Science of Sweetness in Cocktails, Scotch & Low ABV Trend, Wood and Smoke Bar, The Big Easy, Blade and Barrel, One Year of #FRIDAYNIGHTMARTINIRITUAL, new bar openings and more in our curated cocktail-related articles, local and international spirit and bar news, new bars and recommended reads.
1 Year of Friday Night Martini Ritual – Photo © Cocktails & Bars
Bar News
Wood and Smoke Bar to Become The Big Easy
Wood and Smoke Bar in Sydney (previously Johnny Fontaine’s) has been recently bought by AUSES Group. The team behind the recent acquisition are Doug Laming (ex Brix Distillers, Rabbit Hole Bar & Dining) and Merlin Kibe. After a brief close for a clean and aesthetic make-over, the two-storey Darlinghurst venue has been reopened under the same name with a focus on creative cocktails and food to complement the drinks. Big plans are underway to change the name to The Big Easy and rebrand as an authentic ‘Tales of the Cocktail’ New Orleans bar. The venue is set over two levels, has two outdoor areas, one being a designated smoking and drinking area, and a balcony that overlooks Stanley St.
77 Stanley St, Darlinghurst NSW
Blade and Barrel Concord
With the likes of The Barber Shop and Christopher Hanna, the concept of combining barbering or hairdressing with alcohol is taking off. Blade and Barrel has recently opened in Concord, combining barbering with rare whiskies.
174 Majors Bay Road, Concord NSW
R Bar Melbourne
Rockpool Dining Group is launching R Bar at Crown Towers Melbourne later this month. The lobby cocktail bar will have a focus on barrel-aged cocktails, classic hotel cocktails the likes of the Singapore Sling from Raffles Hotel and a Martini service.
8 Whiteman St, Southbank VIC
Low-alcohol Pub Pop-Up
Sainsbury’s, a supermarket chain plans to open the UK’s ‘first no- and low- alcohol pub’ in London. The two day pop up will be taking place on 24 and 25 July, serving a range of beers, wines and cocktails, all with an ABV of 0.5% or less. (source)
Spirited News
Matt Hofmann Westland Distillery
Matt Hofmann, Co-Founder & Master Distiller of Westland Distillery was in Australia for a series of masterclasses. Cocktails & Bars caught up with him during his visit to Sydney and we’ll have the full interview where he talks about the innovation at Westland in Seattle and the American single malt whiskey category.
One Year of #FRIDAYNIGHTMARTINIRITUAL
Last Friday, we reached a milestone on instagram. No, it’s not reaching 35,000 followers but one year of #FRIDAYNIGHTMARTINIRITUAL, a hashtag we started a year ago to share a Martini tradition we’ve long enjoyed. So what does 52 weeks of Martini rituals look like aside from the collage above? Take a look here.
The Love Boat’s Bartender Returns
Remember the red jacket clad bartender on board ‘The Love Boat’? Actor Ted Lange who played The Love Boat’s Isaac Washington was in Sydney to celebrate the return of Princess Cruises’ Pacific Princess to Australia in December 2020. The date coincides with the 45th anniversary of Princess Cruises’ first roundtrip cruise from Australia, a voyage that was made on the original Pacific Princess, the ship that starred in The Love Boat. (source)
Recommended Reads
- The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) is exploring definitions for gin, including flavoured gin, following the category’s rapid global growth. (source)
- This is how bartenders are acid-adjusting citrus for customised cocktails (source)
- Science of Sweetness in Cocktails: How bartenders use sugar in mixed drinks and what researchers say about our perception of sweetness (source)
- As the wellness trend and low ABV alternatives continue to rise, this article discusses if Scotch can embrace the low ABV trend. (source)
- Not convinced, here are some lower-alcohol whisky cocktails for the warmer months. (source)
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