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The Kodiak Club – Melbourne’s piece of North America

Melbourne has numerous ‘haunts’, ‘holes’ and ‘tippling joints’ and Australian Bartender always likes to share the best of the best with its readers – so here’s one for the whiskey lovers.

The Kodiak Club has been up and running since mid-2010 and while it now has a firmly established moniker as a ‘bourbon bar’ co-owner Nathan DeBritt says that it wasn’t always the hard and fast plan. “We didn’t really know what the bar would evolve into and didn’t want to trap ourselves with a specific theme,” DeBritt explained, “so we came up with a name that both complimented our North American vision but left room to move if the response to our product was not positive.”

Introducing: Tara Steele

Tara Steele hold court at Brisbane favourite Laruche Bar & Supper Club and will do her best to talk you into a Tequila – and one for her too! If she wasn’t serving up drinks for a living Tara counts herself as a potential environmental crusader – she previously worked as a horticulturalist. She’d like to have a sit down with Sir David Attenborough and is also right into antiquing, so much so she considers it a sport.

Tiki Madness from Appleton Estate!

It’s back! And Appleton Estate Rum will be taking its annual Tiki Mug Design competition to the next level in 2012. This year’s incarnation will see the Tiki mug designed by Tiki Farm but based on the story behind the bartender who creates the best Australian Appleton Estate Tiki Cocktail.

Viva la Cuban Rums!

Originating from Santiago, Cuba, Santiago de Cuba Carta Blanca and Anejo rums are new additions to the Australian rum portfolio. The blanca is a light style of rum, smooth in the mouth and with wonderful aromas of fruit and flowers – a perfect addition to your speed rail for ‘Mojito hour’.

Sydney Bar Week – New Direction for Australia’s Premier Bar Event!

“After a decade of being the Australia’s leading bar trade event we saw an opportunity to expand trade only format and incorporate a host of consumer focused activities to help educate todays enthusiastic consumers who are keen to learn more about premium drinks.” David Spanton – Managing Director Spanton Media Group.

Jamie’s Italian

Jamie Oliver has landed and he’s bringing with him all the expected bells and whistles. Inspired by the culture of laneway gastronomy and tippling Jamie’s Australian foray features antique coppers, earthy coloured tiles, leathers and blackened steel.

The venue features a fully operational pasta preparation station, which produces all the fresh pasta required while also satisfying the curious urge of onlookers. Jamie’s Italian also has an impressive bar area that turns out an array of delightful drinks, all under the watch of the 150kg tiered chandelier, which is suspended over head.

Fantastic Falernum – Spice up your cocktails with this Barbadian favourite

It’s January. It’s 30 plus degrees outside and you’ve just rocked up to work while the day is in its prime. Let’s be honest, you’re not particularly focussed on setting up the bar right now perhaps that’s why you’ve flicked to this page. But you’re in luck – there’s a cure to your summertime bartending blues. It’s a potion that will help you ignore the fact that unlike your punters you still sport a snowy white complexion and it’s a cocktail ingredient that will transport you straight to the Caribbean mon. That’s right it’s none other than fantastic falernum.

Auchentoshan 1975

Limited to under 500 bottles, this rare expression of the Auchentoshan is available through Suntory. Bottled at cask strength and non-chill filtered this 35 year old (bourbon barrel aged) malt is sure to be appreciated by any serious malt advocate.

Harry knocks a ton

Global icon Harry’s New York Bar (Paris) recently celebrated its 100th birthday – a fine notch for a venue that’s lived through two World Wars, seen countless local developments and hosted some of last century’s most famous faces.

The story began in 1911 when US jockey Tod Sloan acquired it and with the help of his friend Clancey, a Manhattan bar owner, and set about creating a unique American bar in Paris. The duo embarked on a mad-house scheme to dismantle Clancey’s NY bar and rebuild it the French capital. Clancey, it is said, was determined to escape the draconian restrictions that were being forced upon the alcohol industry in the US, and so the pair made good their dream and relocated some 5,800km away.

Parched March Kicks Off at The Winery!

Sydney’s month-long charity bar odyssey is back for the third year running – and it’ll be our biggest celebration yet. Parched March 2012 will pack the month with an exciting calendar of activity and entertainment in Sydney’s bars. The good times for a good cause just won’t stop coming.

There are more exciting venues involved, more events to join in and more excuses to have a great drink, so grab a team and sign up now.

Editor’s Pick – Hangin’ in Hobart

It had been many years since my last visit to our southern most capital city and to be honest I didn’t know what to expect as I generally get zero information come across my desk about Tassie bars. It’s a city that in 11 years I don’t believe has ever had a Bar Awards finalist and frankly I can’t remember the last time I even spoke to Tasmanian bar person? What was going on down there? Is anyone doing great things or is it just a quiet country town by the sea pushing cappuccinos and Cascade? Amy and I decided it was time to head down and have a few kids-free days and see for us what is or isn’t happening in Hobart and get this question answered!

Freda’s

This new bar & café is looking set to revolutionize the Chippendale area. Up for offer is a mix of well crafted cocktails, imported and local wines, draft brews and bar food to match. The Freda’s crew make regular jaunts to the Sydney fish market and Flemington markets in order to source the best and most interesting produce around. Billing their service as ‘sharp yet simple’ they aim to give customers incomparable food and drink.