Drinks & Venues

ON TREND

We like to explore the wonderful world of drinks as much as you do. And nothing gives us a greater kick than knowing that our readers are up-to-date on anything to do with discovering a new beverage, the latest product to hit the shelves or the hottest bars. So if being in the know is your thing, then read on to find out what’s happening in the world of drinks.

EVENT: BALLARAT BEER FESTIVAL

MARK JANUARY 21 DOWN IN YOUR CALENDER. THAT’S RIGHT, THE BALLARAT BEER FESTIVAL IS BACK! SHOWCASING OVER 40 BREWERS, INCLUDING COOPERS, PIRATE LIFE AND TWO BIRDS, ATTENDEES WILL BE TREATED TO 20 NEW RELEASE BEERS, NEVER BEFORE SEEN OR TASTED IN THIS NECK OF THE WOODS. THERE WILL ALSO BE A BEER GARDEN, MASTERCLASSES, AND A HUMAN FOOSEBALL TABLE AS PART OF THE ‘BEERLLARAT’. OLYMPICS.

VISIT: THE ATHLETIC CLUB BREWERY VISIT: BREW BAR

VISIT: BALLSY WILD KOMBUCHA

Ballarat already has a rich brewing heritage, but it just got richer with the opening of the Athletic Club Brewery. Owned by the Parry Brewing Company, this immersive venue invites locals and visitors to stop in for a tour, tasting and self-brewing session. Whether you are a beer novice or self-proclaimed expert, try your hand at using the professional brewing technology to produce something new (and drink it all after!).

VISIT: URBAN WINERY SYDNEY

Urban Winery opened in March, Australia’s first large-scale winery in the city. Owned and operated by experimental winemaker Alex Retief, the idea for the project came after a brief stint in France. Located in St Peters, members of the public are invited to visit from near and afar to participate in tours, tastings or to rent the space for private events and functions.

Suite 601, Precinct 75, 75 Mary St, St Peters, NSW

NEW PRODUCT:

THE ABEL GIN COMPANY

Think traditional gin and then prepare to be blown away by an intense blast of citrus. That’s what The Abel Gin Company has to offer with two new products, Essence and Quintessence. The first is vibrant and fresh, and the second dark and broody. Pair them with your mood, whatever that may be. Keep an eye out for Abel on bottle shop shelves. Enmore will be buzzing all summer with the addition of this new coffee hub. A four-month pop up, Brew Bar has been organised by Collective Roasting Solutions, and features beans and roasts from members including Circa Espresso and Skittle Lane. Pop in for a pastry and a pick me up, or purchase a take-home bag for something more sustainable. The try before you buy policy will ensure you leave smiling.

177 Enmore Rd, Enmore, NSW

Ballsy Brewing has opened a venue in Leichardt where you can purchase something that’s all the rage…Wild Kombucha. A naturally energising and detoxifying drink, Kombucha is produced by the aerobic fermentation of green and black tea and organic raw cane sugar. With less than 1 per cent alcohol, this new brew is taking the town by storm due to its believed health benefits. Head on down and try yours at the Kombucha Bar and Collaboratory space, which fuses a passion for food, art and medicine.

NEW PRODUCT: CHIVAS REGAL ULTIS

Chivas Regal has released its first-ever blended malt Scotch whisky, Ultis, which honours both the Speyside region and former and current master blenders. The whisky is a blend of five signature malts from across the Speyside region. The Australian launch took place in November, with Asia Pacific Ambassador Chris Evans, also known as Captain America, attending the event.

VISIT: JACOBY’S

Named after Dr Jacoby from Twin Peaks, a new Tiki bar is set to open in Enmore early next year. Brought to you by the team behind Earl’s Juke Joint, Jacoby’s will be open until 2am, serving up rum packed tropical cocktails. And as per Twin Peaks, there will always be pie and “damn good coffee.”

VISIT: STOKEHOUSE

VISIT: THE ELYSIAN WHISKY BAR MELBOURNE

Stokehouse Melbourne is back. The new building features a five-star restaurant with overlooking views of St Kilda Beach. Executive Chef Richard Ousby and Head Chef Ollie Hansford have designed a menu with a focus on seafood and an overarching philosophy of fresh, clean, zesty and light. Head Sommelier Gavin Cremming will guide you through the list of 500 wines.

30 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda, VIC

Fitzroy has been graced with yet another fantastic venue. The Elysian Whisky bar is small and cosy, with a focus on seasonal and classic cocktails. Bartenders Yao Wong and Kelvin Low have also stocked the bar with over 300 whiskies, many of which come from Scotland. A haven for those enthusiastic about the liquid sunshine, this sounds like the type of place we want to spend our Friday nights!

VISIT:

HANDPICKED WINES CELLAR DOOR Handpicked Wines has opened a cellar door in Sydney. Located on 50 Kensington Street in Chippendale, guests can experience wines from across Australia and the world, with the winery not limiting itself to one location or style, but instead ‘hand picking’ the best regions and varietals. Wines can be ordered by the glass or bottle, and purchased to be taken home.

RARE FIND: CRAIGELLACHIE 23 YEAR OLD WHISKY LOVERS REJOICE, CRAIGELLACHIE 23 YEAR OLD HAS FINALLY ARRIVED IN AUSTRALIA! VOTED ‘BEST SINGLE MALT IN THE WORLD,’ THE RARE AND ILLUSIVE 23 YEAR OLD DELIVERS A FRUITY SWEETNESS WITH HERBAL SPICES. IT RETAILS EXCLUSIVELY AT DAN MUPRHY’S STORES AND IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN SELECT WHISKY BARS.

VISIT: CHARLIE PARKER’S

The Merivale Group has done it again…this time with Charlie Parker’s, the newest and hottest bar on Oxford Street in Sydney. Taking a chef’s approach to cocktails, bartenders Sam Egerton and Toby Marshall have created a menu that focuses on freshness and quality. Serving drinks to order, with a high attention to detail, you are sure to be blown away by what they produce.

See full profile on page 84.

MUST TRY: PEANUT BUTTER SCHNAPPS

Kindred Beverages’ Vizor Schnapps range is Australian made and owned, and produced using custom built extractors to deliver a premium product. In a world first, the company has launched Peanut Butter Schnapps. Yes, you heard right, Peanut Butter Schnapps. The Vizor Schnapps range also includes Apple, Butterscotch, Chocolate, Coffee, Peach, and Raspberry.

BATCH AROMATIC BITTERS

Batch Aromatic Bitters from Kindred Beverages have been carefully macerated in customised extraction tanks using more than twenty ingredients. The result is a strong, intense, deep and rich flavoured product with layered herbs and a bittersweet lingering finish. Batch Aromatic Bitters are Australian made and include natural Tasmanian mountain berries and hops.

BATCH ORANGE BITTERS

Batch Orange Bitters features a cluster of orange flavour including pith, peel and juice to provide a tartsweet bitterness. These can be used in drinks or as a perfect addition to desser ts and ice cream. Batch Orange Bitters are Australian made with the integration of Australian naval oranges.

VISIT: MR TOPPER’S TOAST BAR Looking for a recovery session after a night out? Where better to go than Mr Topper’s Toast Bar in Bondi, where you can dine-in with some classic 60s music and sink your teeth into brunch. They have vegan, vegetarian and gluten free toast, and all the toppings under the sun. We’re talking banana, honey, jam, almonds, coconut butter and, lo and behold, the almighty smashed avocado! Wash it all down with an iced coffee to set your head straight for another night on the town.

VISIT: QUEENS HOTEL

The recently revamped Queens Hotel in Sydney’s inner west suburb of Enmore offers great cocktails and food options from its restaurant, Queen Chow, which serves up a range of dishes inspired by the flavours of Hong Kong’s famous street kitchens. Upstairs at the Queens Hotel you’ll find the Smelly Goat cocktail bar serving classic cocktails with a twist. The two-level venue features a décor of dark stained timbers, rubbed back finishes and a long timber bar with a zinc top. The ground floor has bar seating and leather banquettes and opens into a courtyard shadowed by a canopy tree and greenery.

Address: 167 Enmore Road, Enmore NSW

NEW: BROOKIE’S BYRON DRY GIN

The new Cape Byron Distillery has launched Brookie’s Byron Dry Gin, the first to be produced in Byron Bay. The gin captures the flavours and tastes of sub-tropical NSW, with the distillery nestled in the Brook family’s macadamia farm, surrounded by a lush rainforest. Brookie’s is a dry style of gin, balanced with a combination of traditional and local, native botanicals and trickle distilled in a custom, hand-made copper pot still. Brookie’s Byron Dry gin retails for $75 and is currently exclusively available via the Australian crowd funding platform Pozible.

Check out www.capebyrondistillery.com for more info.

EAT: MUNCH ON THESE NEW PRODUCTS FROM KETTLE

The famous Kettle brand now offers two new products - popcorn and sweet potato chips. The range of popcorn is a healthier alternative, 100 per cent natural with no artificial colours or flavours. The Kettle Popcorn range is available in Honey & Butter (110g), Salted Caramel (110g), and Sea Salt (80g). Kettle Sweet Potato Chips are available in two flavours, Sea Salt and Rosemary & Sea Salt. They are 100 per cent natural and slowly cooked in sunflower oil.