The Origin Story
Tiny delivery mechanisms for delight
"Few things haunt me more than hearing someone say, 'Shit, we ran out of ice.'"
Few things haunt me more than hearing someone say, "Shit, we ran out of ice."
Because the right details can really change the feeling of a moment. Zardo Lab is about creating the conditions for people to relax, settle in, and enjoy where they are with who they are with.
I like having all the things, because there is nothing better than the thrill of delivering a well-made drink, producing exactly what the moment needed, pulling out the emergency stash of gin, and hearing someone say, "omg, you have to try this," or "this is the best margarita I've ever had."
These are not just details to me. They are tiny delivery mechanisms for delight.
We really needed a drink
The origin of the GINcidental, and everything that followed.
A few years ago, during the winter, my mother-in-law came to visit with a random assortment of liquor. We settled in and lit a fire, but there was an incident. The house started to fill with smoke. We opened all the windows and doors, waited for it to clear, and froze in the process.
We really needed a drink.
So I started mixing. What came out of that evening was the GINcidental, a cocktail that somehow emerged from chaos and became an instant favourite. I have been chasing that same reaction ever since. Zardo Lab is my outlet for that chase.
The value of a good gathering
White Birch Island, Moon River, Bala, Muskoka.
My family cottage is on White Birch Island on the Moon River in Bala, Muskoka. This is where I learned the value of a good gathering.
The cottage has always been one of those places where everyone is invited, the drinks are flowing, and the vibes are good. During regatta weekend, our neighbours, friends, and families run a cocktail competition, and a few years ago, I won. I remain extremely humble about this, obviously.
But more than the competition, it's the feeling of it all: long afternoons that stretch into evening, people settling in, no one in a hurry to leave, and good drinks making the whole thing feel even better. I've always been the one behind the makeshift bar, and I've always loved it there.
Place, culture, mood, and memory
On seeking out the world's best bars, one trip at a time.
My wife, Kaleigh, and I travel whenever we can. We believe in experiences over things, and some of our favourite travel memories have happened over food and drink.
Wherever we go, we seek out cocktail bars, not just for the drinks, but for the way they express a place.
There is something special about sitting in a beautiful bar, tasting someone else's creativity, and being reminded that a drink can carry a sense of place, culture, mood, and memory.