Struck down with Covid (again) recently, the kind folks at Garden Street Gin Club sent me their April 2024 box filled with goodies including a gin by North Queensland distillery Tans Lines and some tasty dried mango. Inspired to make a curative style of cocktail, I settled on that modern classic the Penicillin by Sam Ross…but make it “gin” and “tropical”. This one’s all the better to soothe the dreaded “spicy cough” or simply to sip whenever refreshment seems medically necessary.  After Sun cocktail 60ml Tan Lines Distilling ‘Tan Lines’ gin 25ml freshly squeezed lemon juice 30ml honey-gi ..read more

Is amaro – that bitter, herbal, digestivo – in its renaissance era?  With Euro Summers trending and new Italian restaurants hitting Melbourne as hard as the moon hits your eye (like a big pizza pie), it could be. Navi Lounge, the bar beside Yarraville’s two-hatted Navi, believes amaro is “set to be the drink of 2024”.  Navi has launched an Amaro Tasting Flight Experience to showcase “the beauty of traditional and modern takes on amaro.” The tasting flight features a selection of drops hand-picked by Navi’s Bar Manager, and amaro aficionado, Miriam Wahlhütter including a native Aust ..read more

Opening doors in early 2019, Bar Clara is now blowing out the candles in celebration of its fifth birthday. Or rather, the bar team is firing up their blowtorches to caramelise the meringue clouds that perch atop the popular Banoffee-pie-inspired cocktail that has been the only drink to remain on the venue’s seasonally-evolving menu throughout the past five years. Of the venue’s origins, Clara’s founder Joel McKenzie says, “we wanted to use modern cocktail techniques to highlight and express seasonal ingredients really clearly. That’s where the name ‘Clara’ comes from – it’s a play on the wor ..read more

Actually, it’s Patient Wolf Distilling Co.’s new Agave Gin! Dubbed Blanco Wolf this drop is essentially gin botanicals on an organic blue weber agave syrup spirit base which gives herbaceousness sans Tequila and mezcal’s typical earthy smokiness. Why agave gin? “Why not,” says Patient Wolf co-founder and distiller Dave Irwin. “I’ve had an eye on agave because of the growing of it up in Queensland. I thought that’s a cool, interesting thing that’s happening. [But] it’s a really hard way to get agave spirit into the market (as a tequila substitute). That’s going to be maybe five years down the ..read more

Four Pillars unleashed their fifth Distiller’s Series collab – Green Apple and Rhubarb gin – earlier this week. So they’re toasting the gin’s arrival with a weekend-long, Autumnal celebration. Follow golden-turning leaves into the hills of Healesville to their distillery this Saturday or Sunday from 10:30am to 12:30pm. There, in the production space, you’ll be able to gather local treats by Yarra Valley Dairy, Bear’s Bagels and Rikki’s Biccis from a pop-up market stall. Distiller Cam Mackenzie will be hosting a tasting table from 12 to 4pm where he will introduce you to the new Green Apple a ..read more

Water. Grain. Yeast. With such minimal ingredients allowed inside a bottle of single malt whisky, it’s little wonder that modern distillers are curious to push the boundaries of each element to create a liquid of distinction. Boutique water sources and experimental grains have had their time to shine. Now, Nikka turns its focus to an exploration of yeasts as they launch their latest – strictly limited-edition – ‘Discovery Series’ whiskies in Australia. Yoichi Single Malt Aromatic Yeast (from Nikka’s northern, seaside Japanese Yoichi distillery) and Miyagikyo Single Malt Aromatic Yeast (from t ..read more

Upcoming craft spirits and cocktail events in Melbourne and across Victoria that are worth your time… The Mini Aussie Rum Fest Thursday 18th August Rum Day cometh. And soon follows this miniature local celebration of rum at The Catfish. Taste cane spirits from Queensland, NSW, the Dandenongs and the Mornington Peninsula without having to fill up your gas tank. Enjoy a cocktail on arrival and masterclasses too. You’re not doing anything more delicious this Thursday, are you? Tickets/More details. Dark Spirits Festival Thursday 18th – Sunday 21st August On the back of their sell-out gin market ..read more

Upcoming craft spirits and cocktail events in Melbourne and across Victoria that are worth your time. – The Espresso Martini Party Saturday 18th June Booze meet beans. It might be coming up to World Martini Day but Mr Black Spirits and Industry Beans plan to take over the night instead. Their Espresso Martini Party will serve up endless caffeinated cocktails, coffee-inspired canapes (hello, mini coffee wagyu burgers), martini-making and surprises. And the chance to win a year’s supply of Espresso Martinis! Tickets/More details. The Classic Cocktail Book Club Wednesday 29th June It is believe ..read more

After the past two years, I needed a G&T and a (lengthy) lie down. But now, DrinkMelbourne’s back for 2022. Here are the local craft spirits and cocktail events that I think are worth your time. I Hart Rum Sunday 20th February 2022, 12-3pm & 3.30-6.30pm Distillers from across Australia – including Husk, Jimmy Rum, Killik, Winding Road, Mad Monkey, Beenleigh, Brix and Inner Circle – join the world’s most famous cane spirit labels for this one-day celebration of rum. Along with over 80 rums to taste, there will be tiki goods to take home, sustainable cocktails, DJ sounds and masterclass ..read more

A ..read more