Stuart Morrow’s new role, new micro distillery, Patrón Perfectionists Winner, Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible, Inside & Outside Gin, and more in this week’s bar/spirited news & recommended reads.
Stuart Morrow – Photo Supplied
Stuart Morrow Joins Never Never
Never Never Distilling Co. has announced that Stuart Morrow is the newly appointed Distillery Door General Manager who will be driving the venue’s upcoming launch in December. For the last six years, “Chewy” has been running and operating one of Australia’s best bars, The Baxter Inn in Sydney. Never Never Distilling Co. is set to open their distillery door in McLaren Vale this coming summer in conjunction with Chalk Hill Wines.
Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2020
Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2020 was released last week with the title of ‘world’s best whisky’ awarded to a Bourbon. Here are the top four awarded spirits:
- Jim Murray’s 2020 World Whisky of the Year: 1792 Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon
- Second Finest Whisky in the World: William Larue Weller 125.7 Proof – 2018 Release
- Third Finest Whisky in the World: Thomas H Handy Sazerac Rye 128.8 Proof – 2018 Release
- Single Cask of the Year: Nantou Omar Cask Strength Bourbon Cask #11140804
You can view the rest of the winners here.
Banks & Solander: New Sydney Distillery
Sydney has a new micro distillery hidden in the back streets of Botany. Banks & Solander Distillery by husband and wife team Marty and Ed Svehla is inspired by the history of Botany Bay and the native plants catalogued by naturalists Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander. The distillery is currently producing a signature gin, limoncello and coffee liqueur.
Patrón Perfectionists Winner
The 2019 Australian and New Zealand Patrón Perfectionists Cocktail Competition was held in Melbourne on Tuesday 15 October 2019 with Anneliese Grazioli from Hot Tamale in Darwin, Northern Territory crowned the winner. Her cocktail ‘Over & Above’ was a twist on the Manhattan with Patrón Anejo, mango skin vermouth, Patrón Citrónge Mango, Martini bitter and lemon myrtle olive oil. She will be travelling to Patrón Hacienda in Mexico to represent Australia in the global finals in January 2020.
Outside Gin & Inside Gin
Archie Rose Distilling Co. has hosted the ultimate house party under the sails of the Sydney Opera House to celebrate the launch of a unique collaboration. Outside Gin and Inside Gin, are described as a “two-act gin release” celebrating the beauty, diversity and creativity of Australia’s leading cultural icon. Outside Gin is a juniper forward gin with lemon-scented gum, South Australian yuzu, finger limes, white grapefruit, locally foraged seablite and native seaweed.Inside Gin is fruit-driven made using native thyme, Australian apricot, raspberry and strawberry gum.
Byrdi is now open at ELLA
Byrdi, the new bar by Luke Whearty and Aki Nishikura, the couple behind the highly awarded Operation Dagger bar in Singapore has opened at Ella in Melbourne Central. Expect seasonally-driven drinks with elements of fermentation, carbonation and all-day dining.
Fords Gin Moves to Brown-Forman
Brown-Forman Corporation has announced the purchase of The 86 Company, producer of Fords Gin back in June 2019 and will be taking over the distribution of Fords Gin from 1st November 2019. Simon Ford, co-founder of The 86 Company and the gin will remain a key part of the building and crafting of Fords Gin going forward.
Recommended Reads
- Ask a Bartender: How to Create a Perfectly Balanced Low-Proof Cocktail (source)
- How to use a cocktail shaker to extract your DNA (source)
Opening a new cocktail bar or an Australian distillery? Contact us here.
