Flinging ourselves into Spring with the 10 best cocktail culture and craft spirits happenings around town…
1. Gin Infused High Tea
Of course we have room for another grown up high tea in our lives! The Cliveden is celebrating their first birthday with dainty gin-infused treats; from Negroni jam on their scones to gin-cured salmon. And they’ll have birthday presents for high tea goers to win too. Wash it all down with gin cocktails made to order and bottomless sparkling for a very happy birthday indeed.
Saturday 1 September / East Melbourne / Details
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2. Corowa Whisky Launch
Get in at the start and join Corowa Distilling Co at Bad Frankie as they launch their very first whisky! Taste the new whisky and other treats with the makers themselves. There will be jaffles.
Saturday 1 September / Fitzroy / Details
3. Father’s Day
If your dad deserves a thank you why not treat him to a fancy brunch at Fancy Hank’s with bottomless cocktails plus taco beer? Or a bbq plus lots of other whiskified fun and games at Starward? Bad Love Club are hosting a bake sale with beer! If bourbon’s more dad’s thing, perhaps a Russell’s Reserve workshop at Whisky and Alement is just the ticket. yet more whiskey can be found at The Elysian’s retrospective tasting; but theirs is Japanese! Otherwise, take the over 18s fam along to Little Lon to learn all about gin and the newest distillery in town.
Saturday 1st-Sunday 2nd September / Various locations / Details
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4. Cocktail Degustation
It’s all hush hush for now, as is their way, but Secret Foodies have teamed up with Waterford Crystal for a luxurious cocktail degustation dinner. They promise three+ courses matched with cocktails in a new Melbourne dining destination. Guests even get to take some crystalware home. Colour me intrigued.
Saturday 8th September / Secret location / Details
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5. Drinks Collective
This one’s exclusively for those in the drinks business! Drinks Collective is a showcase of drinkables, education and a networking opp for those in the bar and booze industry. I’ll be there discovering the best new Australian drinks and giving you insight live!
Monday 10th – Wednesday 12th September / South Wharf / Details
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6. Gin Masterclass
Well this sounds like the loveliest evening at the Builders Arms Hotel. Only requirement: must love juniper. Be guided through 10 world-leading gins from Adelaide Hills Distillery, Anther, Melbourne Gin Company, Mt Uncle, The West Winds, Ink Gin, Kyro Distillery, The Botanist, Berry Bros & Rudd and that old faithful Tanqueray. Experience them over canapes with booze expert Nick Stock of Gourmet Traveller Wine magazine.
Wednesday 12th September / Fitzroy / Details
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7. The Brick Bar
This pop-up building block bar has absolutely nothing to do with Lego, nosiree. Intended for grown ups, the bar itself is built from a million of the iconic blocks and you can construct your own creations while you sip and sup on Lego-inspired food and drinks. There’s DJs, games and prizes as your reward for taking this nostalgic trip back in time too.
Monday 13th – Thursday 16th September / South Wharf / Details
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8. The Whisky Roast
Tippling tourers, The Southern Whisky Trail sit still for second to luxuriate in a traditional roast lunch made even better with the addition of whisky! Four Australian(ish) distilleries – Bakery Hill, Timboon, Starward, Bladnoch – will present their wares for your perusal and vote over four courses at Lord Cardigan.
Saturday 15th September / Albert Park / Details
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9. Tasmanian Spirits Tasting
As much as I (obviously) adore Melbourne, there’s a special place in my heart for Tassie and craft spirits from the Apple Isle. Bad Frankie’s bringing our southern friends a little closer for one day only with a tasting featuring Killara Distillery, Sullivan’s Cove, Shene Estate, 7k Distillery and more. P.S. They’re doing a Canberra takeover soon too.
Sunday 23rd September / Fitzroy / Details
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10. I Hart Rum Festival
There’s long been gin, whiskey and wine festivals. Finally, there’s a festival that celebrates rum! I Hart Rum at Whitehart will explore all things sugarcane spirit through tastings, masterclasses, Jamaican eats, expert rum guests and tiki vibes. Dozens of international distilleries are visiting for the fest.
Sunday 23rd September/ Melbourne CBD / Details
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Also try: yoga and Negronis at Howler (life’s about balance) / this fancy as anything masterclass on Champagne and diamonds / joining Prohibition Food & Wine at their first ever boilermaker night feast / following our live event calendar for more events happening in Melbourne.
Hosting an event in October or November 2018? Let us invite everybody: sarah@drinkmelbourne.com.au
