Nestled in an intimate second-storey space on the corner of Russell and Bourke Streets, a cocktail bar is rumoured to be serving in-the-know Melburnians some of the most innovative drinks in the city. Even when I let slip to another venue’s bartender that we’re headed there, a spark of recognition flickers in her eyes: “I’ve heard so much about that place!”
When it comes to famous cocktail cities, there’s no doubt that Melbourne has a place on the world stage – and a shiny spot-lit one, at that. From multi-award-winning legends to newer shiny gems, we truly have it made.
This year, we wanted to hone in on some of the more daring newcomers to the scene and give them a chance for some much-deserved recognition. These are innovative bars that playfully spin bolder riffs on their top-shelf tipples, while still exhibiting adept skill in serving up all the historic faves you know and love. You could say they’re masters of the trade, though their cocktail craft is really more like an art.
One of the most exciting bar debuts of the year, Trader House’s Apollo Inn charmed us with its Gimlets, snazzy bar snacks and fancy take on a Shandy. We were also entranced by the ethereal Black Kite Commune, a moody new spot on Russell Lane pairing rare and exciting bites like wild boar croquettes and saltbush-fried croc with elixirs that imaginatively make use of Kakadu plum, bush liqueur and other native-tinged ingredients.
There was no denying that Whisky and Alement, a CBD icon pouring some of the best drams in the world, deserved a spot on our list, while two newcomers – March and Bouvardia – bowled us over with their slick science-meets-art cocktail crafting and infectious party energy.
Next time your whistle wants to be wetted by something special, give one of these slinky haunts a red-hot go. Less stuffy and more fun, they’re offering something a bit different to Melbourne’s elite cocktail scene, but don’t take it from us: scoot up to the bar and let their drinks do the talking. Now we'll cheers to that.
