Drink Melbourne

Your guide to Australian craft spirits & Melbourne's cocktail culture

  • About Sarah
  • Copywriting for Bars & Distillers
  • Sign Up
  • Want to Be Featured?
Menu

XMAS GIFT GUIDE 2020

Continue Reading

Australian Christmas Gin, Whisky and Craft Spirits 2020

Continue Reading

Xmas Gift Guide 2019

Continue Reading

Australian Christmas Craft Spirits 2019

Continue Reading

  • Home
  • Events
  • Bars
  • Sip
  • The Lush Blog
  • Bar Guide
  • About Sarah
Featured picture Featured picture Featured picture Featured picture Featured picture

drinkmelbourne

By night, advocate for Australian craft spirits & cocktail culture #drinkmelbourne 🥂🍸🥃 By day -> @the_melbourne_edit
Last weekend of summer. The weather is looking ver Last weekend of summer. The weather is looking very warm; so let's get fizz-ical! TOMORROW: The Prosecco Festival returns to Abbotsford Convent for the fizziest fiesta of the year! Sip over 50 Proseccos from Italian and Australian winemakers. And don't skip chef Adam D'Sylva's spicy vodka rigatoni served hot from the pan, Prosecco gelato, nor Pornstar Martini-inspired cannolis! Tix via @theproseccofestival (there may be limited tix at the door too). Join me at the 11am-3pm session to clink some glasses or sleep in and get down there for 4.30-8.30pm round.
Happy Margarita Day! My brunch - because any exc Happy Margarita Day! My brunch - because any excuse for middle-of-the-day-margs - was inspired by Curatif's Strawberry Margarita cocktail collab with chef Huey Hewitson. It's everything; sweet, sour, savoury, crunchy, creamy. 🍓 DRUNKEN STRAWBERRIES 🍓 WITH CHÈVRE ON SOURDOUGH Sourdough bread (I like olive loaf) Goat's cheese Strawberries, 1 punnet 1 Tb balsamic vinegar 1 Tb orange curaçao (I used Marionette) 1 tsp agave syrup Black pepper Thyme Huey's Strawberry Margarita, to serve Cut strawberries in half or quarters if large. Place in a bowl and stir through balsamic and orange curaçao. Let steep for an hour, stirring occasionally. Drain strawberries reserving liquid into a small pan. Slice one of the strawberries for a cocktail garnish. Add syrup to liquid, bring to a boil and then simmer until reduced by half to make a sticky glaze. Lightly toast bread. Crumble goat's cheese over toast and top with strawberries. Crack over lots of black pepper and scatter with thyme. Drizzle with glaze. Serve with margaritas.
*The Imperial Bellini* is inspired by fairytale Ru *The Imperial Bellini* is inspired by fairytale Russian royalty and flights of fancy to Paris. It's an ode to Anastasia the Musical - now playing at the Regent Theatre. Filled with Champagne, chocolate pineapple froth, roses and millions of peaches, catch it pre-show for a limited-time-only at @theatriumon35 👑
They say begin as you mean to go on. So I'm starti They say begin as you mean to go on. So I'm starting 2026 with a little luxury at brunch. Wishing you all a peaceful and prosperous year ahead... SPICED CHOCOLATE SPRITZ 15ml Christmas Cake Vodka 3 drops bitters - I used Mister Bitters Cacao & Macadamia bitters 60-90ml @chocolateinabottle_aus sparkling wine Chill coupe glasses. Add vodka and bitters to glasses. Top with chilled sparkling. You can use any seasonally spiced spirit or make your own as below. CHRISTMAS CAKE VODKA 700ml good vodka - I used @nuvevodka 100g mixed citrus peel 250g sultanas 150g raisins Zest and juice of 1 blood orange 1 tsp almond essence or a square of marzipan 1/4 tsp ground cloves 1 cinnamon stick 1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 1 tsp mixed spice 125g lightly packed brown sugar Pour vodka into a container with a lid. Add ingredients. Cover. Leave in the fridge for one week, stirring occasionally. Strain vodka through 1-2 fine clean cloths. You will need to squeeze it out and will end up with nearly 500ml. Pour into a fancy glass bottle.
Summer G&T Tiramisu with lime, coconut and cucumbe Summer G&T Tiramisu with lime, coconut and cucumber. A showstopper of a sweet treat for New Year's Day brunch, Summer gatherings or even watching the Aus Open tennis (wimbledon get strawberries and cream - this beats that). It's rich and light at the same time, with a lick of Barossa Distilling Co 'Australian Garden Gin' and Capi's 'Classic Tonic'. There's a LOT of gin and tonic in this recipe so your selections makes a real difference. DM me for the recipe.
My close personal friend Rudy and I are enjoying * My close personal friend Rudy and I are enjoying *Christmas Kiss Cosmos* today. What merriment are you making? CHRISTMAS KISS COSMOPOLITAN 60ml Christmas Cake Vodka 30ml Byron Bay Spirits Co Arancello 90ml cranberry juice, unsweetened 15ml fresh lime juice Chill goblets. Add ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake. Taste and add a little sugar syrup or lime juice if you wish. Strain into goblets. Makes 2. CHRISTMAS CAKE VODKA 700ml good vodka - I used @nuvevodka 100g mixed peel 250g sultanas 150g raisins Zest and juice of 1 blood orange 1 tsp almond essence or a square of marzipan 1/4 tsp ground cloves 1 cinnamon stick 1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1 tsp mixed spice 125g lightly packed brown sugar Pour vodka into a container with a lid. Add ingredients. Cover. Leave in the fridge for one week, stirring occasionally. Strain vodka through 1-2 fine clean cloths. You will need to squeeze it out and will end up with nearly 500ml. Pour into a fancy glass bottle. Reserve the boozy fruit for making icecream or pancakes or add a few sultanas to your Cosmos for luck! Note: I typically make this festive vodka sans sugar if I intend to make cocktails with it (rather than sip it neat or give it as a gift). But cranberry juice is quite tart so leave it in here.
Cooling down with chilled-out cocktails at Mr Mill Cooling down with chilled-out cocktails at Mr Mills basement bar. Then, heating up again with their Untitled. DJ residency this Summer (Ānanda is taking over tonight, then Baby Oliv and Cabu for NYE). FYI they do tiny 'tinis at happy hour too. You can sip all three styles in miniature form - dirty, vesper, dry - without blowing your budget (or your next morning). 🍸
No filter - this might be the best vantage point i No filter - this might be the best vantage point in all of Fitzroy! Formerly private for hotel guests, the StandardX's (pretty darn glorious) rooftop bar is now open to the public. You can take a closer look around in Part 1 of my "Bars of Summer" Highlight now.
‘Tis the season! @jinbarmelbourne has kindly share ‘Tis the season! @jinbarmelbourne has kindly shared this easy-as-mince-pie recipe for their ‘Mocha’n Around The Christmas Tree’ cocktail. With sweet, creamy notes and a caffeine kick, it can easily double as dessert around your festive table. *Mocha’n Around The Christmas Tree* INGREDIENTS 30ml coffee liqueur 30ml amaretto 30ml full cream milk (or any milk you like) Cherry (fresh or maraschino) Rosemary sprig METHOD - Pop a short glass in the freezer while you gather ingredients. - Add coffee liqueur, amaretto, milk and ice to a shaker. - Shake for 10 seconds. - Strain into the glass filled with ice. - Garnish with a cherry and/or rosemary sprig. If you’re feeling a little more fancy (aren’t we always?) you can add coffee liqueur and amaretto to a mixing glass with ice and stir to combine. Then strain into your glass over ice, pour milk on top to float and finish with your garnishes. I currently use and recommend @Prohibitionliquor Coffee Liqueur and @Marionetteliqueur’s Amaretto for this drink. 🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄 Jin Bar is shaking up a seasonal cocktail menu (including the one above). Amid Jin’s gleaming golden surrounds you can invite your merriest friends to sip: Jingle Bell Rum / white rum, triple sec, cinnamon, passionfruit, lemon, soda Strawberry Sleigh Ride / Irish cream, strawberry, vodka, milk Little Rum-mer boy / white rum, bourbon, caramel, lemon, apple juice Mocha’n Around The Christmas Tree / amaretto, coffee liqueur, milk Have Yourself A Berry Little Christmas / gin, dry vermouth, strawberry, lychee, cranberry, lemon Limited to this December only.
Preparations are underway for a rather glamorous e Preparations are underway for a rather glamorous evening at The Showroom Bar. ✨️ This Friday night, they will present a one-night-only cocktail degustation dinner in partnership with Perrier! Stefano Filardi - cocktail master from Maybe Sammy (among The World’s 50 Best Bars) - will shake up premium martinis and Perrier-splashed cocktails. Showroom’s own Exec Chef Pawan Dutta (Hotel Chef of the Year 2025) is whipping up a sumptuous 5-course menu to pair with these sublime cocktails. It's all set to live sounds of the Carla Troiano Music piano duo against the glossy art deco surrounds of The Royce Hotel. Need to impress someone important in your life? Overdue for a personal treat? Date night to die for? Sophisticated sips are calling your name. RSVP here: roycehotel.com.au/promotions
Where are my red liquorice lovers at? 👄 The Raspb Where are my red liquorice lovers at? 👄 The Raspberry Bullet at Juni is for you with Melbourne Gin Company gin, absinthe, raspberry, haw fruit syrup + salvaged fruit leather (basically grownup rollups!) to garnish. New Melbourne Bar Alert: the bar at @junimelbourne has been redefined. The space is now designed so that everyone gets a cosy seat (because the previous booths were too-hot property before). Bar Manager Imogen hints that, along with the new look, she's taking a fresh look at sections of the drinks menu: a new emphasis on sake is coming. Their cult-status Sago Margarita isn't going anywhere - it outsells the rest by miles. Have you tried it yet? Here's your excuse.
Dip for dinner. It's a lifestyle, it's a vibe, it' Dip for dinner. It's a lifestyle, it's a vibe, it's the zeitgeist.🙌 30+ degrees in Autumn = Pineapple Margarita Salsa for me and he. It's sweet, refreshing, and for adults only. - 1/2 pineapple, roughly chopped - 1/2 small red onion, finely diced - 1 jalapeño pepper, finely diced - 1 large lime, juiced and zested - 30ml (a shot) of Australian agave spirit (I used Act of Treason's Reposado) - A handful fresh coriander, chopped - 1 garlic clove, minced - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt - Tortilla chips Make a quick pickle: combine red onion, jalapeno, lime juice and zest, agave spirit, garlic and salt in a small bowl. Set aside for 20 minutes to let it get its mojo on. Then mix through pineapple and coriander. Serve with chips and spicy margs. - 2 x Spicy Pineapple Margaritas (via @Curatif) - Spicy salt, for garnish (I used Spicy Margarita Salt by Gippsland Salt Company from The Cocktail Cart) - 1 jalapeño pepper, halved - Fresh pineapple juice You will have some juice leftover when you prep your pineapple. Dip the rims of 2 chilled cocktail glasses into this juice and then into the salt. Float with jalapeño. Note: the margs already have a kick to them. Switch the spicy salt to regular, and the chilli to a coriander or sage leaf if you walk on the mild side. Serves 2 TIP: blend any leftover salsa or juices into your next Bloody Maria.
The Sports Bar at @kolkatacricket_club is now open The Sports Bar at @kolkatacricket_club is now open. Yes, the are subtle live screens, but we're here for the tropical cocktails. And with a chef as team captain, the snacks are winners. Take a look inside in my Story now.
This easy punch recipe suits lazy, hot afternoons This easy punch recipe suits lazy, hot afternoons hanging out in the backyard to a T. Starring a locally-made whisky liqueur inspired by classic ANZAC biscuits – it’s flavoured with golden syrup, coconut and oats – it’s a sure-fire crowd-pleasing thirst-quencher. Don’t forget to scoff the peaches from your glass. They taste sublime soaked in this sun-burnished elixir. TEA & BICKIES PUNCH 750ml strong unsweetened peach iced tea, chilled 125ml quality ginger beer (I used @SidekickMixers ) 1 tsp bitters 1 lemon, sliced 2 limes, sliced 2 ripe yellow peaches, sliced 250ml ‘Golden Bickie’ Whisky Liqueur by @NedWhisky Lots of fresh ice Fresh mint springs, to garnish Place peach tea, ginger beer, bitters, lemon, limes, peaches and whisky liqueur into a large jug. Stir gently to combine. Pour punch into chilled highball glasses filled with ice. Add a mint sprig to each glass to garnish. Serves 6-8 Notes: For the tea, I cold-brewed 4 ‘Packs a Peach’ tea bags by T2. For the bitters, I used Aromatic Bitters by Australian Bitters Company. Increase ginger beer to 250ml if you prefer a sweeter sip. You can substitute the ginger beer for ginger wine if you want a little more kick (perhaps plan an afternoon nap).
Think you've done every rooftop in Melbourne? Pro Think you've done every rooftop in Melbourne? Probably not this one! Dal Zotto on the Deck may only be here for one Summer but it's bringing big Italian fun (and a bunch of Limoncello Spritz) to Blacksmith's terrace. Jump to my Story to take a look around.
Gone fishing...errr, cocktailing. 🍹🌴🥥 See you in Gone fishing...errr, cocktailing. 🍹🌴🥥 See you in a while, crocodiles.
The croweaters are coming! Don't panic but @maybe The croweaters are coming! Don't panic but @maybemaebasement are bringing a bunch of @neverneverdistillingco bottles to The Attic at @blackpearlfitzroy for one night only this Sunday. Cocktails, merch, sights, sounds, tastes that you can't get anywhere else (without travelling quite a few hours west at least). Jump to my 'What's On' highlight for full details and how you can join in the fun. OK maybe do panic a little: limited seats at the bar for this one.
How cosy does this spot look? This weekend only, How cosy does this spot look? This weekend only, @miltonwine is celebrating it's 10th birthday - you're invited. The wine bar team has unearthed plenty of 2014 vintages from the cellar to taste, they're doing BYO for your 2014 bottles with no corkage, and there's a gorgeous new look courtyard and a new wood-fired menu to sample too. 🍷🥂 You can take a closer look - before you grab a date/mate and go - in my "what's on" highlight now.
@farmersdaughters_gippsland has had a glow up. Mo @farmersdaughters_gippsland has had a glow up. More cosy. 🔥 More plants. 🌱 More WINE. 🍷🥂🍾 Take a peek around the bar in my 'Now Open' Highlight.
Happy World Rum Day! Did you do anything delicious Happy World Rum Day! Did you do anything delicious today? I was spoilt and toasted the occasion at Society with Diplomatico's Maestro Ronero ("Rum Master"), Nelson Hernandez. Jump to my Story for easy ideas on how to make your next rum session extra special. 🥃🥃🥃 --- 1. Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, Cocchi Americano, falernum, dark chocolate cocktail with smoked dark chocolate Diplomatico Rum and barley ice cream 2. Hokkaido scallops, preserved lemon, capers, olive oil (so simple!) with Diplomatico Distillery Collection No 1 Batch Kettle Rum.
Follow on Instagram
  • About Sarah
  • Copywriting for Bars & Distillers
  • Sign Up
  • Want to Be Featured?

Drink Melbourne

Your guide to Australian craft spirits & Melbourne's cocktail culture