There must be something in the (fire)water? Maybe it’s the unusually pleasant weather we’re experiencing? Whatever the reason – though we’re typically ready to start hibernation prep by this time of year – Melbourne simply Is Not Stopping. May is Australian Wine Month, there’s also World Whiskey Day, World Cocktail Day and a major beer festival to use as excuses to pull up a barstool.

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1. Native Gin Cocktail Degustation

Byron Bay’s Cape Byron Distillery brings their Brookie’s gin south to House of Correction for an evening well-spent exploring native flavours.

Wednesday May 2nd / Melbourne CBD / Details & Bookings

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2. Cocktail Collective Dinner

Garden State Hotel is gathering together some of the leading lights in Australian whisky, gin, tequila and brandy – that’d be Starward, Archie Rose, Tromba, Melbourne Gin Co. and St. Agnes – for a cocktail-fuelled feast.

Wednesday 2nd May / Melbourne CBD / Details & Bookings

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3. Urban Wine Walk

We are fond of a leisurely stroll through town; adding wine ups that pleasure! 12 city venues will transform into winery cellar doors for one day only.

Saturday 5th May / Melbourne CBD / Details & Bookings

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4. Raise The Bar

Neptune’s upstairs cocktail bar Impala has introduced fortnightly mixology classes (pictured above, by Emily Rutherford). Alongside canapes and charcuterie, these intimate sessions will teach you how to best make a trio of cocktails grouped by themes like Jack Sparrow (rum, obviously), Mad Men and Tinder drinks.

Thursday 10th May / Windsor / Details & Bookings

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5. Good Beer Week

It’s all in the name: Good Beer Week is back and it looks set to be good-er and beer-ier than ever. Our guide to the frothiest fest in town is coming real soon.

Friday 11th – Sunday 20th May / Various locations / Details & Bookings

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6. Mother’s Ruin: A Cabaret About Gin

How about a little show with your nightly G&T? The music of Amy Winehouse, Nina Simone and Martha Wainwright among others will lend a soundtrack to gin-soaked tales through time and place at the rather apt Four Pillars.

Tuesday 15th & Wednesday 16th May / Healesville / Details & Bookings

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7. Masterclass: Vermouth Revived

Maidenii’s Giles Lapalus is on a mission to bring vermouth out of the back of your grandad’s cupboard and back to your glass on the reg.

Wednesday 16th May / Melbourne CBD / Details & Bookings

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8. From Grain to Glass: the Journey to Whisky

Come World Whisky Day, Bad Frankie will be hosting  a gaggle of experts as they explore the worlds of barley, malt, barrels and of course whisky. Naturally there will be tastings for “educational” purposes (and jaffles just for kicks!)

Saturday 19th May / Fitzroy / Details & Bookings

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9. Through The Woods

Enjoy an introduction to fledgling Melbourne distillery Cedar Fox and meet the maker over a multi-course dinner and plenty of gin cocktails at Di Casa.

Friday 25th May / Brunswick / Details & Bookings

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10. World Gin Day Distiller’s Dinner

Why would you be anywhere else come World Gin Day than drinking and dining amid an art space with The Gin Queen herself and the distillers from Four Pillars, Anther, Seppeltsfield Road, Shene Estate and Never Never?

Wednesday 6th June / Melbourne CBD / Details & Bookings

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Also try:
Uncovering Australia’s Top 50 Young Guns of Wine at Prahran Market / Lady Nelson’s Natural Wine Masterclass / Tasting Shinshu (sake) over Okonomiyaki at Papirica / Upcycling earrings/beerrings out of Mountain Goat cans / The Cider Festival at Kellybrook / This Autumn Wine Carnival at The Botanical / A Vinterloper Wine Tasting with ABV Craft Merchants / Spending World Whisky Day at Starward / Taking the Coburg Whisky Trail / OR dining on The Balvenie Hammer Feast at Mjølner / And discover even more events here.

Good Beer Week. By Simon Shiff.

From Grain to Glass: the Journey to Whisky