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Cocktail Confidential: Where Dave Schmidt Drinks

by Ian Harrison
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by Ian Harrison

daveconfidential.jpg[Photos: Randall Brodeur, Facebook]

Dave Schmidt is the man behind some of Montreal's most inventive and reliable cocktail programs. The barman, restaurateur and all-around enthusiast is a partner in Café Sardine/Iwashi Izakaya, Maïs, Datcha and - exclusive - a new tiki bar in Chinatown now in the primordial stage.

Schmidt recently took some time from his hectic schedule to share ten places in Montreal where he likes to imbibe. Call it Dave Schmidt's Cocktail Confidential.


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Dinette Triple Crown

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Triple Crown's dynamic duo of Colin Perry and Nicole Turcotte both worked at Le Chien Fumant when Schmidt was a partner in the Plateau restaurant. "Dinette Triple Crown for a South Side or Derby cocktail! Definitely great drinks at Dinette, that has to be on there."
6704 rue Clark, Montreal, Quebec, H2S 3E9, Canada
(514) 272-2617
(514) 272-2617

The Emerald

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The Emerald is evidently a place that takes cocktails very seriously (see Eater Montreal Cocktail Heatmap). Schmidt concurs, notably for the classics.
5295 ave. du Parc, Montreal, Quebec, H2V 4G9, Canada
(514) 802-8899
(514) 802-8899

Lawrence

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When Schmidt can get in to Mile End hot spot Lawrence for brunch, he likes to order a Jukebox IPA and Campari.
5201 boul. Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 1S4, Canada
(514) 503-1070
(514) 503-1070

The Sparrow

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"I like Sparrow for a Boulevardier cocktail or a Campari soda with a dash of Chartreuse (not on the menu but what I love to order there)."
5322 boul. Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 1A5, Canada
(514) 690-3964
(514) 690-3964

Magpie

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Magpie's oven dominates discussions on the Mile End pizzeria but Schmidt, who ran the restaurant for almost two years, recommends the Caesar.
16 rue Maguire, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 1B8, Canada
(514) 507-2900
(514) 507-2900

Bílý Kůň

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Montreal's premier Czech bar is a Schmidt fave. "I like Bílý Kůň for Absinthe and shots of Becherovka [herbal bitters from Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic]."
354 ave. du Mont-Royal Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 1P9, Canada
(514) 845-5392
(514) 845-5392

L'Express

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Schmidt favours L'Express, Montreal's quintessential bistro, for fair markups on good, obscure wines and the classic service of veteran barman Claude Masson.
3927 rue Saint-Denis, Montrral, Quebec, H2W 2M4, Canada
(514) 845-5333
(514) 845-5333

Dominion Square Tavern

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Dominion makes a lot of cocktails well but Schmidt most appreciates the upscale tavern's Canadian Old Fashioned, with rye, a sugar cube, Angostura bitters, lemon zest, Triple Sec and Cointreau.
1243 rue Metcalfe, Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2V5, Canada
(514) 564-5056
(514) 564-5056

Nora Gray

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Nora Gray owner and barman Ryan Gray is one of the city's foremost wine geeks but Schmidt loves the restaurant's "love of bitters and Amaro and their uses in cocktails."
1391 rue Saint-Jacques, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 1H2, Canada
(514) 419-6672
(514) 419-6672

Burgundy Lion

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Schmidt's patronage of Little Burgundy's bellwether pub is all about whisky. Burgundy Lion owner Toby Lyle has slowly amassed the most impressive collection in the city, with over 300 bottles at last count.
2496, rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montreal, Quebec, H3J 1N5, Canada
(514) 934-0888
(514) 934-0888
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Dinette Triple Crown

6704 rue Clark, Montreal, Quebec, H2S 3E9, Canada
Triple Crown's dynamic duo of Colin Perry and Nicole Turcotte both worked at Le Chien Fumant when Schmidt was a partner in the Plateau restaurant. "Dinette Triple Crown for a South Side or Derby cocktail! Definitely great drinks at Dinette, that has to be on there."
6704 rue Clark, Montreal, Quebec, H2S 3E9, Canada
(514) 272-2617
(514) 272-2617

The Emerald

5295 ave. du Parc, Montreal, Quebec, H2V 4G9, Canada
The Emerald is evidently a place that takes cocktails very seriously (see Eater Montreal Cocktail Heatmap). Schmidt concurs, notably for the classics.
5295 ave. du Parc, Montreal, Quebec, H2V 4G9, Canada
(514) 802-8899
(514) 802-8899

Lawrence

5201 boul. Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 1S4, Canada
When Schmidt can get in to Mile End hot spot Lawrence for brunch, he likes to order a Jukebox IPA and Campari.
5201 boul. Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 1S4, Canada
(514) 503-1070
(514) 503-1070

The Sparrow

5322 boul. Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 1A5, Canada
"I like Sparrow for a Boulevardier cocktail or a Campari soda with a dash of Chartreuse (not on the menu but what I love to order there)."
5322 boul. Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 1A5, Canada
(514) 690-3964
(514) 690-3964

Magpie

16 rue Maguire, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 1B8, Canada
Magpie's oven dominates discussions on the Mile End pizzeria but Schmidt, who ran the restaurant for almost two years, recommends the Caesar.
16 rue Maguire, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 1B8, Canada
(514) 507-2900
(514) 507-2900

Bílý Kůň

354 ave. du Mont-Royal Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 1P9, Canada
Montreal's premier Czech bar is a Schmidt fave. "I like Bílý Kůň for Absinthe and shots of Becherovka [herbal bitters from Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic]."
354 ave. du Mont-Royal Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 1P9, Canada
(514) 845-5392
(514) 845-5392

L'Express

3927 rue Saint-Denis, Montrral, Quebec, H2W 2M4, Canada
Schmidt favours L'Express, Montreal's quintessential bistro, for fair markups on good, obscure wines and the classic service of veteran barman Claude Masson.
3927 rue Saint-Denis, Montrral, Quebec, H2W 2M4, Canada
(514) 845-5333
(514) 845-5333

Dominion Square Tavern

1243 rue Metcalfe, Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2V5, Canada
Dominion makes a lot of cocktails well but Schmidt most appreciates the upscale tavern's Canadian Old Fashioned, with rye, a sugar cube, Angostura bitters, lemon zest, Triple Sec and Cointreau.
1243 rue Metcalfe, Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2V5, Canada
(514) 564-5056
(514) 564-5056

Nora Gray

1391 rue Saint-Jacques, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 1H2, Canada
Nora Gray owner and barman Ryan Gray is one of the city's foremost wine geeks but Schmidt loves the restaurant's "love of bitters and Amaro and their uses in cocktails."
1391 rue Saint-Jacques, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 1H2, Canada
(514) 419-6672
(514) 419-6672

Burgundy Lion

2496, rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montreal, Quebec, H3J 1N5, Canada
Schmidt's patronage of Little Burgundy's bellwether pub is all about whisky. Burgundy Lion owner Toby Lyle has slowly amassed the most impressive collection in the city, with over 300 bottles at last count.
2496, rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montreal, Quebec, H3J 1N5, Canada
(514) 934-0888
(514) 934-0888