By Adrian Thomas
Bombay Sapphire's Project Botanicals returns in 2015 with a fresh innovative twist involving some of Melbourne's best bars to create gin inspired cocktails exclusive to Melbourne's three week event starting 24 June.
After a successful campaign last year, Bombay Sapphire's pop-up bar will showcase 10 exclusive gin cocktails and match them with 10 tapas style dishes that will best complement each other.
The five most popular combinations from last year will remain on the menu but Bombay Sapphire has reached out to some of Melbourne's best bartenders to help create the remaining five unique cocktails to match five new dishes.
The teams selected to create the cocktails were Black Pearl, Eau De Vie, 1806, Union Electric and Gin Palace; the aim of the initiative was to create "cocktails that not only push the boundaries in terms of flavour combinations, but match perfectly with the new dishes."
Also exclusive to Project Botanicals will be the first chance to sample Bombay Sapphire's new super premium gin the Star of Bombay, which has been described by the company as "the most complex and smooth tasting gin yet."
For a second time, the menu will be composed by Chef Gary Mehigan who said: "We had such great feedback from last year's event series that I couldn't wait to get involved again."
He added: "We've taken on board what the patrons loved last year to create five new bold, textured and exciting dishes that I know everyone will love."
One of the most anticipated pairings of the event is Eau De Vie's ‘Eastern Coriander Fix' "a mix of Bombay Sapphire, fresh lime and pineapple juice, coriander syrup, Fever-Tree soda water infused with Sencha tea and served with a dehydrated orange wedge paired with crispy fried pork belly, chilli caramel and pickled daikon radish."
The pop-up event will be held at the newly established warehouse located at 64 Sutton Street, North Melbourne and sittings will be available from 6pm-1am Wednesday to Saturday.
Tickets are $45 per person (includes two cocktails and two matched dishes) are now available for purchase at www.projectbotanicals.com.