July 31st saw the Crystal Ballroom at Calgary’s Fairmont Palliser play host to a trendy international mixology contest where attendees, alongside a panel of judges, can sip and vote for their favourite bevvy. Made With Love is an ‘extravagant’ event, in which competitors dabble with eclectic ingredients and alcohol, usually paired with a small taste of something, meant to dazzle the senses. The competition was created in Montreal, back in 2009, and eight years nigh has spread across Canada, Spain and Mexico.

If you’re a sweet tooth who loves Campari, this is an event for you. If you’re a fan of the savoury, eat before you go or, perhaps, sit this one out. At $55 to $65 a ticket for an event that began at 6pm, the food pairings were pretty scant and tiny. A vegan chip with a spot of hummus-like dip; a crostini spread with chutney, prosciutto and gorgonzola cheese – not enough to satiate one who has just sipped over ten very sweet and concentrated cocktail samples. The vast majority of entries were paired with something sweet: a scoop of Made by Marcus ice cream; a white chocolate brittle; a chocolate dolloped spongy Madeleine; a mini vanilla cake; a strawberry topped with whipped cream and dehydrated strawberry chip.

That said, one is not limited to how much one tries at Made With Love. If a stall becomes a favourite, not only may you adorn that mixologist with the dog tag chain you’re given at the door to vote with, you may also take as many samples as you please.

My personal favourite was Ray Burton’s – of Last Best Brewing and Distilling – Masaya’s Elixir. This was an intriguing blend of Flor de Cana Ron, peach jam, fresh lemon juice, clove simple syrup, ginger bitters, and basil leaves served with a basil leaf and carbonated peach slice. It tasted complex: like the essence of Thanksgiving dinner in a glass. Burton positioned third in the judge’s choice category (first went to Proof YYC’s Ian Sorcer).

Another memorable taste combo was a gin sour teamed up with a brittle bedecked in toasty peanuts and strawberry flake, served up by charbar’s Andrew Silver. He took first place in the people’s choice category.

While some of the drinks were potent and smoky, others fell short of their mark. It is difficult to distinguish between so many sweet sips with very little to cleanse one’s palette. I left with the need for a chicken wing – and a dark, bitter beer.

Though the Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg dates have passed, Made With Love Vancouver takes place in September, Halifax in November, and Montreal in December. Check out their website or Facebook page for more details.

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Contributor Janine Eva Trotta |

Locale Calgary |

Topic Food |