Everyone enjoys a cocktail. There is a satisfying and oh so sophisticated feeling when you are holding a beautiful glass, in good company, filled with a lovingly and carefully prepared combination of quality alcohols and complementary ingredients.
And Australians are embracing the cocktail seen with ever greater vigour. Starting or finishing your special evening out with a visit to your favourite bar, where the bartender knows just how dirty you like your dry martini, the ambience suits your mien and you know you’ll get great service and great entertainment is truly enjoyable and satisfying.
In fact, Australia’s cocktail bar scene has expanded dramatically over the last five or so years – cool grungy cellar bars with live music and reuben sandwiches to finish off your evening with, or up market high end hotel bars where you can lounge in comfortable chairs with a quiet sophisticated ambience. And Australians are increasingly aware of what makes a good cocktail and what they prefer when they are ordering one.
As cocktail bars and cocktails become more popular, more of us are heading to these establishments on a regular basis. Yet even though we’re having cocktails as part of our night out more frequently, it can be intimidating knowing what to choose and how to order it to your taste. If you are looking to get the most out of a cocktail bar experience, there are a few things you should consider
Spirits aren’t spirits
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that all rums or all gins are equal. Maybe you ordered a gin martini because you like Hendricks and you saw it on the shelf and decide to substitute it for the bartender’s recommendation. While you can choose what you like, it might result in an inferior cocktail because it doesn’t reflect the tastes intended by the cocktail creator. While it’s pretty obvious to most people that whisky and gin don’t taste the same, many don’t realise that even in the same spirit category, the flavours can be vastly different.
Ordering a simple standard rather than one of the bar’s creations
The martini, the Manhattan and the old fashioned are fabulous cocktails that you can just as easily make at home. If you’re out and feeling experimental and about to spend $20 or more on a cocktail, why not choose something from the menu? Talk to the bartender about what you like and take their recommendation on quality ingredients. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Ask and learn, talk about what you like
The beauty of the modern cocktail movement is that creative, customer focused people are behind bars wanting to please you. Tell them what you like – sweet, dry, fruity, acidic. Ask questions. Insist on quality. Trust the expert and surprise your palate. Learn something new! And if you don’t like it, say so (politely of course).
Of course, while nearly everyone loves a cocktail, not every occasion suits a trip to your favourite cocktail bar. Whether you’re at home, having a picnic with family or friends, hosting a wedding or engagement party or getting prepared for a Christmas function, sometime the right time for a cocktail doesn’t involve a late night trip to a bar.
Of course you can invest the time and money into making your own cocktails at home or in bulk for an event. But what if you could access the finest quality cocktails, made from premium ingredients like Four Pillars Spiced Gin and Archie Rose Original Vodka, specifically designed to deliver the best flavour experience and pre-prepared in a convenient can? The delivery of cocktails is evolving thanks to Curatif’s innovative, high quality, convenient Espresso Martini and Negroni cocktails which can be bought at a fraction of the price of a cocktail in a bar and can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere that you want that authentic cocktail experience.
Nothing can replace a fabulous cocktail bar experience when it’s right for the moment. But nothing can replace being able to enjoy the best quality cocktails whenever and wherever you choose.
