Is high tea now passé? It seems every man and his pampered lapdog is offering tiered treats and other afternoon delights these days. So it’s about time someone sparked the idea of High Coffee; enter Market Lane Bar in collaboration with Espresso di Manfredi. It seems so obvious in such a bean-centric town such as Melbourne. Why am I buzzing about a drink that revives rather than those that de-vive? Because their coffee-instead-of-tea offering comes mostly in delicious tipsy form! Your scones and petit fours at High Coffee come with an accompaniment of espresso martini, iced frappé plus your favourite coffee or – the better choice – a cafe corretto (even the bravest of caffeine fiends will add sugar to this grappa-licious concoction). You can book High Coffee by clicking here.

Quite often I’ll order a cocktail instead of dessert to assuage my guilt. The seductresses at New Gold Mountain have ruined this restraint by offering double the gluttony; cocktails AND dessert. Tonight is a little more special as the bar celebrates World Cocktail Week (it’s like Xmas around here) with – as they put it – “a night of cocktail pairings and decadent sweets”. Tempting, non? Guests will enjoy an aperitif as chosen by their barman plus a platter of desserts paired with two cocktails of their choice and a digestif (and for only $50 a head). And New Gold Mountain will throw in a crackling fireplace to chase the Winter blues away for nix. For full details or to book click here.

at Sake

On a night like this you’d be happy to escape the heat by taking a trip back to 1870′s New York (Tom Collins era) by way of Toyko this revamped classic cocktail. A few of these alongside a plate of Sake’s jalapeño-spiked kingfish sashimi by the Yarra River would be just the thing on a balmy eve.

I’m guessing Shochu (instead of gin), soda water, sugar syrup, yuzu juice, and a maraschino cherry.

]]> http://drinkmelbourne.com.au/2013/03/tom-collins-with-a-japanese-twist/feed/ 0 http://drinkmelbourne.com.au/2013/02/acland-st-cantina/ http://drinkmelbourne.com.au/2013/02/acland-st-cantina/#comments Wed, 27 Feb 2013 05:11:42 +0000 Drink Melbourne http://drinkmelbourne.com.au/?p=467 Read on]]> Ola! The Acland St Cantina has officially launched itself into the St Kilda scene with a lick of lime and seasalt (and delicious cheesy empanadas). Upon entering a bright diner-style front room greets you in popping hues of red, white and neon. Wondering what’s down the stairs? It’s the old Prince Wine Room, still a coolroom/bottleshop; raring to go on Laurent Perrier champagne tastings and perhaps even private dining once their full liquor license hits home.

The almost cartoonish feel of this first room gives way to a dining-room and bar – formerly Mink – down the corridor. Now it’s darkly lit by converted mason jars and candles beneath a Dia de los Muertos skulls installation. If you’re lucky you might even find an enclave to yourself to perch in while you sip their holy trinity; the classic margarita, the Paloma and their passionfruit margarita. The Cantina also hawks Mexicana ingredients plus goodies like a little salted caramel ice cream or guacamole to go should be inclined to take your tequila time at home.

Do get along to their ‘Mezcal & Mole’ class and tastings at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival too.

Find the Acland St Cantina at 2 Acland St (obvs), St Kilda.

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This medieval-looking cocktail ring is handmade by the genius William Llewellyn Griffiths for his Metal Couture jewellery label. It’s a solid 18ct yellow gold and blackened sterling silver setting with black diamonds and that  feature green tourmaline stone. Got $5,500 plus change? Then I’d recommend you wear this while drinking something suitably green and absinthe-y.

The food at Pawn & Co. tends to so-hot-right-now sliders, while the cocktail list makes a hero of absinthe (in ‘let’s really stick it to the prohibition era’ fashion). If you’re not a fan of the green fairy perhaps opt for a ‘Smoke on the Water’ comprised of Hayman’s Old Tom Gin, Antica Formula vermouth, maraschino liqueur & bitters. The masculine drink is served in a Whiskey Barrel smoked decanter poured in front of you as plumes of smoke escape. 

Find Pawn & Co at 402 Chapel Street (they say Prahran, Google Maps says South Yarra).

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The crowd pleaser however was the winning Little Red Corvette (Tanqueray Gin, Lime, Morello Cherry Jam and Angostura Bitters) by food and drink writer Amy Collins.

Judge for yourself at 169 Exhibition Street, Melbourne.

Tastings come at a small, redeemable fee from automatic climate-controlled dispensers. What you sample is recorded on an electronic card (so you can figure out what you drank and liked after a few too many or a few months later). The wines are hand-selected by Jack who has collected unusual drops from across the globe, including Champagne Salon of which only 37 vintages have been bottled in a century. A wine aficionado could sample to their hearts content, while novices who just don’t want to go home with something undrinkable – again – are welcomed into the non-intimidating space.

The shop doubles as a relaxed wine bar so you can select a bottle of vino and sit down to dig into its natural friends; cheese and charcuterie. I spy some tasty looking spirits at The Tasting Table too!

Take a sip at 1219 High Street, Armadale.

Pre-registered guests (registrations have now closed) enjoy priority entry however if you turn up at a quiet time you may just get lucky. Entry is free and a glass of Prosecco is complimentary on arrival while more wine is available to purchase. Guests will be treated to music and canapés each night. Enter the Hidden Vineyard at 23 Grattan Street, Prahran (take the train so you can enjoy as many glasses as you like). It’s open 4-10pm tonight, Saturday and Sunday only.

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