There's an art to an exceptional cocktail that one can't achieve at home. Be it the theatrics, the precise measurements that imitate a witch's potion or the premium ingredients that one can't justify splurging on for a casual mid-week drink. There's plenty that goes into the drink that sustains our evenings out, and Melbourne Cocktail Festival is a celebration of this.
This six-day festival is scattered across bars, restaurants and spaces around Melbourne and enlists notable names from the industry both locally and abroad, the organisers promise that cocktail curios and professionals alike will be well catered for.
One of the major events, the Bar Safari, will have participating venues offer a bespoke cocktail throughout the duration of the festival. Registration is free and the first 1000 people to register will receive a free drink each. Also included in the Bar Safari registration is a month-long 10 percent discount on all purchases from the Good Spirits online store as well as a digital cocktail recipe book.
Festival headliners include heavyweights of bar and beverage perfection. ‘Waste Not Taste Lots’ at experimental cocktail bar Byrdi will include a sneak peek of yet to be opened Sydney bar ‘Re, by award-winning Sydneysider Matt Whiley that will focus on sustainability and reducing waste. ‘The Long Goodbye’ at Andrew McConnell's latest venue Gimlet at Cavendish House will feature three variations of the Gimlet. While a tropical-themed party with wine-based cocktails and food by Bar Liberty's head chef Zackary Furst will take place at the ‘Tropical Escapism’ event at the Black Pearl.
Tickets for the Bar Safari and select events will go on sale on 12 March, with more events being released in the leadup to the festival. In the meantime, you can pop the MCF's dates in your diary, April 12 to April 18. Bottoms up!