The Sydney bar scene enjoys a mosaic of diversity, from themed bars to speakeasies, bars within distilleries and award-winning bars with a singular spirit focus. PS40 brings a new dimension to the Sydney small bar landscape with a unique cocktail bar concept with a soda factory under the one roof.
Bartenders Thor Bergquist of Experimental Cocktail Club (ECC) (London and New York), Der Raum (Melbourne) and Tippling Club (Singapore), and Michael Chiem of Sokyo, Black by Ezard and Bulletin Place (Sydney) are the duo behind the project. Before opening their bar, they have been supplying PS Soda to some of Sydney’s finest establishments including Bennelong and Lot 1 Sydney.
The space designed by Livia Lima veers away from the norm with bold black and white tiling accented by bright, eye popping colour set within a high ceiling heritage building. Sleek, sophisticated and inviting, the space is divided into the bar which seats twelve persons with banquette seating to the side, and the soda-making facility on a raised level.
The taps at PS40 pour house-made PS Soda with one tap reserved for experimental releases. “The ethos is about being hands-on, experimental and collaborative,” Michael Chiem explains.
The ingredients for PS Soda are sourced locally from native produce and are as much about collaboration as invention. Archie Rose Distillery helped to develop the Bush Tonic for their gin and the Smoked Lemonade was made in collaboration with LP’s Quality Meats.
Sodas come recommended with a house spirit or a cocktail such as the Batanga! with smoked salt, lime and Wattle Cola. It’s arguably the best Batanga you can have. The ten strong cocktail list pushes creativity to another level with the likes of Stockholm Syndrome, a savoury drink with cumin and dill vodka, aquavit, lemon, pink Himalayan salt and pepper that will have you come back for more. Bar snacks have a focus on “preserves and reserves” such as in-house terrines, pickles and cured meats and Mom’s Banh Mi.
During the day, PS40 runs the soda factory including the bottling by a Meheen custom-built bottling machine from Portland while the 500 litre tank quietly chills and carbonates during service.
A combination of ingenuity and talent, PS40 opens Monday to Saturday from 4pm until midnight.
PS40
Address: Skittle Lane, 40 King Street, Sydney 2000
Hours: Monday to Saturday: 4pm – midnight
Website: www.ps-soda.com
Photo by Cocktails & Bars – © Copyright: All rights reserved.
