With the ‘very soft opening’ for family, friends and a few bartenders now long in the past, the Attic is settling in as the new kid on the block, albeit with a well known and protective older brother whose got a good reputation. The new addition to the much loved and sought after night spot Blackpearl has been as important to the staff as to their customers says owner Nastasha Conte, but it hasn’t been without it’s share of trails.
Along with knowing how to play barrelhouse piano or sing rowdy Irish songs knowing how to mix a few top-notch cocktails is a skill guaranteed to get a party started, writes David Wondrich.
With island2island recently adding to their Scotch whisky range comes GlenDronach, ‘a journey of rediscovery’. This is a whisky that’s sure to make a great addition to your bar, especially since the cooler nights are now descending.
The design principles of The Ludlow Formation incorporate the formation of small areas or pockets of drinking and dining activity, similar to a grotto (or cave). Melbourne’s new venue The Ludlow is a contemporary pub built on traditional principles, offering all the elements of a truly classic pub including; public bar and informal dining area, lounge bar and dining room.
Angostura has announced that their Global Cocktail Challenge is set to become an annual event due to its increasing success on the Cocktail Competition circuit.
This month Australian Bartender took some time out with a couple of Sydney-based bar entrepreneurs. With a string of successful bar businesses behind them James Wirth and James Miller are tackling some of the city’s forgotten gems and giving them a facelift so that they can be enjoyed by a whole new generation.
If Sussex Lane, Sydney hasn’t made it onto your radar just yet, get set to pick up something new and exciting. The last 12 months has seen this strip blossom into a CBD haven, brimming with small bars and cafes and becoming one of the newest and certainly more dynamic sites in town. Bolstering the ranks of the likes of Small Bar and Balcony Bar in this part of the world is Shirt Bar; one part café, one part bar service and one part retail shirt boutique mixed together and served straight up.
Whilst these Argentinean masters opened their south-American hotspot in 2010 the swanky cocktail area now coined Gardel’s Bar only got into top gear in April. The name pays respect to Argentina’s most famous tango musician and actor, the great Carlos Gardel who thrived in the 1930s, and the bar is another touch of class in one of Sydney’s newest and coolest restaurants.
Embrace the darkness – and prepare to be surprised. A unique and world first mixer, Elixir draws inspiration from the complexity of café mocha and rich coffee liquors with subtle notes of chocolate, burnt caramels & vanilla.
Check out the great selection of brandy cocktails featured in the July issue of Australian Bartender magazine. Thanks to all the bartenders who sent through their drinks – keep them coming!
Suntory are now showcasing a couple of stellar gins that’d be a great addition to your range. Gin Mare is a hand blended, super premium Gin distilled in a 19th Century chapel in a small fishing village near Barcelona on the Costa Dorada in Spain.
Limoncello in the middle of winter you say? Well, whilst this mellow, yellow lemon flavoured liqueur might be a favourite when served chilled during our sweltering summer now is the time you might want to take a look at making you own.