Tandem, Newtown’s newest cocktail bar brings sustainability and locality to Sydney’s inner west.
If you’re wondering what the bike motif has to do with a cocktail bar, the name Tandem was chosen to symbolise togetherness. The concept is to be an approachable bar with sub-layers of sustainability, locality and an element of quirkiness. The team is aiming to bring cocktail education, new flavours and conviviality to their corner of Sydney’s inner west.
Tandem’s Scandi-look is inspired by owner Peter Lynn’s background and his sojourns in Denmark. The venue is divided into four spaces, each offering a different vibe. The inviting bar leads to a cosy room decked in blonde oak, warm lighting and the odd Ikea piece. Further along, an outdoor area is set to be the spot during the warmer months. Upstairs features a long and spacious candle-lit room with a comfortable lounge, a fireplace and a bike on the wall. Settle in with table service or book the room for private events.
While Tandem doesn’t favour a particular spirit, it features a solid selection of Australian spirits. Almost all the gins are Australian with local gin Poor Toms as the house pour. Aquavit also features on the back bar along with other carefully selected spirits.
Tandem has a strong focus on cocktails and the list is divided into Tandem Starters with aperitif style drinks, Tandem Refreshers which are representative of the bar’s ethos and Tandem Sensations which bring a richer style of drink that appeals to the discerning drinker.
With sustainability and minimal waste at the core, upcycled drinks feature on the cocktail list. Campos Coffee’s pastry waste is turned into orgeat in The Corsair, a Cognac-based cocktail with citrus and Amaro. Good Riddance lives up to its name by turning Tandem’s citrus waste into an oleo saccharum combined with hibiscus in a sour style drink with blanco tequila. The tandem concept also extends into local businesses supplying honey and gelato as cocktail ingredients.
If there is one cocktail that symbolises the ideals at Tandem, it’s the Thrift Shop Fizz. “It’s a Collins style with aquavit,” lead creative Ben Vials explains. “We reuse garnishes of rosemary and orange to create a foam which gradually sinks into the drink.” In keeping with the ethos, the cocktail is served with a metal straw.
You won’t find a happy hour at Tandem. Instead, the team will be offering “Tandem Bike Crash”, an experimental cocktail that exposes new flavours, new ideas and encourages experimentation and education.
If it’s not upcycled or local, the drinks draw on the Scandinavian influence from the owner’s background. The Martini Aurora fuses Australian and Scandinavian flavours seamlessly with a mix of Aalborg Taffel aquavit with a native pepperberry and dill tincture, dry vermouth and orange bitters. The Dansk Macabre is dark and broody with a combination of rum, Pedro Ximénez and Gammel Dansk (Danish bitters), balancing sweet, bitter and herbal notes in a layered and delicious nightcap.
Tandem officially opens on Friday 28 September 2018. You’ll recognise it by the bike perched above the entrance. Step inside, enjoy the warm welcome and you’ll soon be in tandem with Newtown’s newest cocktail bar.
Tandem
Address: 127 King St, Newtown NSW 2042
Phone: 0410 525 733
Hours: 4pm to midnight Wednesday through Saturday
Website: https://www.facebook.com/tandemnewtown/
Click through to the following pages for some of the cocktails on the menu.
