It’s beginning to look a lot like…cocktails. Hopefully your jingle bells are well and truly on by now. If not, here are 12 of the best Christmas cocktails around Melbourne and where to find them. The Magic Pudding at Misty Hennessey VS Cognac. Pedro Ximenez, Falernum, Chartuese They say the […]

Inspired by Wine Republic founder Fiona’s favourite summer cocktail and said bottle shop’s new collection of craft spirits, Fred Siggins from Black Pearl created this ‘Raicilla Shandy’. “Shandies are a great Australian tradition. I tend to judge a venue on whether or not they’re happy to make you a shandy; if […]

I was asked by a friend to make gingerbread martinis for a gathering but I’ve yet to find a drink in a recipe book or bar that really captures the headily spiced toothiness of proper old-fashioned-gingerbread. So I decided to concoct my own tipple! Since I protest at calling anything without a […]

I must admit bottle shops are like Mecca to me. I can get lost wandering the aisles, reading the backs of bottles and admiring pretty labels that – when smartly designed – seem like miniature works of art. My feet gravitate towards the unfamiliar treasures that provide a tiny glimpse […]

The glamorous Liquid Gold Melt Martini looks straight up impressive. And, once you’ve enrobed a batch of olives in preparation, it’s relatively quick and so simple to make – one great way to impress your beloved. This drink was created by Bar Ampere’s Ben Luzz for the wonderful folks at […]

For a place that’s known more for its fine dining (try chef Nic Poelaert’s Vegemite cracker with dehydrated kale – you won’t regret it) than it’s bar, Brooks sure knows how to make a lovely tipple. Bar meister Shae Silvestro works closely with the chef to create aperitifs and digestifs that play […]

Meet the one and only Ms. Peggy Lee. She’s a Southern belle with a hint of whisky on her breath and a lazy drawl on her lips: a bespoke drink created for Bar Schweppes by Collingwood bar Le Bon Ton. Bar Schweppes, the forthcoming marquee in the Birdcage at Flemington […]

In my humble opinion it’s a faux pas to invite guests for “cocktails and canapés” and then to only serve champagne. Surely a cocktail hour denotes actual cocktails! For those who don’t believe that the sophisticated appeal of sparkling on arrival can be surpassed, I was recently introduced to the […]

International Coffee Day this week calls for something a little more luxe than a standard espresso martini. Enter Yannis and Chris at Market Lane Bar who have created a coffee “martini” with twice the buzz of Dick Bradsell’s “wake me up and fuck me up” original courtesy the essential dose […]