This weekend is the last opportunity to enjoy the inaugural Australian Cocktail Month, and if you haven’t yet explored what the month-long event has to offer, tickets are still available.
Founded by influential industry personality Penny Sippe, Australian Cocktail Month has been bringing together local and international brands in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney throughout May, to celebrate Australia’s amazing bar industry and, of course, enjoy some delicious cocktails.
For this last weekend, Australian Cocktail Month recommends trying “the sugarcane spirit of celebration, rum,” with brands like Diplomatico, Don Papa and Sailor Jerry. You could also try hitting up some special events at participating bars this weekend, to truly send off the inaugural occasion with a bang.
“In Sydney, The Barber Shop are funking up Sundays with Lady King. Doors open 5pm and the band is on from 7pm,” the Australian Cocktail Month team said.
“And every Saturday in May, Burrow Bar & Diplomatico Rum present Discomatico for Australian Cocktail Month — head on down from 8pm each Saturday.
“In Adelaide, Hades Hula House and Australian Cocktail Month have the good vibes guaranteed with The Mors & Friends performing on Saturday 29th May from 8pm.”
Although Melbourne may be in lockdown, now is also a good time to support its bars – Australian Cocktail Month has curated a list of its participating Melbourne bars here, so you can check out who is doing takeaway cocktails.
There are 72 bars across the four cities that are participating in Australian Cocktail Month, so you have lots of options to celebrate this final weekend. If you haven’t yet got a ticket, they’re still available at $20 each from the Australian Cocktail Month website.
Tickets allow guests to access special cocktail menus, which have been created exclusively for the month, and participating venues will have cocktails available through their exclusive menu priced at $14, with non-alcoholic options costing $10.
Local brands taking part in Australian Cocktail Month include 20 20 Distillery – East London Dry Gin, Adelaide Hills Distillery – 78˚ Better Gin and 78˚ Australian Vodka, Barossa Distilling – Barossa Shiraz Gin, Brix White Rum, Feels Botanicals, Needle & Pin – ‘Off Kilter’ Charcoal Vodka and Seville Orange Gin, Never Never – Southern Strength and Southern Strength Gins, Regal Rogue Lively White and Wild Rosé Vermouths, Starward Two fold Whisky, The Melbourne Gin Company – Dry and Single Shot Gins.
From further afield, the international brands include 1800, Ailsa Bay, Bombay Bramble, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Chase Vodka, Diplomatico, Don Papa, Fords, Glenfiddich, Hendrick’s, Herradura, Monkey 47, Monkey Shoulder, Naked Grouse, Patrón, Plantation, Sailor Jerry and Woodford Reserve.
Australian bartenders will be mixing these spirits with the best throughout the month, with Acqua Bianca by Salvatore Calabrese, Crawley’s Finest Dirty Martini Olive Brine and Simple Syrups, Disaronno, Monin Syrups, Mr Black, Muyu liqueurs by Alex Kratena, Monica Berg and Simone Caporale, Select Aperitivo, Tia Maria, Villa Massa Limoncello and Fever-Tree mixers, also taking part.
Recognising that the desire for low or no alcohol options is continuing to grow, Australian Cocktail Month has partnered with Lyre’s and their exquisite range of lovingly crafted non-alcoholic spirits allowing guests to partake without compromising on what makes Australian bars great: the cocktail experience, with lots of flavour.
The month’s social channels – Australian Cocktail Month on Facebook and Instagram (@australian_cocktail_month) – have walking tours for each city talking part, to help you map out the perfect night.
You can also sign up to the event’s newsletter on www.australiancocktailmonth.com.au to watch as Australian Cocktail Month comes to life.