Amy Spanton, Author at australianbartender.com.au

Amy Spanton

the Editor of 4Bars.com.au. She has lived and worked in San Francisco, Sydney and London, working as a waitress, bartender and maitre’d. She knows the bar scene inside out and has written about bars and drinks for numerous publications, including Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Living supplement. She is long-time Editor of Bartender magazine.

This book looks at what it was like to be Hem’s wife

rnest Hemingway’s name has appeared innumerable times in Australian Bartender, mostly because of his prodigious…

Ace drinking at Heritage Exchange Townsville

Story by Amy Spanton Townsville. Hot Weather. The North Queensland Cowboys. Sugarcane. Ross River. Great…

Negroni

A local Count, Camillo Negroni was known for frequenting Florentine bars and his favoured tipple…

CLASSIC: The Margarita

Of all cocktails, none has been assaulted quite like the Margarita. At some bars it’s now like a Slurpee from 7/11; a frozen concoction swirling around in a myriad of colours and flavours. But it wasn’t always so tacky. The world’s most popular cocktail is a sublime drink when made properly.

Editor’s Blog: Around the World in 73 Bars

One of the most popular sessions at the recent Tales of the Cocktail in New…

COCKTAILS: The Wet Martini

The dryness of a martini is determined by the amount of extra dry vermouth used – ironically, the less extra dry vermouth the more dry the martini. If we go back in time, we will find many incarnations of the famed Martini and the further we go, the more vermouth is used.

Editor’s Blog… The Best Boozy Moments in Modern Film

So, in honour of this booze-fuelled fiesta, film.com published their list of ‘The Best Modern Examples of Drinking on Film’. With the exception of Old School, the crew at the 4bars office heartily disagrees with their list and as such, we have compiled our own. So here goes (in no particular order):

Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney

Following the huge success of Rockpool Bar & Grill in Melbourne, Neil Perry has brought his steakhouse concept to Sydney and the initial reviews have been nothing short of rave. Along with the impressive dining room (and the country’s most extensive wine list featuring over 3,800 wines) there is also a traditional steakhouse bar (think NYC style) located adjacent to the main dining room with a capacity for 45 drinkers.

Temperance Hotel, Melbourne

This curiously named pub housed in the old ‘Frostbites’ on Chapel Street has been completely overhauled into a contemporary bar and lounge in the heart of Melbourne’s busy shopping and entertainment district. While its name might suggest this as a place for teetotallers, General Manager, Peter Little, assures us that this pub is well-stocked with booze, saying : “We offer a diverse selection of fine wine and imported beers in a comfortable and contemporary environment that is made even more enjoyable by our knowledgeable and friendly staff.”