we are bartenders

From humble beginnings in their home basements, Jeff and Matt turned their passion for creating unique cocktails into a thriving catering company, Clever Barkeep, based in Nova Scotia. They had big plans to expand their business by renting a space in Downtown Dartmouth and transforming it into an event and bartending class space, but the pandemic forced them to pivot. Despite the setback, they turned the space into Dear Friend Bar, an award-winning community hub where friends gather over delicious cocktails and bites.

Enter Anisa, a woman with a thirst for adventure who walked into Dear Friend Bar before it opened its doors. She quickly proved to be more than just a skilled bartender, taking on the role of creative director for both Dear Friend Bar and Clever Barkeep. The team's innovative ideas for canned cocktails took off during the pandemic, and they became trailblazers for changing liquor laws to make it legal to sell cocktails from the bar. The community couldn't get enough, and the canned cocktails sold like hotcakes. Spotting a gap in the market, the trio teamed up to launch a new venture together: Barkeep Cocktails, offering ready-to-drink cocktails that bring the flavors of Dear Friend Bar to people's homes.