Lauren Mote Receives Top Honours

Bittered Sling Bitters co-proprietor Lauren Mote received top honours at this year’s Tales of the Cocktail® festival in New Orleans, LA as the first Canadian Woman inducted into the prestigious Dame Hall of Fame in front of her international industry peers. With only five inductions this year, including industry leaders Audrey Saunders (Pegu Club, NY), Laura Cullen (Pacific Wines and Spirits, CA), Cris Delhavi (M Restaurant and Bar, OH), and Angie Salame (Drink Company, DC), Mote joins an exhibition of only 25 women since the program’s inception in 2012.

Mote becomes one of very few international inductees, following William Grants & Sons’ Portfolio Ambassador Charlotte Voisey in 2012 and Moët Hennessy’s Belvedere Vodka Head of Spirit Creation Claire Smith Warner in 2015. It’s not the first time that Mote’s name has been called for a prestigious award celebrating her work and career in the industry — in 2015 she was named Bartender of the Year at the 26th Annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, and shortly after named Canadian Bartender of the Year by Diageo World Class.

“The Dame Hall of Fame celebrates the fortitude and groundbreaking achievements by women in our global hospitality industry, striving to knock down walls and create strength in our community,” said Ann Tuennerman, founder of Tales of the Cocktail, “we are honored to include Lauren amongst the select group of this year’s inductees.”

A well-respected speaker, educator, mentor and industry advocate, Mote’s reach extends well beyond the bar. She currently serves as the Canadian Ambassador for Speed Rack, has been an event partner, keynote speaker with Tales of the Cocktail® since 2011, and is the Chief Judge for the Vancouver International Spirits Competition. Mote is also a passionate philanthropist, donating her time and expertise to Ronald McDonald House, Dr. Peter Aids Foundation, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the BC Hospitality Foundation.

In addition to her role as Director of Operations at Bittered Sling, she is an in-demand hospitality consultant and in the past two years has helped revamp and redesign bar programs at The Nash Restaurant & Off Cut Bar in Calgary as well as at Vancouver’s Café Medina, Savoury Chef Foods and Burdock & Co., most recently collaborating with YEW seafood + bar in the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver to launch the Oceans Program — an innovative cocktail menu that draws inspiration from the world’s oceans and dovetails with the restaurant’s celebrated focus on seafood sustainability.

“I am absolutely moved by this award,” said Mote. “To join such an incredible group of inspirational women recognized for their work, mentorship and strength in our global community is validation that all the work that I’ve done for our industry, both at home and abroad, is paying off. I’m extremely humbled and grateful to have been singled out for such an honour.”

Born and bred in Toronto, Mote began her career behind the bar at Club Monaco Patio and Café in Yorkville at the age of 18 before moving on to earn her stripes as a sommelier and assistant bar manager at Toronto institution Le Sélect Bistro. In 2007 she packed up and headed west, landing the role of bar manager at Lumière before moving on to work in managerial roles at Goldfish Pacific Kitchen, Chow Restaurant, Hawksworth Catering and The Refinery. In 2012, Mote realized a dream of combining the cocktail and culinary worlds when she established Bittered Sling Bitters alongside celebrated chef Jonathan Chovancek, whom Mote credits as her greatest inspiration in both life and business.

“Jonathan has been a massive influence on me and has always encouraged me,” she said. “He’s probably been the most important force in my life both personally and professionally and has helped me to achieve every goal imaginable. Without him, none of this would have been possible.”

For more information about the 2016 Dame Hall of Fame Induction, please visit https://goo.gl/TkODAT .