Australian Distilleries, Cocktail Competition, Best Bars, Whisky Collection, Elephant Dung Gin

by Corinne Mossati March 13, 2019

Curated cocktail-related articles, local and international spirit and bar news, new bars and recommended reads.

The Rainforest Martini – Photo © Cocktails & Bars

Australian Gin Awards

The inaugural Australian Gin Awards were held on March 7, 2019 with Best in Show awarded to Kangaroo Island Spirits with KIS O GIN. This was followed by two days of Sydney Gin Palooza showcasing the diversity of Australian gins. Get the full results including the medal winners and scores here.

Australian Distilleries Directory

In 2017, we launched our Australian Distillery Directory, a state by state listing of Australian distilleries. At the time, it was said that there were “80 active distilleries in Australia with an almost equal number awaiting approval”. The number of Australian distilleries has grown significantly since then and we continue to update the directory on a regular basis. If your distillery is not listed, please contact us here.

Sydney Cider Cocktail Competition

Entries are now open for the third annual Sydney Cider Cocktail Competition. Cocktails & Bars is proud to be the media partner for the second year in a row. The theme this year is something we can all get behind, the ‘Endless Summer’. Get the full details on how to enter here.

Diageo Special Releases 2019

Diageo has launched its Special Releases for 2019. Among the notable drams are Inchgower 27 yo (55.3% ABV) from Speyside, aged in Refill American Oak Hogsheads⁣; Oban 21 yo (57.9% ABV) from the Highlands aged in Refill European Oak Butts⁣; and Caol IlA 35 yo (58.1% ABV) from Islay aged in Refill American Oak Hogsheads & Refill European Oak Butts⁣. Sydneysiders have a chance to win the collection by deciphering clues and unlocking a three pin code on Thursday 14 March at 8am, noon and 3pm at Customs House. View the collection here.

Time Out Sydney Bar Awards

The Time Out Sydney Bar Awards were held on March 10 with Old Mate’s Place winning both Bar of the Year and Best New Bar. The Legend Award was given to James Bradey & Warren Burns (Liquid and Larder). Get the full results here.

Elephant Dung Gin

We’ve had gin made of collagen and one called Unicorn Tears Gin. Now a new gin is made from botanicals sourced from elephant dung that is dried, crumbled and sterilised. Obhu Indlovu Gin is said to be aimed at fans of “the spirit of Africa”. Has gin gone too far? (source)

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Corinne Mossati

Corinne Mossati is a drinks writer, author of GROW YOUR OWN COCKTAIL GARDEN, SHRUBS & BOTANICAL SODAS and founder/editor of Cocktails & Bars, The Gourmantic Garden and Gourmantic. She has been writing extensively about spirits, cocktails, bars and cocktail gardening in more recent years. She is a spirits and cocktail competition judge, Icons of Whisky Australia nominee, contributor to Diageo Bar Academy, cocktail developer and is named in Australian Bartender Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential List. Her cocktail garden was featured on ABC TV’s Gardening Australia and has won several awards. She is a contributor to Real World Gardener radio program and is featured in several publications including Pip Magazine, Organic Gardener, Australian Bartender and Breathe (UK). Read more or visit her website.