World Class Cocktail Week is but one week away. This celebration of all things shaken or stirred includes full on degustation dinners to short and sweet paired bites. Some events focus on old fashioneds, martinis and bloody marys. Some will give a general history lesson (for which you’ll actually want […]
The Essentials with Matt Bax + his Essential Americano
The renowned and often illusive mixologist and artist Matt Bax (Bar Americano, Bar Economico & Bar Exuberante) revealed his secrets to mastering classic cocktails at an Essentials class at the most recent Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. On the merit of going back to the classics “it’s like cooking, once you […]
Now Open | Aloha Sailor | Collingwood
The Underground Experiment continues. The basement of The Noble Experiment was temporarily a kitsch 80s/90s hidden bar awash with neon. But now we’re saying ‘Aloha Sailor‘ as the space turns tropically tiki. For now anyway. The decor pays homage to 1930’s pioneers like Trader Vic and Don the Beachcomber. Creepy […]
Now Open | Glamp | Melbourne CBD
Glamping (noun): A form of camping involving accommodation and facilities more luxurious than those associated with traditional camping. Early 21st century blend of glamorous and camping. And all of a sudden the activity that is “glamping” is part of the Zeitgeist. The recent Beyond the Valley music festival offered jacuzzis, […]
The Cocktail Lover’s Guide to Good Beer Week 2015
There is so much more to discover than malt, head and hops at Good Beer Week. Here’s your handy guide to the events on the 2015 GBW line-up where beer happily shares the spotlight… Beer Cocktail Degustation – 1806/The Understudy – Saturday 16 to 23 May, 7.30pm Here’s a cocktail degustation that […]
Now Open | St. Hotel | St Kilda
Way back when I was a wee budding scribe one of my first assignments for (the fab yet now defunct) Drink Magazine was profiling The Saint. The heritage building was once a bank and the vaults remained. But my how times have changed. The space within the familiar heritage façade […]
Introducing Ochre
The Mornington Peninsula’s Bass & Flinders Distillery have just released the debut vintage of what they are dubbing Australia’s first Cognac-style aged spirit (as with sparkling from Champagne, spirits from outside the French locality can’t technically be referred to as Cognac). It goes by the evocatively apt name of “Ochre“. […]
2015 Trend: Clean Cocktails?
I hesitate to qualify any drink with less than three ingredients (excluding the garnish) a “cocktail” but there’s still something appealing about the simplicity of Moet-Hennessy ambassador Mick Formosa’s concoctions at Park Hyatt’s recent Melbourne Food & Wine Festival event ‘Crisp Cocktails & Fresh Cuisine’. Served up alongside a seafood-heavy menu […]
Australian Distilled Spirits Awards 2015
From the why did it take us so long files: the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards have held their inaugural ceremony. Over 100 entries underwent a blind judging (tough gig) by experts including those from bars such as Whisky + Alement, Bad Frankie, Gin Palace and Lui Bar alongside magazine editors, brand ambassadors and […]
Introducing Smoothbeard Mead
When you’re sick of sav blanc, totally over cider and not in the mood for beer, your “new” alternative might come from the long, long ago. Angus Smibert is on a mission to make mead happen. His mead company Smoothbeard is barely a month old (having just launched after over […]