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Our round up of cocktail articles, local and international booze news, new bar, new spirits and recommended reads.
In the News
- The inaugural FAIR Cocktail Competition 2018 was held in Sydney at Big Poppa’s with Vincent Valliere of Pelicano Sydney winning the first prize, a trip to Bolivia with his all-sustainable cocktail, Bananodrama (pictured). The finalists were judged on the originality of the cocktail, how well the embodied the FAIR ethos, and their willingness and ability to help change the industry. The judges were David Spanton (Bartender Magazine), Amy Botta (Fairtrade), Sam Egerton (Merivale) and myself, Corinne Mossati (Cocktails & Bars, Gourmantic).
- The 2018 Bar Awards & Bartender of the Year were announced in Sydney last week.
- Shining light on mental health in the hospitality industry, Allara Learning have teamed up with R U OK? to develop a new and free online course for the hospitality industry available from their website here.
- The World’s 50 Best Bars 2018 51-100 List has been revealed.
- Hidetsugu Ueno of Bar High Five Tokyo presented Bartending as an Art Masterclass during Bar Week.
- During their Australian Visit, the team from Hope & Sesame speakeasy bar in Guangzhou shared the creative process behind their food-inspired cocktails.
New Spirit Releases
- Fever-Tree has launched a limited edition mixer, Fever-Tree Citrus Tonic Water crafted to complement Patrón Tequila. The tonic water is made with Key limes and Tahitian limes from Colima and Michoacán, tangerines from Vera Cruz and bitter orange from Yucatán.
- Nikka has released four new spirits on the Australian market:
- Nikka Coffey Vodka (40% ABV) – viscous with a hint of vanilla sweetness and a peppery end note
- Nikka Coffey Gin (47% ABV) – with four kinds of Japanese citrus, Yuzu, Kabosu, Amanatsu and Shequasar, apples, Sansho pepper and traditional gin botanicals of juniper berries, angelica, coriander seeds, lemon and orange peels.
- Nikka Yoichi Single Malt Whisky (45% ABV) has soft peaty notes and smoke from the coal-fired distillation as well as a briny influence from the distillery’s location near the sea.
- Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt (45% ABV) brings an elegant and sweet fruity note with a sherry cask influence.
- The limited release PS40 X Never Never Australian Aquavit was launched during Bar Week. The aquavit has equal parts caraway, fennel and dill along with Australian native botanicals, namely cinnamon myrtle, riberry, macadamia and strawberry gum in a wheat spirit base.
New Bars
- Tandem Bar in Newtown is opening this Friday 28 September 2018.
- After Maybe Frank comes Maybe Sammy, a new cocktail bar set to open soon in Sydney CBD.
- Blue Kahunas is a tiki bar opening soon in Newcastle’s Hunter Street Mall.
- Rosenbaum & Fuller, a new cafe and bar by Lee Potter-Cavanagh is soon to open in Bondi at the former site of The Crossing.
Recommended Reads
- What Cheese Pairs Best with a Manhattan Cocktail? (via 52 Martinis)
- Everything That’s Worth Drinking in Paris, According to Danico’s Nico de Soto (via Vinepair)
Opening a new cocktail bar soon? Contact us here, and don’t forget to check our Bars Directory and updated Australian Distillery Directory.
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