Bars, Brews & Beverages

BUNDABERG Rum Distillery The Bundaberg Rum Distillery is a unique, authentic Australian icon unlike any other. For over 125 years, the Bundaberg Rum Distillery has proudly created the smooth golden liquor, made from the finest sugar cane in tropical Queensland, and its survival of two fires and two floods stands as an enduring testament to the Australian spirit. Whether you’re a rum enthusiast or planning a weekend away, the Bundaberg Rum

Distillery, just four hours north of Brisbane Airport, offers guests an unforgettable and one of a kind distillery experience.

Bundaberg Rum’s new $8.5 million awardwinning Visitor Experience promises a bucketlist worthy trip deep into the heart of one of Australia’s most iconic brands.

Explore the fully immersive Museum that celebrates the heritage of this proud Australian brand, housed within a series of converted 75,000 litre vats that have matured hundreds and thousands of litres of Australia’s favourite rum. You’ll also find the world’s largest collection of Bundaberg Rum on display in a towering bottle wall that is over four metres high.

Once you have visited the Museum, take a step into the heart of this fully operational distillery, in a guided Distillery Experience tour where you can take in the rich history as well as the sights, smells and sounds of the rum-making process. This one hour tour concludes in the tasting bar where you can sample some of the top shelf, award-winning rums from the Bundaberg Rum range, some of which are only available at the distillery.

Prized rums to try, include the Bundaberg Rum Blenders Edition 2015, which was named World’s Best Rum at the 2016 World Drinks Awards in London - the competition’s top honour. The accolade was a first for an Australian rum and put Bundaberg firmly in the international spotlight.

THE BLEND YOUR OWN RUM EXPERIENCE

For more than a century, the fine art of blending Bundaberg Rum has been limited to the talented Master Distillers, but now and for the first time, the public is welcomed to the Bundaberg Rum Distillery to learn about the craft of blending in a Blend Your Own Rum Experience. A blending expert leads a handson blending session using premium and rare rums. Guests leave with two bottles of their very own personalised blend, with their name and unique batch number on the label.

Visitors’ blend recipes are even kept on file at the distillery in case they wish to order the same blend again in the future. The experience is a first for any distillery in Australia and runs every Saturday and Sunday. It is available for up to 16 adults at a cost of $250 per person.

THE SPIRIT OF BUNDABERG FESTIVAL

The Visitor Experience Centre is also home to the Spirit of Bundaberg Festival, which was recently voted ‘The World’s Best Distillery Event’ at the Distillery Experience Awards in London. The Spirit of Bundaberg Festival also happens to be the largest food and rum festival in Australia. It’s a Bundy celebration with food, fun, cocktail master classes and live music, bringing people from across the country. Keep an eye out for the details on the next festival in October.

Hills Street, Bundaberg QLD 4670 T: (07) 4131 2999 W: www.bundabergrum.com.au

Retail opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am – 5pm Sat - Sun & Public Holidays: 10am – 4pm

BARS, BREWS BEVERAGES&

Is a cocktail or refreshing beverage what you’re after? We’ve got you covered. Here is our guide to some of the hottest places across the country.

BIG POPPA’S

A modern Italian restaurant, Big Poppa’s is located on the vibrant Oxford Street in Darlinghurst, Sydney. And at this wonderful venue, cheese and wine are a major focus. There are over 200 bottles of mainly red and rosé wines and there is even a cheese sommelier on deck to help you sort through some 30 different cheeses on offer. If cocktails are more your thing, then fear not my friend as there is a fully stocked bar downstairs. With four staff behind the stick at any given time, you can slink into the chesterfield booths and devour a classic drink. Fitting with the theme, there are Italian cocktails on offer as well as all the classics. With a restaurant upstairs and a cocktail lounge downstairs, whether you’re hungry or thirsty, Big Poppa’s can satisfy all your desires. 96 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney NSW W: www.bigpoppa.com.au Opening hours: Mon – Sun: 5pm - 3am

STOMPING GROUND

A brewery and beer hall has set up shop in Collingwood, Melbourne. Founded by Steve Jaffares, Guy Greenstone and Justin Joiner, Stomping Ground has over 20 beers to try. The interior is characterised by exposed brick and recycled timber and has a wonderful view of the brewery’s tanks. Sit back and watch it all happen as you order a schooner and one of many delights from the food menu. 100 Gipps Street, Collingwood VIC Ph: (03) 9415 1944 W: www.stompingground.beer Opening hours: Sun – Thurs: 11:30am til late Fri – Sat: 11:30am - 1am

BOILERMAKER HOUSE

One shot of whisky, one pint of beer to chase. From the same Speakeasy Group behind Eau-de-Vie comes a Melbourne CBD bar by the name of Boilermaker House. This fourteen-seat bar is the perfect spot to sample a massive range of offerings specialised in craft beer, malt whisky, cheese and charcuterie with a back bar that boasts around 1,000 bottles. There are over 700 choices of malt whiskies, so whisky fanatics will be like a kid in a candy shop. Scottish malts reign supreme, but expect to find a plethora of choices including Japanese, Australian and American selections as well. Pick any; it’s impossible to go wrong! With 12 beers on tap and 40 offered by the bottle, the selections support mostly small to medium sized craft breweries that focus on quality and flavour. Most beers are on rotation, so don’t expect to see them on the menu for long. All of the seats at the bar taken? Make your way down to the meat and cheese bar or one of the communal tasting tables - the perfect place to catch up after a long day at the office. 209-211 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC W: www.boilermakerhouse.com.au Opening hours: Mon–Thurs: 4pm - 3am Fri–Sun: 3pm - 3am