Negroni Week is one of our favourite weeks of the year. Not only because it highlights one of the best cocktails in the world (big fan here) but because brands like Four Pillars create great releases like their bottled Negroni. In celebration of this year’s festival (24th – 30th June) and 100 Years of the…
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The Joy of Wine
WORDS KEN GARGETT Among the many joys wine offers is its infinite capacity to surprise. Usually, open a bottle and you know what to expect. We know what it is, what we paid, whether it should be spectacular or just a decent drink. But sometimes… Of course, the reverse happens as well. That particular bottle…
You’ve Got To Try The Bloody Shiraz Gin
Back by popular demand, Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin will be available June 1. The sell out gin is traditionally a blend of Yarra Valley Shiraz grapes and Rare Dry Gin, however this year some grapes were selected from other Southen Victorian regions. Like the 2018 vintage, the 2019 vintage followed the same principles, harvesting…
NOLA Smokehouse and Bar – The Place To Be This World Whisk(e)y Day
Just in time to celebrate World Whisk(e)y Day next Saturday (18 May) NOLA Smokehouse and Bar in Barangaroo has just unveiled a new whiskey lounge. Housing over 700 bottles, they’ve just added 80 new bottles of American Whiskey valued at $15,000. Which is the largest selection in the whole of Australia. What makes this bar…
Copper Dog: Capturing The Spirit Of Speyside
Copper Dog is named after a device created in the 18th century by distillery workers to swipe whisky and take home. Made from a piece of copper tubing, it had a penny soldered to one end and a cork in the other. Making it easy to sip and refill, it never left its owner’s side….
Grey Goose Getaway
When it comes to style, there are few drinks brands that do it like Grey Goose. In the lead up to the Australian summer the French vodka turned it on for 40+ bar professionals for the Grey Goose Getaway experience at “Bells” at Killcare boutique hotel property. The team at Grey Goose, including global brand…
Join the Club! The Lowdown on Whisky Clubs and Why You Should Join One
WORDS BY STEPHANIE AIKINS More than any other spirit, whisky holds a special place in the hearts of Australians. In the 1800s, we lapped it up as a reminder of home, one of few ties we held to the land of moors and castles oceans away that many of us had left behind. Nowadays, this…
Top 5 Things To Do On A Stopover in Singapore. Well, When It’s Not A Public Holiday…
WORDS BY KEN GARGETT I used to think Singapore was Asia for beginners, but these days it’s an incredibly exciting city. I try and get to an extraordinary wine tasting a friend holds in Helsinki every year. As it is such a long trip, I usually also allocate some time to go off and visit…
6 Fever-Tree Tonics To Try This International Gin & Tonic Day
Australians are drinking less. The downward trend has been apparent over the last decade, but interest in drinking better has taken off. If you’re a regular reader of explore DRINKS, then you are most likely a part of this very movement; keen to learn more about the quality drinks on offer, the stories behind these…
Johnnie Walker Brings Game of Thrones Fans White Walker Whisky
It may have thawed Down Under, with the aromas of spring fresh in the air, but Johnnie Walker is here to remind you that the next winter is coming. The iconic whisky brand has teamed up with HBO’s best-loved series, Game of Thrones, to release White Walker, a limited-edition Scotch Whisky inspired by the show’s…
The Sake Samurai: Meet Yukino Ochiai
In Australia, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone more knowledgeable or passionate about sake than Yukino Ochiai. The Kikisake-shi, or Master of Sake, has dedicated her life and career to educating us about Japan’s iconic drink. In 2017, she was recognised for her tireless work by the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, bestowed with…
The Ancient Fermented Tonic: Kombucha
Once the elixir of hippies and health nuts, kombucha has been thrust into the limelight of the mainstream in recent years. The fermented tea drink is fast surpassing soft drink sales, with the kombucha market poised to grow by 25% each year through to 2020. But where did this functional beverage come from and why…