Who are we?

Barkeep Cocktails was born out of a moment of uncertainty and a whole lot of heart.

When the pandemic forced Dear Friend Bar to close its doors in 2020, co-founders Jeff Van Horne and Matt Boyle got creative. To keep things afloat, they began canning their cocktails by hand under their original banner, The Clever Barkeep. Each can was sealed, labelled, and packed by the two of them, and each one featured a QR code inviting customers to share feedback, flavour ideas, and pricing thoughts. The designs? All brought to life by Anisa Francoeur, the creative director and co-founder behind the brand’s now-iconic labels and mascots.

When restrictions lifted and Dear Friend reopened, customers kept asking: “Can I buy more of your canned cocktails?” That ongoing demand sparked the idea for something bigger and Barkeep Cocktails was officially born.

What started as a two-person operation grew into a full-fledged premium canned cocktail brand through a partnership with Good Robot Brewing, who now produces Barkeep's lineup. The journey hasn’t been without its challenges from navigating alcohol content laws to refining can designs to breaking into retail shelves, but today, Barkeep proudly offers five standout products, including their latest launch: the Paradise Spritz.

Each can still carries that same spirit of hustle, hospitality, and high-quality craft, just with a bit more automation.