This Editor’s Page featured in the June issue of Australian Bartender
Without question, one of the best perks of my job is the travelling to distilleries and bars around the world and interstate to catch up with industry friends and check out the local bar culture. One such a trip to Brisbane recently blew me away as the standard of bartenders and bars are exploding in this great town. You could point the finger to a few great bars like The Bowery, The Lark and more recently Canvas (pictured above) that have set the standard in bar culture and been heavily responsible for training and educating many of the best home grown bartenders.
That being said, it seems it has always been hard to keep such talent in Brisbane and not have them lured south by the bigger cities and big name bars. Many have stayed but of course many don’t and one of the big reasons I have found over the years of talking to our northern trade folk is the lack of opportunity to eventually progress their career in that state and maybe one day open up their own bar. Why? Simply because of the restrictive and expensive liquor licensing laws that, as usual, favour and protect the pubs and clubs and make opening a bar basically impossible or just plain illegal. But like NSW and WA cracks started to appear as lawmakers of a new generation saw the ridiculous nature of such rules and how bars actually encourage more responsible drinking and behavior more so than the legally favoured, politically donating beer barns.
The success of the relatively new small bar legislation by Clover Moore in NSW (thank you!) who wanted Sydney to grow up and offer a wider selection of drinking options like Melbourne has also been noticed by other states. So in 2009 Queensland introduced the bar license allowing up to 60 patrons at one time in the bar. From what I hear, from many who have either tried or successfully opened such a bar, is that they appreciate the law change but that it is a terribly difficult process. Dealing with councils, residents and objections from local competition and associations can make the process a costly waste of time and money for many.
But where there’s a will there’s a way, and you can’t hold down passionate and persistent people so even with all the issues involved great bars are still opening and more places for well trained bartenders to stay and work if not open something themselves. So three years on things look great up north and will only get better. There might even be an increase soon to the 60 people rule which lets be honest is bloody ridiculous and if operators are to do more than just create their own “passion projects” then 100 guests is more in line with what a small bar should be by still be small and importantly at least modestly profitable.
The other travel news this issue is my final chapter in my Ireland adventure that saw me head to Northern Ireland and the home to the Old Bushmills Distillery to see their legendary Black Bush blended Irish whiskey being made along with their delious unpeated Single Malts. A few nights in Belfast also uncovered two of the most beautiful bars I have visited being the Crown Liquor Saloon & The Merchant. Absolutely put Ireland on your bucket list folks!
Cheers,
David
Editor’s Pick: The Collection Syrup Co.
The boys at The Collection Bar in Richmond Melbourne have sure been busy lately with re-launching their recently purchased bar to also finding the time to create their own line of tasty syrups called simply The Collection Syrup Co.
The photos & drinks list of the re-launched bar look amazing from what I have been sent and I’m betting they will be a major force to recon with on the national cocktail bar scene. Secondly the packaging and syrup flavors seem also right on the money and I can attest that their flagship Grenadine flavour is like nothing I have sampled before. Owners Owen Westman and Paul Fitzsimmons are rolling out five more flavors such as Rasbery Gum, Pineapple Gum, and Orgeat & Simply Syrup & Gum Syrup.
The good news is the boys will have their full line up of flavours available at Sydney Bar Week‘s Drinks Fest (September 23 & 24, The Rocks) so don’t over pack your suit case for your trip to the show so you can fit these and other spirits in for your trip home!
