It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Cocktails

It’s beginning to look a lot like

Are you in the mood to be merry and bright yet? If you answered no, we get it, Christmas is a stressful time. But we’ve got the ideal solution: a little jingle juice in the form of festive Christmas cocktails.

cocktailsBY | Tori Wilson

While you can expect to wander the streets of Subiaco on any summer’s evening and be charmed by the vibrant selection of boutique bars and alfresco dining illuminating the area, we have an extra sprinkle of festivity to put a spring in your step in the lead-up to Christmas — a carefully curated Christmas Cocktail Trail featuring eight of Subi’s best bars, from now until the big day.

Bar Amelie

With a string of London wine bar openings under her belt, Kat Dehavilland, with her business partner Kim Knight, opened the chic Bar Amelie in May this year and has been crafting tantalising cocktails and curating an impeccable wine list for the locals of Subi ever since. So, naturally, their Christmas special is another treat of high calibre — Amelie’s White Christmas Margarita.

“Kim is obsessed with tequila. Obsessed,” says Kat when sharing the thought behind the beverage.“

“It’s not something usually people associate with Christmas, so I decided to make it a tequila, fresh lime juice and coconut cream cocktail, with fresh pomegranate and rosemary to season.”

The drink looks deliciously decadent. Served over ice in a rocks glass rimmed with salt and desiccated coconut, the red pomegranate pops against the white like Santa in the snow.

“The hint of sweetness and touch of tartness from the fresh lime and pomegranate, plus the coconut, pairs beautifully with something like our pan-fried garlic chilli prawns or pork belly with chilli caramel glaze,” says Kat.

As another option for those looking for that traditional Christmas fruit and spice, Kat’s also crafted an Amelie’s Raspberry Christmas Bellini with fresh raspberry syrup, a hint of star anise sugar syrup, topped with prosecco and finished with frozen raspberry.

Named after Kat’s favourite film, Amelie is all about sharing and paying it forward; the venue is all about coming together for good food, company, and conversation. Kat says there’s no better time to share in that ethos than Christmas.

Keep your eye out for Bar Amelie’s upcoming Christmas Eve set lunch, or pop in for live music hosted every second Saturday.

Lums

Detailed with quirky, handsketched graphics, exposed brick, and an eclectic collection of wine bottles lining the walls and windows, Lums’ cool, minimalist aesthetic and heritage facade is something you’d expect to find in Melbourne’s edgy area of Brunswick.

Having opened in August this year, the boutique, winecentric bar is serving some seriously good vino, with a petite, wine-inspired cocktail list to complement.

“I’ve tried to keep our cocktails all wine forward, which is something I haven’t seen done before,” says bar manager Ariene Dubois, who’s poured hours reading through old wine-based cocktail recipes to get the results right.

“The cocktail I’ve come up with for the Christmas Trail is a twist on an old classic called the Kir, which originated during the prohibition period when people just started adding crème de cassis to white wine to make it taste better when it was scarce and started to go off.”

Titled The Drunken Snowman, Ariene has put her own spin on the classic recipe, using a locally-sourced fresh raspberry sorbet with Louis Bouillot Methode Traditionnelle sparkling from Burgundy and crème de cassis, carefully built and served in a Champagne coupe.

“I always drink Champagne for Christmas, so that’s really nostalgic,” says Ariene.

Like raspberries on toast, the sorbet's beautiful creamy consistency and sweetness complement the bready, brioche notes of the Methode Traditionnelle perfectly.

Subiaco Hotel

With over 100 years of history serving good food and drink to locals, the Subiaco Hotel really is a staple institution and a bit of an icon in the area.

Situated on the opposite corner to the majestic Regal Theatre, the hotel’s Christmas cocktail theme was inspired by a recent showing of The Grinch and the joy brought by the performers who stopped by for a post-show nightcap.

“The last night, all the actors and crew came here and pretty much did a little short live show for us, and it was really awesome, really fun,” says assistant manager Sunao Susaki. “When I saw that, I thought, that would be a good idea.”

Appropriately named The Grinch, Sunao’s Midori and white rum-based cocktail is visually theatrical, being a brilliant apple green, with a contrasting red sprinkle rim, popping maraschino cherry and candy cane for flair.

Shaken over ice with fresh lemon and lime before being served in a short glass topped with lemonade, it’s like a sour sherbet melon lolly that’s likely to take you back to childhood (with the bonus of booze). with cassia bark, native thyme, and a spicy hint of cinnamon, Jack has built a dessert-style sour, served in a tall glass and topped with soda to keep it light, fresh, and smashable in the summer heat.

“We love using a dry gin to balance out our cocktails with a fruitier profile,” says Jack. “We’re using a home-made mixed berry syrup along with a berry compote, taking inspiration from a Clover Club, some soda, fresh lime juice, garnished with freshly cracked meringue and fruit on top.”

Indicative of the drink’s name,

the Aqua-Fablova, aquafaba is also added to produce a silky, creamy texture that’s reflective of the Australian favourite.

A lofty, industrial-style space, with lush greenery draped about the bar and a light breeze blowing through, visit on a Sunday afternoon for Little Things Gin’s new Sips 'n' Shucks event series, featuring oysters, martinis and all-day drinks specials.

Little Things Gin

There’s nothing that says Australian Christmas quite like pavlova, so, Little Things Gin bar manager Jack Duffield has taken inspiration from his mum’s very own and delivered a drink designed to make all merry.

“Mum’s pavlova is this homemade, mixed berry pavlova that’s fresh, sweet, creamy, silky smooth. It’s absolutely amazing,” says Jack.

Using their own Little Things Gin Australian Dry gin made

El Peruvian Food Co.

Serving up authentic, South American cuisine to the backdrop of Chi Chi artwork and Latin music, there was really only one option for El Peruvian’s Christmas cocktail spirit that would be true to character — pisco.

Co-owner, with husband and head chef Ian, Robyn Gatjens has taken the signature Peruvian cocktail, Pisco Sour, and spun it with juicy watermelon for the most refreshing Australian summer twist.

“In Australia, with hot Christmases, I think of a whole watermelon being cut up and shared with the family on the lawn after lunch,” says Robyn.

This slightly sweet and citrus sour sensation, garnished with mint, is dangerously easy to drink. Pair it with the traditional Peruvian dish cerviche for a hit flavour combination that’s ideal for the warm weather that comes with an Australian Christmas.

“Our approach to food is real food with flavour. We make all of our cocktails and food with love and passion,” says Robyn. . . . with hot Christmases, I think of a whole watermelon being cut up and shared with the family on the lawn after lunch

Your local one-stop friendly shop for Christmas gifts

• Beautiful Beauty Treatment

Gift Vouchers • Free Christmas Gift Wrapping • Amazing gifts for all ages

It's great for summer coming up, sitting out on the deck in the sunshine

Bark

If you’ve been to Bark, you’ll know it’s a bit like walking into your mate’s loungeroom, where you feel at ease with a beverage in hand and potentially a board game on the go.

Celebrating five years in March, Bark is your friendly neighbourhood hangout with a classic West Australian vibe.

Bar manager Cassie Barrett says a putting a twist on a classic is their go-to style when it comes to building tasty cocktails that will please the crowds.

“Our Christmas cocktail is basically a Tommy’s margarita with house-jalapeño-infused tequila, agave and lime juice muddled with chili flakes and basil,” says Cassie.

“It’s great for summer coming up, sitting out on the deck in the sunshine. Refreshing, light, perfect for an Australian Christmas.”

With plenty of fresh zesty lime and a spicy kick, the sweetness of the agave cuts through perfectly, while aromatic basil exudes from the drink and peppers it with pops of vibrant green.

Try the marinated Freo octopus for the ultimate summer afternoon pairing

Dilly Dally

Effortlessly classy, Dilly Dally’s simple interiors with a hint of heritage make the ideal backdrop for seriously good food and wine with flavours that sing.

The cocktail list here is just as carefully considered, with their Christmas cocktail no exception.

“Our cocktail is called

Pavettone and incorporates elements from Christmas desserts from around the world — Christmas pudding, pavlova, and panettone,” says operations manager Eden Najran.

The drink itself is a riff on a Clover Club, using Four Pillars Christmas Gin, 23rd Street ‘Not Your Nannas’ Brandy, Alpe Amaro, citrus, egg white and spiced cranberry.

“I grew up in England so Christmas to me is all about those spicy, comforting flavours that evoke a sense of relaxing in a log cabin with a roaring fire. Moving to the southern hemisphere has meant paring back those rich, intense flavours a little to make them more refined and grown up, as well as more refreshing to stave off that summer heat,” says Eden.

Classic flavours of Christmas pudding — brandy, dried fruit and spices — really work to elevate the tone of the pudding-based gin in this festive delight; yet it’s carefully balanced with an Alpine amaro to accentuate the pine needle notes of the gin’s juniper, and made light and textural with the addition of citrus and egg white.

Served straight up in a sophisticated nick and nora glass and garnished with panettone, it’s one to sing carols about.

The Unicorn Bar

A sleek and stylish bar with simple black interiors, The Unicorn Bar is a locals' favourite for a midweek suburban escape, and its Christmas cocktail is just one more reason it’ll lift your spirits.

Manager Robyn Hunkin has drawn on childhood memories of red jelly tarts to come up with her tantalising Salted Rhubarb creation — a mix of rhubarb liqueur, white rum, fresh citrus and simple syrup.

Robyn says she selected rhubarb as the star ingredient as something a little different to the norm and for its candyred Christmas colour. Rimmed with white salt and paired with dehydrated lime to garnish for a classic Christmas flair, it tastes as good as it looks.

Enjoy drinks alfresco and leafy green spaces as you soften into the festive spirit, one sip at a time. La Condesa's Horchata Eggnog, a celebration in a glass with Reposado tequila, house-made horchata, coconut, frangelico, salted caramel, agave, walnut bitters, with a creamy finish.

Don't miss. . .

From Our Families to yours, Merry Christmas!

Kul Kul Subiaco

Jewellery • Gifts • Fashion

We would love to help you with your Christmas shopping. Pop in Great service, Great gift Ideas AND Free Gift Wrapping. xxx Girls at Kul Kul

Shop A, 151a Rokeby Road, Subiaco Tel 9388 7900 • E cheryl@kulkul.com.au