Nikka Whisky and a range of Melbourne bars have joined forces on the Discover the Hidden activation, helping to highlight flavours and cocktails in the city’s famous laneways.
Nine bars are taking part in the program, and each has developed its own cocktail using one of the products in the Nikka range to highlight both the flavour in the liquid and the bar’s distinctive style.
The bars taking part include:
- Bar Margaux
- Bouvardia
- Double Happiness
- Eau De Vie
- Hats & Tatts
- Lily Blacks
- Madame Brussels
- Whisky + Alement
- Whisky Den
Eau De Vie has designed a cocktail using Nikka’s Taketsuru Pure Malt, and named it Rita, after Nikka’s founder, Masataka Taketsuru’s Scottish wife, Rita.
Rita, features Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt Whisky, Sherry, Licor 43, Maraschino, Absinthe and lemon.
The cocktail is described as “a strong cocktail with intricate flavour expressions, a true representation of the passion Rita brought to Japanese whisky and Eau De Vie’s speakeasy style”.
Meanwhile the cocktail at Bouvardia uses both Australian and Japanese flavours, bringing together Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky features wattleseed shoyu, fresh wasabi and umami vermouth with pickled ginger as the garnish.
Bouvardia has used these ingredients “to create a quick, sharp cocktail that finishes with a savoury and slightly sweet lingering drop”.
Discover the Hidden is already underway and runs to Sunday 19 February 2023, at participating venues.