Drinks
With the help of some of Australia’s best drinks experts, Mike Bennie looks into his crystal ball of trends and likes what he sees.
The latest trends revealed.
BETTER WINE, LESS of it. Cocktails with a seasonal-ingredient focus. Drinks that go lighter on the booze. Pre-batched mixed drinks and punches. Non-alcoholic shrubs, infusions and fermented cordials. This is the future of drinking.
I’m lucky enough that I can draw on the knowledge of some of the finest drinks brains in Australia, keen-minded individuals helping to shift drinks culture.
My first port of call is Mikey Nicolian, the award-winning bartender and proprietor of Sydney’s Continental Deli. “I like the bianco and rosé vermouths that have been cropping up, to drink on ice or in spritzes,” Nicolian says. “For wilder times, I still get into whisky shots; for a less-sophisticated time, I like red wine with coke, the Basque favourite kalimotxo ‘cocktail’, which works nicely.”
Harriet Leigh, a legend of the Australian drinking scene and manager of Sydney’s Archie Rose Distillery, is well-versed in good times, and offers her take succinctly: “The wonderful thing about parties is you can do away with some of the stuffier drinking rules. Negroni pitchers are ideal.”
Olivia Evans, from Halcyon House’s Paper Daisy, has a metered approach. “Brookie’s Slow Gin from Cape Byron Distillery is only 26 per cent alcohol and has a unique flavour, and I’m proud to drink something from down the road.”
One of my favourite restaurant-bars is Liberte, in Albany, WA, with chefproprietor Amy Hamilton and wildly talented bartender Keryn Mae. Mae pays homage to local ingredients and shifts her drinks menu seasonally.
That being said, her pick for party times is a beverage defeated by trendiness and time. “Sparkling mead!” she says. “It’s a nice balance of sweet and dry, so good for spring and summer. It comes in a can so it’s great for picnics. And if you want to scale it up, just add aperol or Amaro Montenegro, and voilá – instant cocktail.” The future of party times looks bright.