, which includes both the show as well as the drinks made during each bartender battle.

Photo by Jesse Milns