It’s a beautiful union: Cuban food, Bacardi cocktails and smooth, summery tunes. El Coco (named after the palm tree planted in the first Cuban Bacardi distillery in 1862) is now open at the site of King Street's Exchange Hotel to warm up the business end.
Let’s talk rum. Behind the bar will be 1806’s Sebastian Raeburn, who’ll be conjuring rum Negronis, so-called 'Invisible Mojitos', and his own version on the classic ‘Bacardi Cuba Libre’.
Pair one of Raeburn’s creations with a Beef Rib Stackwich (courtesy of Hammer and Tong’s executive chef Simon Ward) and you’re in business. Ward has already earned his Cuban stripes at the Cuban Jazz Festival, so you know that the stackwich (plus his soft shell crab tacos and Cuban chocolate cigars) will be winners.
El Coco is open late – we’re talking 5am late – and will play host to an impressive line-up of bands and DJs. The parties kick off with Caribbean disco fiends Scatter Scatter’s Tropical Discoteque (Fri Nov 28), followed by a night of world-class funky electro hosted by Waving at Trains (Andras Fox/Fantastic Man) and featuring the talented duo Sleep D (Fri Dec 5). Back it up with the Bacardi Rum Prohibition Party (Sat Dec 6) and head back up for the Jazz Party (Fri Dec 12). It’s all building up to the final Christmas party (Sat Dec 20), when the music management group Wondercore Island present a solo set from Haitus Kaiyote lead singer Nai Palm, plus lots of support acts.
Did we mention that all the parties are free? See you there, Melbourne.
