By Suzan Ryan, editor – bars&clubs
Darlinghurst supper club The Victoria Room debuted its Spring cocktail menu last week.
Created by bar manager David Green and inspired by Alice in Wonderland, the new menu showcases three chapters which represent the three levels of the iconic tale: the Discovery of a New World, Inside The Mind of the Mad Hatter and the gluttonous lifestyle of the Queen of Hearts.
Highlights of The Victoria Room's new Spring menu include:
The Mad Hatter’s Secret Tea: Hendricks gin, Montenegro Amaro and Cardamom bitters served from a walking cane into a teacup.
“I wanted to create a customer experience with these drinks that was unique and also fun,” said bar manager David Green.
“So I contacted a friend of a friend in the States who is a wood carver and also asked Hendricks if they would mind if I commissioned this guy to create hollow walking canes which I could serve the Hendricks-based cocktail from.
"Hendricks were really supportive and backed me the whole way.”
Nothing but a Pack of Cards: Talisker 10 year old, Kings Ginger and Fernet Branca poured gently over a large chunk of ice and served with a shortbread finger to provide a buttery finish.
“With this, I wanted to offer something in aperitif style and these ingredients in combination are not commonly seen,” said Green.
“I wanted to show that serious drinks can also be a lot of fun.”
Why the shortbread? “I found the drink lacked texture and depth, so to provide a rewarding mouth feel I added the shortbread to round out the xperience.”
Just some of the other cocktails on offer include:
The Flightless Fairy: Peach liqueur, absinthe and freshly juiced apples.
"A refreshing cocktail gently shaken and low in alcohol for guests after a cocktail experience but low on the alcohol content. I call this my designated-driver cocktail."
Who Stole The Tarts?: Woodford Reserve, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Cherry Herring, topped with a Solerno foam.
"The foam gives the sweet drink a tart finish, and the show of making it is enjoyable for the guest."
The Victoria Room, level 1, 235 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney.