Adaina Smyth, the exceptional mixologist at Bar Les Cousins

After studying graphic design and 3D animation in 2009, she was unable to find a job in her field because of the economic downturn. She ended up working in the restaurant industry and, looking at where she is today and her place in Canada’s mixology scene, there’s no question that she made the right choice.

Despite being very shy, she started as a hostess and fell in love with her job: "I was very introverted, I had a hard time picking up the phone to order a pizza. But I realized that greeting people and smiling at them made me happy.” Adaina was already interested in what was going on behind the bar by then. A happy combination of circumstances marked the beginning of her career as a mixologist and her great passion for the art: "The bartender at the restaurant where I worked was sick. I went in to replace him at the last minute. There was a big rush, and I killed it! From that moment on, I never left the bar.” Over the years, her extensive experience landed her the bar manager position at major restaurants across the country, and then Smyth moved to Montreal at the invitation of a friend. She had no idea that she was about to be offered the job of her dreams.

To her surprise, she found herself visiting the Escad Hotel construction site in Quartier Dix30 with Marie Pier Germain and other members of Germain Hotels management team. "They showed me where the bar was going to be. There was NOTHING there. Lines of tape on the floor to show where the bar would be, and that's about it. They explained the design, asked questions about my vision for the place, the bar, the seating. I was very confused.” Little did she know that once it was built, Bar Les Cousins would become her project.

Under her direction, Les Cousins, which opened in 2018, became the go-to cocktail bar on Montreal's South Shore. The concept of the bar is simple: highlight Quebec products, both spirits and microbrewery beers. Adaina believes that Quebec produces spirits of the highest quality, but that unfortunately, the rest of Canada doesn’t know about them. Her goal is to make them known to people here and abroad. The fact that the bar is in a hotel makes promoting Quebec spirits all the more interesting since it allows her to share them with foreign customers or those from other provinces. For Adaina, there's no need to look elsewhere, everything you need to create refined cocktails is right here: "Quebec is the largest producer of gin in the country. There are over 115 Quebec gins to discover. The goal is to support the local economy and celebrate the culture here. That's why Les Cousins exists.” Gin is Adaina Smyth's spirit of choice: "I don't buy nice shoes, I don't care how my hair looks, but gin..." You can tell her passion runs deep. Quebec gins offer herbal notes and a wide range of flavours that make them the ideal spirit, according to the mixologist. She argues that a Negroni will never be the same if you use a different gin each time. It’s a spirit that brings greater complexity to a cocktail, a depth that Adaina looks for when she creates a cocktail.

There are over 100 Quebec gins at Les Cousins! It’s definitely one of the largest collections of Quebec gins in the world. Moreover, Quebec products represent 85% of the bar's inventory. For Adaina, it's about highlighting the value of products found here: "If a customer wants an Aperol-spritz, we'll advise him to replace the Aperol with Amermelade or Aperitivo (Noroi). If he wants a Negroni, we can use Amer Amer bitter instead of Campari. We want people to discover the magnificent spirits of Quebec.”

Her love of spirits, mixology and service is so great that Adaina wants to pass them on to her team. When she first started, her team at Les Cousins was made up mostly of young people with little industry experience. Providing them with solid training was a top priority for Adaina, who holds monthly sessions to share her knowledge and discuss new projects: "I treat the people in the bar like family. We always want to do more in terms of daring and aesthetics. I do my best for the customers and employees, and they do their best for me.” As the mixologist points out, being knowledgeable about a product when you sell it benefits both the bar and the customers, who can learn more about what's being offered. In addition, the way she engages her employees at all levels has helped build strong bonds within a team that is very invested in its mission. Adaina Smyth's vision for Bar Les Cousins is to make it a great spot to meet up; a place to experiment and try things that haven't been done yet. Les Cousins is a must see destination for cocktail lovers in Quebec. Anyone interested in mixology should stop by and experience it first hand.

Keep an eye on Les Cousins and Adaina Smyth, the adventure is just beginning, and we can't wait to see what the future holds.

Les Cousins, 9156 boulevard Leduc, Brossard

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