or some people, a good night out involves a simple cold beer, some friends, a hockey game, and some conversation. Such people should avoid LAB Cocktail Bar. At LAB, drinking is more than just an activity; it's an art, it's entertainment, and ultimately it's a way of life. Like Coyote Ugly without all the T & A or Cocktail without all the Tom Cruise, LAB elevates bartending to more than just a means of getting the booze into your mouth. At LAB, bartending is the main attraction.

Helmed by professional mixologists Fabien Maillard and Sam Dalcourt, LAB employs six bartenders (including the two owners), all of whom practice the art of "flair" bartending. Between them, these six bartenders have performed for countless audiences and taken part in countless competitions. They've also made enough cocktails to put Amy Winehouse into rehab (even if she says "No No No"). With all that combined experience, it's no wonder they've been able to craft a bar so worthy of its liquor license.

But Sam and Fabien didn't actually intend on opening a bar. As the men behind Mixoart Bar Entertainment, they have put on a number of SAQ presentation, shows for events, and cocktail classes and flair lessons. Looking for a space for training and offices, Sam discovered the shuttered Code Nightclub, a space that was already licensed, and decided on impulse to open up a bar. Offices and training are still located here, but the venue is open to the public.

And thankfully so; there's too much talent here to waste. Besides getting a show, you'll also get some of the most expertly crafted cocktails this side of New York. Just because the bartenders are juggling the bottles while they pour them, doesn't mean they won't mix you a mean Kentucky Julep. If you'd rather go for something less southern, try the Balsamic Berry, made with strawberry puree, Sky Vodka, 3 ounces of vinegar (really), and a twist of lime.

The team consistently finds ways to put a new twist on a familiar cocktail. Take the Thai Tiger, for instance, which manages to expertly combine sweet and spicy. The drink mixes spiced amber Jamaican rum with ginger syrup, coconut cream, hot pepper, and lime juice. Other favourites include Plantation Breeze (basil, London gin, grapefruit juice), Love Potion (French vodka, violet syrup, and white cranberry juice), and Couleur Café (Coffee cream and liqueur flambéed with Absinthe).