Greg O’Brien, the owner of Bar From Afar in Ottawa, Ontario, passed away on Monday, April 29, 2024. His wife Sarah O’Brien has confirmed the news of his passing. To know Greg meant to love him. A global pandemic hit Ottawa, Ontario, in mid-March 2020, forcing most industries to close.
Greg and his wife, who work in finance and hospitality, have experienced significant influence. The first week in quarantine was an emotional roller coaster filled with fear and unknowns. To preserve some control and create our own bright spot each day, they attempted to make the most of their time at home by establishing a “happy hour”. They used this time to check in, share a snack, and make a cocktail with the stock from our home bar.
They both recognized the significance of shutting off the news and finding ways to divert ourselves with something we both care about: food and drink. After sharing a few of their cocktails on social media, they began receiving responses like “ohh, I want that” and “will you deliver?” This got them thinking, and shortly after, Bar From Afar was born.
Bar From Afar
Bar From Afar provides a service that comes with mouthwatering cocktails that are made in the traditional speakeasy style. One way to think of this is as being something like to a food box delivery, but with drinks instead of dinner. However, in order to make the classic cocktails that you would normally enjoy at your favorite bar or restaurant, you will need a range of odd components that you probably do not stock or would buy for just that one cocktail recipe. This is because you have a small selection of alcoholic beverages at your home.
They will create and bring a complete cocktail kit to either drop it off at your doorstep or come to your location for pickup, depending on which option you select when you place your order. All of the ingredients, with the exception of glassware, that are required to make speakeasy-quality cocktails at home are included in the kit. These include the alcohol, juices, seasonings, garnishes, and directions that are both detailed and easy to understand.