XX Files–our weekly item on Toronto’s better bartenders.
Name/alias Aja Sax Alias: Miss Sax (but only to Dave Mitton) or Saxy
Current bar The County General
How long in the business 12 years
First drink/drunk When I was 13, I used to stay at my friend’s place. Her grandma, who she lived with, always had powdered cappuccino mix. We made instant coffees and added Baileys and Kahlua. We were drunk, but also bouncing off the walls from all the sugar and caffeine. I remember liking how uninhibited it made my usually shy friend. That is still my favourite thing about getting people drunk.
What Influences Me I am lucky enough to have incredibly talented friends doing this, so they are my ultimate inspiration. I love that people are experimenting more; I recently convinced a devout Cosmo drinker to try an Old Fashioned and converted her. That was amazing. Mostly I just want people to enjoy themselves at my bar.
Best barfly I don’t know if this counts, but I love when everyone is a few shots of Jameson deep, and my playlist is on, and the whole bar starts singing along, joining together with people they don’t even know. That is what it’s all about, for me.
Cinematic bartender My favourite movie-drinking is in films like All About Eve, where everyone is drinking martinits and pulling cigarettes out of random boxes strewn across the room; the host is the bartender and vice versa, which is kind of how it works, no?
Rules Say please and thank you. No snapping. That’s about it. I’ll make whatever you want. You’re buying it and drinking it, who am I to judge if you want to mix Red Bull with your Belvedere?
Celebrity experiences One time an elusive and incredibly famous man walked into my bar. Ordered a shot of Jager, didn’t finish it, and left $50 behind on the bar. It wasn’t until much later I realized it was the incredible Gord Hannah.
Best late-night or morning-after places Other than the County?! (wink, wink) Cold Tea in Kensington and 416 Snack Bar are great for snacks around last call. Generally I just go where I know the bartenders and love the food, which extends to Keriwa, the Harbord Room, Sidecar/TTS, Churchill, the Drake, Campagnolo…
For the morning-after, Swan and Aunties and Uncles are the best. I’ve been going since I was 18 to both, and I love the owners, the food, everything.
Best/worst tip At the Drake during TIFF, a totally unassuming, baseball clad man came up and palmed me $100USD as an introduction. I turned to the other bartender, explaining I was basically only serving this guy for the night. Handed me $100 for every round. Worst tips don’t matter… you’ve gotta be mad for a second and let it go. It’s mostly their parents’ fault, anyway.
Favourite cocktail/beer/wine right now I love the Boulevardier right now. But my favourite drink in the world is Mitty’s Ronald Clayton.
Watch for Mickey Mondays and Flight Nights on Wednesdays at the County, plus late night food ’til 3am Thursday, Friday and Saturday!
The County General, 926 Queen St W
Kerry and Ivy Knight write the XX Files column for Toronto Standard. Follow them on Twitter at @keppsterr and @IvyKnight.
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