It’s never been so good to be a bartender. Just look at the endless supply of competitions to enter with mind-blowing prizes, and the fantastic array of drinks brands that now are available. But be careful of the subversive sell…
Tag: welcome
By Philip Duff
I just survived a hurricane. Well, I say survived. Hurricanes ain’t what they used to be. Last year here in New York I bravely battled Hurricane Irene, which turned out to be mostly an opportunity for cute girls on the Upper East Side to walk around in short shorts and knee-high rubber boots ( a sight I found disturbingly arousing – must have lived too long in the UK in my youth). It rained a lot.
Skipper Josh Collins: “Unfortunately no one turned up to serve me a drink but considering my past Fiji experiences perhaps that wasn’t a bad thing!”
The Honourable Julia Gillard MP finally has a local small bar and restaurant in which to drown her polling woes. The Botanist Kirribilli has just opened its doors in the old Milsons restaurant site thanks to owners Ben Carroll and Hamish Watts – the duo behind Bondi Hardware.
We’re well versed in the spate of small bar openings that have taken over Sydney and other capital cities (yes Melbourne, you did it first) but there isn’t a lot we hear about the trend flowering beyond the major cities.
Sure, there’s Goldfish in the Hunter Valley. Now, thanks to the arrival of Fox Bar in Maitland there are the nascent beginnings of a Hunter Valley small bar tour – though someone is going to have to drive.
They say a poor workman blames his tools. Fine and dandy if you’re a workman-like bartender. If you’re in a venue which expects you to more craftsman than journeyman however it might pay to make sure you’re well equipped.
“Hong Kong could quickly become a major player on the world cocktail scene.”
It’s a bloody long way to get to Ireland and I don’t think they had a longer flight option with Virgin! So do yourself a favour and don’t almost kill yourself trying to fit in a full tour of Ireland and get back to Sydney in just a week. Crazy! With such limited time available I decided to focus my trip on pubs and all things whiskey related, unfortunately giving their iconic castles and fabled racetracks a miss.
Bali is truly an international destination. It attracts visitors from all over the world including huge numbers of Japanese, Russians, Dutch, and French and of course Australians – unfortunately the latter don’t have the best reputation due to their well-deserved trouble making ways (at least try saying you’re a Kiwi if your having trouble getting into a club). Think planeloads of bogan Bathurst 100 supporters and Jim Beam & Cola Can drinkers all wearing Bintang shirts and braded hair running amuck. That’s our typical Aussie visitor.
It is the sixth year of the event, the world’s most extreme and prestigious bartending competition and marks ten years since 42BELOW founder Geoff Ross sold his first bottle of homemade vodka to a bar in Wellington. This year it’s all about ‘Love, Drinks and Rock n Roll Baby’
Bartender magazine and 4bars.com.au got the chance to meet Morgan Guerra-Heuwetter brand ambassador for the Anchor Brewing and Distilling Company at a tasting held Goldfish in November.
There are now two new liqueurs from Queensland’s multi-award winning Tamborine Mountain Distiller. Try their distinctive Wattle Toffee Liqueur and the Violetta.