If you have ever been told to never mix your drinks, read on, because here comes the rebuttal. There is nothing so glorious as a good cocktail. Frosted glasses, sugared rims, miniature umbrellas, fruit, fire and the flair of jaunty bar boys equipped with silver shakers – cocktails are fun, fabulous and a delight to the senses (or the senseless, for those who gleefully make concoctions from the dregs of the wine, schnapps, whisky, vodka, juice and milk bottles at the end of the night).
Lucky Coq Coqtail
A truly great cocktail is a masterpiece of artistry, a prospect as pleasing to the eye as it is to the tongue, and should be made with the blood, sweat and tears of its creator (not literally, of course, though if it comes to that you should probably tip very well). The question is, though, where are these magnificent mixtures to be found in Melbourne?
Windsor's
Borsch Vodka & Tears doesn't use blood, sweat and tears, but has a bountiful drinks list that is sure to get the humours a-stirring. With blends of honey, fruit, chocolate, nuts, spices, seeds and herbs mixed with just about any vodka or liqueur flavour you can think of, including garlic, chilli, birch, horseradish, gold flakes, banana and crab apple, you'll always find a quirky cocktail that is an experience to relish.
For something a bit more classic,
Cecconi's Cantina in the CBD is perpetually poised to pour all the favoured fusions with style and sophistication, while
Gin Palace is all about the magic of the martini.
Cecconi's Cocktails
Those who have a love of
Redskin Vodka and other sweet infusions can create their own cocktails at
The Branch in St Kilda or at
Lucky Coq in Prahran. Both venues have a fine range of vodka flavours to choose from, though
Lucky Coq has so many to inspire imaginative mixtures that patrons may never get around to perusing the regular
Coqtail List.
Not to be forgotten, the
Kitten Club on Little Collins St serves a few of its own special cocktails as well as the traditional types with a twist, and just down the road,
Hairy Canary is famed for its unique and delicious mixed drinks. Also renowned are
Lily Blacks and
Bambu – but now over to you: where is your pick of the mixes in Melbourne?
