Month: May 2012

Mexican Madness

You don’t need to be a wizard to see that Mexican themed bars and agave spirits are on the rise in Australia. With Touché Hombre opening recently in Melbourne, El Publico in Perth and Tio’s Cervecería in Sydney, never has Australia had a better selection of joints to sip on a tequila e sangrita.

Mon Komo Hotel

Overlooking Moreton Bay with resort-style opulence and a hint of the Caribbean, is the newly completed Mon Komo Hotel. The Mon Komo Hotel is part of the greater Mon Komo development, which comprises residential living, short-stay accommodation and commercial tenancies, and the hotel completes the precinct by offering entertainment and dining options to both its residents and guests.

Cocktail Experiment – Tiki Tastic Rums

The RUm Cocktail Experiment – A big thanks to Glen Wheeler, John Toubia, Vanessa Hall, Bella Hallinan and Rhyley Wheeler showing up well before they should have been at work and taking part – and to owner Marty O’Sullivan for bending my ear and getting the team involved.

Introducing: Will Cabantog

Will has been behind the bar at Eve for quite a stint now and recently made it down to Sydney for the Australian Bar Awards to see Eve take out Nightclub of the Year – finally! A huge supporter of the bar industry and Australian Bartender, we thought we’d better get him into the mag!

Philip Duff and Stunted Creativity

We are never not distracted, so there is no thought going on, no chance for an idea to pop into our over-stimulated heads. We used to live in a radio, TV and newspaper world, where you were constantly exposed to influences and information you’d never have thought of: we now live in an iPod, TiVo and blog world, safely insulated from anything that might surprise, challenge or upset our cushioned misconceptions

Super Whatnot

Super What Not is taking a page from the small bar phenomenon that is typically associated with Melbourne and Sydney. This latest addition, however, is on Burnett Lane in Brisbane’s CBD and is aiming to give the eclectic city mix something to cheer – and cheers – about.

Bartenders Go Global

March has seen the launch of the Global Bartender Exchange an online network that connects international bartending communities. The project is the brain child of Fraser Campbell – an expat Scottish bartender – and Hannah Keirl who are both working at Melbourne’s The Alchemist.

Irish Whiskey – How the world almost lost a national spirit

Like any industry that gleans a profit for the government the production practices of Ireland’s distillers greatly improved throughout the Victorian period. This was a time when science and technology was effecting mans’ life in numerous ways and the global distilling industry benefited from the inventions of tools like of the hydrometer and the saccharometer, both of which allowed for far greater control and accuracy when creating commercial volumes of spirit. Other methods of standardisation, empirical practice and structure also allowed the industry to develop into what we might recognise today.

Global Rematch Beeyatch

Approximately 200+ bartenders from around the world will compete in an unprecedented competition where only one winner is decided. The deciding factor is speed. It’s the one thing, that at one point (or several) in our career, we all measured who was best. Speed meant you got to keep your job. Speed meant you got to pay… your bills. Speed meant you got to survive and fight another day. If you were not fast, you did not belong.

The Roosevelt

The Roosevelt, Sven Almenning’s latest venture to open having just launched EDV in Melbourne, is not simply a new bar to the Sydney scene. In fact the venue site has quite a history and was once owned and operated (as the Roosevelt Club) by Abe Saffron – aptly named ‘the boss of the Cross’ – a man considered to have been heavily involved in Sydney’s post-war organised crime scene.”The basic theme and concept behind the venue is we’re trying to reinvigorate and bring back to life what the Roosevelt was,” explained Barry Chalmers, venue manager. “Obviously we’ll be changing it a little and putting in a new creative direction,” Chalmers explained.

How To – Magic Malts

Malt whisky – nectar of the gods. There are few tipples its equal in terms of the devotion and fanaticism it incites in its followers. Many of malt whisky’s most ardent supporters scorn even the mere thought of adding ice to a wee dram let alone mixing a beverage with it. Perhaps that’s why historically there are relatively few malt whisky cocktails – that and the fact that single malts are a relatively recent addition (mid-20th century) to the bartender’s arsenal.

Gold Rum from TMD

This award winning Gold Rum has been produced from south-east Queensland’s finest sugar cane.