Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/288963
W atching Lauren Mote behind the bar, it's easy to picture her on screen or performing in a Broad- way play – her personality shines through so strongly that it feels like a spotlight should be fixed on her at all times. "I love that I am onstage, and my team is onstage. Yes, you're only as good as the last cocktail you've made, but the experience is the genuine reward in bartending." Mote, who has won bartending awards on the local, national and international level, has been on fire lately. In 2013, she became bar manager at Uva and also had her Bittered Sling cocktail bitters and culinary extracts line named Producer/Sup- plier of the Year. All in all, things are going pretty damn well for Mote. "Business and goodwill has dramatically increased, and this is a great accomplishment." w h e r e t o D r i n k "I really try to support as many people and establishments as I can. My top picks are: West Restaurant, Cham- bar, L'Abattoir, Yew Seafood + Bar, Fairmont Pacific Rim, Wildebeest, Homer St. Cafe and Bar, Blue Water Cafe, e Black- bird, e Keefer Bar, Hawksworth and e Morrissey Pub." F a v o u r i t e D r i n k "Give me a Negroni, a Martinez or an Arse- nic and Old Lace cocktail – make it properly and I'm yours." F a v o u r i t e B o o z e t r e n D "Complexity within simplicity. It's sort of the doctrine we employ at Uva Wine + Cocktail Bar right now, too. e most beautiful creations exist using the perfect balance of very few ingredients." ■ least Favourite Booze trenD: "I think trends, both strong and weak, exist as a stepping stone toward greater accom- plishments in the industry. I'm just not interested in paying over $20 for a cocktail." Lauren Mote Uva Wine + Cocktail Bar 900 Seymour Street years bartending 14 58 | SPRING 2014 bcliving.ca signature Drink Charentes Chanson It's a balanced blend of cognac, Cocchi Ver- mouth di Torino, Okana- gan Spirits Framboise Eau-de-Vie, Kensington Aromatic Syrup and Bittered Sling's Mala- gasy Chocolate bitters. p52-59_Bartenders_Cart.indd 58 2014-03-13 11:17 AM