El Rey is a bright mezcal bar in Toronto's Kensington Market. The bar boasts a rustic design aesthetic with raw brick walls, arched doorways and terracotta details. There are also incorporated cacti and succulent plants, Mexploitation visuals and vibrant colors throughout the space as well.
The main focus of El Rey is its enticing selection of mezcals, with approximately 35 offered currently and more to come. The mezcals are categorized by species, tasting notes and places of origin. The selection of cocktails prepares for the warm weather with drinks such as the Mexploitation, which is essentially a Mai Tai-resembling drink that comes with a terra cotta.
El Rey also serves up a menu of bar snacks such as morita popcorn and cacahuate, which is a mix of peanuts and grasshoppers. A standout item from the menu would be the 'guacamaya,' a bun that holds fried pork skins coated in creamy avocado and salsa.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Mezcal Bar Trend
- The rise of mezcal bars is creating opportunities for unique and authentic drinking experiences.
- Cocktail Innovation Trend
- Mixologists are experimenting with new and exciting cocktail recipes, like the Mexploitation, to cater to consumer preferences.
- Sustainability in Bar Snacks Trend
- The inclusion of unexpected and sustainable ingredients, such as grasshoppers in cacahuate, is gaining popularity in bar snack menus.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Hospitality Industry
- Mezcal bars like El Rey are driving innovation in the hospitality industry with their focus on unique spirits and immersive experiences.
- Culinary Industry
- The incorporation of unconventional ingredients, like fried pork skins and grasshoppers, in bar snacks is pushing culinary boundaries and appealing to adventurous food enthusiasts.
- Beverage Industry
- The growing demand for mezcal and innovative cocktails is opening up opportunities for distillers, mixologists, and beverage brands to create new products and expand their offerings.
