Born a Bookworm
Famous Last Words owner Marlene Thorne was destined to open a literary-themed bar. Her love of the written word is clearly seen on the menu, which has an impressive list of literary-inspired cocktails.
Born in Newfoundland, Marlene practically lived at the library as a child. “I used to go every day after school, they waived all the limits,” says Marlene. “I’ve been an obsessive reader my entire life.” She made her way west for school, and eventually settled in Toronto in 1998. Fast-forward 19 years, and Marlene’s cocktail bar is one of the hottest destinations in The Junction, for bookworms and cocktail enthusiasts alike.
Corporate Cocktails
Marlene tended bar in university and after graduating she landed a job in marketing. She worked her way through some well-known corporate marketing firms in the city, all the while her love of cocktails grew.
Marlene found herself creating cocktail menus for corporate events. “I got involved a lot in sort of going beyond the basics and I started to infuse my own spirits, and I started to make my own simple syrups, says Marlene. “I started doing a lot more cocktail catering just as a side gig, because I really enjoyed it and it was tons of fun for me.”
This hobby provided the basis for Famous Last Words, and when she lost her job in corporate marketing, she took a leap of faith. “When I thought about the things I really love to do, creating cocktails was one of the things that really came to mind. I thought: I wonder how I can make a living off of something like that.” It didn’t take long, with Marlene dreaming up concepts, cocktail menus and design, for Famous Last Words to become a reality.
Famous Last Words
With the full support of her family and friends, Marlene dove in headfirst. She immersed herself in the art of creating cocktails and enrolled in an intensive five-day cocktail course. When it comes to creating the innovative drinks, Marlene pulls inspiration from the page – she has read every novel featured in the cocktail list. Whether it’s a theme, the title, a character or the plot, she hones in on it and creates a unique and diverse cocktail that is well balanced and thought out.
Other than novels, Marlene’s inspiration comes from flavour combinations. “Sometimes ingredients inspire me, like a spice, or sometimes I get inspired by a spirit,” says Marlene. “There are so many different experiences. Sometimes I try something when I’m out, and there’s a combination of flavours that I think work really well together, so then I’ll make it into a cocktail.”
Famous Last Words is not only a cocktail bar, but a community space. Marlene welcomes book clubs to meet in the space, partnering with Kobo Books to donate $20 towards a literacy charity. The bar also hosts cocktail classes, tastings and book exchanges.
Originally published on Yellow Pages
