The Riversdale Group is fast becoming one of the major multi-venue operators in NSW and with the backing of some key investors, including ad man John Singleton, they’re looking to keep growing.
Moscow recently experienced the bar show phenomenon with the Moscow Bar Show launching in September this year.
Organised by the PIR Group in co-operation with the British bar expert Andy Bishop the Russian bar community was able to experience the best of international bar culture. Nearly 6000 bar professionals visited the show and they were treated to a host of industry icons – many of whom have been regular fixtures at Sydney BarShow Week in years past and present.
Salvatore Calabrese (Salvatore’s at the Playboy Club, London) David Cordoba (Bacardi Global Brand Ambassador), Thomas Estes (European Tequila Ambassador), Joe Fee, Phil Bayly and Ian Burrell were all on hand to educate and stimulate what was an excited and enthusiastic Russian crowd.
The Sherry Cobbler, like many of the greatest potent potables, is an American invention. David Wondrich tells us in Imbibe! that a Victorian novelist by the name of Charles Reade in 1863 lists the Sherry Cobbler foremost in his list of American mixtures ahead of Gin Sling, Cocktail, Mint Julep, Brandy Smash, Sudden Death and Eye Openers. Wondrich adds: “If someone had waved Reade’s little list under the nose of the average drinking man in 1863 and made him choose one drink to stand the test of time, odds are heavy that he would’ve gone for the Sherry Cobbler”.
Combined Wines is a new product to the Australian market – Ripe Cider 100% crushed apple cider. Ripe Cider is concentrate free and made from 100% Australian Snowy Mountain apples – no imported ingredients.
Got a time machine? Me neither, but don’t let that stop you heading back to the post-war cocktail period by visiting Hinky Dinks, Sydney’s latest take on trendy tippling. Embodying the cocktail culture of the 1950s, when then a well stirred Cobbler was an essential accessory one’s image and a cocktail ‘hour’ wasn’t dependant on keeping an eye on the clock, Hinky Dinks is setting a new trend in ‘old fashioned’.
While Don Francisco Hajnal was in town recently for Sydney BarShow Week, we caught up with him for a chat about his role with Jose Cuervo Tequila. Having been involved with the magical spirit for many year, Hajnal had a lot to say – and we were happy to listen.
The term moonshine came about many years ago from the illegal production of spirits that was distilled at night in secret locations (to avoid the authorities). Distilled by the light of the moon the term ‘moonshine’ was soon born into popular culture.
The national final was held at the grand Crown Casino in Melbourne and the night turned out to be a rousing success for both Sinagra and island2island Beverage Company who stage the annual event. “We couldn’t be happier here at island2island,” beamed Forde, “the positive response we received for the not only Angostura, but the company as well, was fantastic.”
Did the Victorian social habits of botanically infused spirits and a penchant for the game of cricket ever mix?
Gin is famed for the 18th century craze that showcased London as a bit of a mad-pot town, filled with damned souls sodden on Old Tom from the bathtub. True as it might be the late Victorian era (1850s onwards) also had a bit of a penchant for gin,
Gary Beadle is another Western Australian who is doing some fantastic things within the Perth bar scene. Having started hospitality work in London pulling pints for English veterans he now runs a company dedicated to ‘the business of hospitality’.
The crew at TMD have had a stellar year with 40 medals have been won in 2011 bringing their total to an impressive 197.
El Capo was started by husband and wife team, Omar & Dianna Andrade who have previously run Transient Diner – an underground dining concept that focused on featuring young, new talent. The duo came across loads of talented young chefs and decided to put their money were their mouth is by appointing one of them as head chef. Joey Astorga (previously at Bentley Bar and Galileo) heads up the kitchen team and is cooking Latin Street food, Puerto Rican, Colombian and Mexican classics while being sure to steer well away from any sort of menu cliché. “We simply didn’t want to be another Mexican restaurant with wrestlers and sleepy donkeys!” said Dianna Andrade. There’s Char-grilled Swordfish, Duck Three Way(s) Grits & Pork and fresh made Torillas to munch on, and a smart little Chilean Carmenere for red, or a lean Pinot Gris from Mendoza for white to help wash it all down. The trendy restaurant also features street art by talented artists Numskull and Roach along with portraits of infamous ‘Narco Cinema’ stars for added effect.