Hendrick’s Absinthe, New Sydney Bars, Vale Gaz Regan

by Corinne Mossati November 21, 2019

Hendrick’s Absinthe, Vale Gary ‘Gaz’ Regan, The Big Easy, Nikkei Bar & Restaurant and The Gidley open in Sydney, Matthew McConaughey Launches Off-Grid Cabin and more in this week’s bar/spirited news & recommended reads.

Oregano Cocktail – Photo © Cocktails & Bars

Vale Gary ‘Gaz’ Regan

This week the bar world has mourned the loss of Gary ‘Gaz’ Regan who passed away on 15 November 2019 at the age of 68 after a battle with cancer. The leading The author of The Joy of Mixology and renowned bartender, educator and author was an influential personality whose life touched many around the globe. Many one finger-stirred Negronis would have be drunk in his honour.

The Big Easy Opens in Darlinghurst

The Big Easy, a New Orleans inspired cocktail bar by Doug Laming and Merlin Kibe has opened in Sydney’s Darlinghurst. Read our full feature on The Big Easy here.

Nikkei Bar & Restaurant Opens in Surry Hills

The team behind Tokyo Bird, Bancho Bar, Sando and Osaka Trading Co. have opened a new bar and restaurant in Surry Hills that brings the concept of Nikkei to Sydney through creative drinks and food. Our full feature on Nikkei’s Peruvian-Japanese cocktail concept featuring the pictured cocktail above is coming soon.

Matthew McConaughey Launches Off-Grid Cabin

As we reported last week, Wild Turkey Creative Director Matthew McConaughey unveiled an off-the-grid cabin in Sydney as part of the Wild Turkey With Thanks initiative built to encourage more Australians to reconnect with the wild, while protecting and preserving it for future generations. Full feature and images here.

Hendrick’s Absinthe

Hendrick’s has launched Hendrick’s Absinthe (48% ABV), made with star anise and wormwood, absinthe botanicals as well as juniper, yarrow and orange. Hendrick’s signature flavours of rose and cucumber are also included. The new limited release of 4000 bottles is currently available exclusively to the UK on trade. (source)

The Gidley Opens in Sydney

The Gidley, the new venue from the team behind The Wild Rover has now opened in Sydney’s CBD. Read our feature on The Gidley here with the “bar without a bar top”.

Recommended Reads

What’s New On the London Cocktails Scene? (source)
Non-Alcoholic Spirit Brands List (source)

Opening a new cocktail bar or Australian distillery? Contact us here.

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.