This news item featured in the April issue of Australian Bartender

March saw the launch of the Global Bartender Exchange an online network that connects international bartending communities. The project is the brain child of Fraser Campbell - an expat Scottish bartender - and Hannah Keirl who are both working at Melbourne’s The Alchemist.

Through online forums, The Global Bartender Exchange hopes to aid bartenders in efficiently networking before travelling to other cities facilitating jobs, accommodation and local contacts. With each city having its own unique forum, bartenders and hospitality professionals can also share information regarding events, competitions and gatherings.

“This idea came from a conversation myself and Hannah were having one afternoon when talking about potential travelling options and we were figuring out who we knew in different cities around the globe,” explains Fraser.

“Bartenders have at their disposal one of the greatest professional networks in the entire world, that is, if you know the right people.”

Find them on Facebook or Google them on your iBrain.

This News Item featured in the April issue of Australian Bartender

James Packer (chairman of Crown), Shane Warne and Joe Hachem recently launched Melbourne’s ultra-exclusive night spot - Club 23. The opulent venue is set to set the standard for high-end tippling and with stunning panoramic views to boot it will be hard to top this venue when it comes offering a touch of luxury.

While our favourite king-o-spin Warnie is not considered a financial backer of the venue, he was said to have been involved in the collaboration process of the venue, and helping to make sure it suited a high class of style “Club 23 is fast-becoming Melbourne’s premium destination for its sophistication and style,” Ann Peacock (general manager - public relation for Crown) told Bartender recently, “it is the jewel in Crown’s vast offering.”

The drinks offering showcases Club 23’s determination to offer a high-end service, with a Dom Pérignon Champagne Classic Champagne Cocktail for a trifle under $200 (includes vintage Dom and Hennessy Paradi Extra Cognac). Venue manager, Ian Davis, is heading up the new Melbourne addition and is proud of the team he’s assembled to man the bar.  “Our team of experienced beverage connoisseurs are a collection of some of the best in Melbourne,” he stated when asked about the crew.

“The beverage menu features the finest and rarest spirits, liquors, mouth-watering cocktails and luxury wines sourced from all over the world.”

This news item featured in the recent April issue of Australian Bartender

Maz Salt, Director of Melbourne’s Office of Public Works (behind Section 8, Baba and Southpaw) has unveiled plans for a new cocktail bar that should be serving up well-chilled drinks by the time this magazine arrives in your lap.

Ferdydurke, as the venue will be named, is located directly next to Section 8 on Tattersalls lane in Chinatown. At present Salt isn’t giving away a lot about his new venture though he is letting us know it will be an artistic driven venue that will appeal to the city’s cultural elite and its anti-establishmentarians.

“Our attitude is formed from the arts and music: from punk to dada, street-art to hip-hop, techno to sculpture,” explains Salt. “We’re creating a comfortable space to stir, and whet, creative appetites.

Ferdydurke will be standing somewhere between the drunken Surrealism of Charles Bukowski and the sobering rationalism of Ingmar Bergman, most of all is a place for fun times, good tunes and questionable behavior.” Sounds intriguing.

This News Item featured in the April issue of Australian Bartender

Perth is continuing to hot up with El Publico set to be up and running by the time this issue is doing the rounds. The new contemporary style Mexican venue is a collaboration from Paul Aron (ex-Greehouse), Michael Ford (ex-Der Raum & Catina 663) and Alex Cuccovia (ex-Cantina 663) and will look to bring a fun, up-tempo tippling atmosphere to thirsty Perthites. James Connolly (Top 11 finalist at the Bartender of the Year Competition in 2011) is heading up the bar and is excited about what El Publico will be offering.

“It translates to ‘the meeting place’, Connolly told Bartender, “and we’ll be offering a modern take on traditional Mexican foods - not a ‘Tex Mex’ style of Mexican. Authentic.” The three owners spent a month in Mexico taking in the sights, sounds, flavours and the spirits in order to get the right vibe for their venue, and Connolly says this trip has translated into a very firm understanding of what they will be serving up and the way in which they do it.

“We’ll be emphasising the fun, it’ll be tongue-in-cheek,” said Connolly, “the music will be a mix of rock n’ roll, Mexican gangsta-rap etc., there will be a big range of Tequila and Mezcal from the big boys to the lesser known ones - plenty of interesting stuff.” Connolly said that while he hasn’t had a chance to visit Sydney bar Tio’s Cerveceria he had heard a lot of good things about it and that they would both probably be of a similar vein with the spirits flowing freely.

El Publico, 511 Beaufort St, Highgate.

This News Item featured in the recent issue of Australian Bartender magazine

Dave Beatty recently took on the role as National Brand Ambassador for Ketel One vodka, his appointment announced during Ketel One Global Ambassador Justin Smyth’s (pictured above left with Beatty) recent Australian visit.

Smyth was impressed by the local industry, stating: “Australia’s bartending scene is inspiring, on-trend and with a local spin. Some of the bars I visited can rival any in cities such as London and New York.”

Beatty, a long time cocktail competitor, is excited about his role and is looking forward to the upcoming Bartender of the Year Competition in which Ketel One will be one of the focus spirits.

Match Bar (Bar of the Year Australian Bar Awards 2011) has closed its doors after a three year tenure. “We would like to thank you all for your patronage and friendship for the last three years,” said  bar manager Russ McFadden, and the Match team, when confirming the news recently.

In 2011, the venue had taken out the top award of Bar of the Year and McFadden, then elated at the win stated, “We’re ecstatic and overjoyed to pick up [this award], I could’t think of a better place to be right now.” It will be sad to see such an iconic bar close its doors - especially one that was staffed by such enthusiastic and dedicated staff.

This news item featured in the recent March issue of Australian Bartender

The Corner House operators Anthony Kaplan and Brent Mills (pictured) are set to shuffle their many skills up a few doors and open a new venture, also on Bondi Road.

It was a bit early to get the name - Short Black has since reported it will be Panama House - and ideas for the menu were not yet nailed down, although ’south of the boarder’ down Central America way was the idea. “Creole, gumbo and an open Taco station with hand pressed Tortillas,” Mills suggested. Despite these miner details the duo seemed relaxed about the proposition of another bustling Bondi venue to manage.

“It’s good to grow and it also gives some excitement for the staff,” Kaplan said, although are no definite plans to relocate staff to the new venture.

The venue will have a smaller, concise drinks offering and will be serving food all day from breakfast to dinner with an emphasis on simplicity and originality according to Kaplan.

Bondi Road is a veritable haven of bars, with The Stuffed Beaver, Flying Squirrel, The Corner House and Rum Diaries all within short walk form one another.

This News Item featured in the March issue of Australian Bartender

Keystone’s new direction is set to get a nice splash of sun in the near future with John Duncan and Paul Schulte (pictured r-l) confirming that the Sugarmill will soon launch its much anticipated rooftop bar. “We’re looking to have it open in July,” Duncan informed Bartender, “so hopefully it’ll be a nice dry winter.”

With the summer we’ve just had, they might be looking ok, even so, for Duncan it is going to be a relief to have it done and dusted, “It’ll finally complete the Sugarmill,” he said. The plans will see the majority of the rooftop utilised for outdoor socialising and the space is licensed for 120 people until midnight.

There will be a mix of long share tables and smaller seating arrangements with a top notch bar offering and food to match. While he didn’t want to sound cliché, Schulte offered that it would be a New York rooftop style venue. And with the sun beaming down on the day we took a look, it’s set to have a cracking view once completed.

Keystone is also breathing new life into the Newtown Hotel (est.1887 as the Club Hotel), with a complete interior overhaul. The venue is slated for an April re-launch and Duncan confirmed that they’ve got permission from council to add a balcony to the front façade - the style of which was all the rage back in the 1890s - so it’s sure to reset the look and feel of the street. There is an open courtyard out the back for 100+ people and when up and running it’ll offer great food and drink for locals and suburb hoppers alike.

This news item featured in the February issue of Australian Bartender.

Bonnie Shearston and Tom Sanceau, two of the masterminds behind the Australian Bar Awards’ New Bar of the Year, Canvas, have unveiled plans for their latest Brisbane venture called Public.

“The name Public came about for a couple of reasons,” explains Shearston. “The first being that we wanted to create a venue that was accessible and appealing to a wide range of the general public. It will be a modern yet unintimidating bar and kitchen. The second reason behind the name is due to its proximity to the supreme courts and its new development that is located opposite our site. The name Public seemed to fit perfectly with the large number of public servants in the area.”

Sheartson and Sanceau believe that their location at 400 George Street in Brisbane will give them a distinct advantage.

“There are plenty of restaurants in Brisbane’s CBD,” says Shearston, “however the majority of these are located along the river on Eagle Street Pier - the choice on the other side of town is rather limited at present.” Public will be open for lunch and dinner Monday to Friday and dinner only on Saturday.

The yearly Tiki mug competition is back! And Appleton Estate Rum will be taking its Tiki Mug Design competition to the next level in 2012. This year’s incarnation will see the Tiki mug designed by Tiki Farm but based on the story behind the bartender who creates the best Australian Appleton Estate Tiki Cocktail.

The winner of the industry competition will not only have their cocktail bought to life in the form of a Tiki mug, that will be utilised across bars throughout Australia, but they will also get to show off their talents at the Appleton Estate International Bartenders Showcase in Jamaica in October 2012. Last year’s winner, Pete Long, won with a stellar mug design (pictured here)

*For more information about this sensational opportunity contact your Brown Forman representative, and keep abreast of the Australian Appleton Estate Facebook page and Bartender magazine for details as they’re announced.