Bartenders and mixologists have been naming drinks after people since forever, with cocktails like the Tom Collins* becoming household names. Could Grain Bar in Sydney be the next to write a name in history’s drinks list? From child star Shirley Temple to Count Camillo Negroni and 15th Century painter Giovanni Bellini, eponymous cocktails have made … Read more
The negroni is one of my all-time favourite cocktails. Bitter, sweet, herbaceous and balanced. I didn’t think it could get any better. Then I found out – from a 5th generation gin distiller no less – that there is a way. Here’s how you do it. Mrs Romance and I have loved gin forever. Our … Read more
There’s something very satisfying about being able to knock up a great cocktail. Here are some simple tips that are the foundation of cocktail making, and will really help you when you’re mixing up a storm at home. Sitting in a bar and watching a bartender who really knows their stuff mix you a drink … Read more
Cheers, cin cin, prost and sláinte! Here’s to Mum with a Mother’s Day cocktail she’ll probably end up asking for all year round – it’s that bloody good: the G&Tea Irish cream cocktail. Brought to you by Feeney’s Irish Cream. Mother’s Day gets a bit of a bad wrap these days, doesn’t it? From packed … Read more
Hot sunny days, friends all round, food and drink flowing freely – that’s what summer’s all about. But when it comes to the drinks, what do you do? Our 7 favourite easy summer cocktails are perfect party pours! I’m a firm believer that every drink has its place. From that icy cold beer at the … Read more
Australia Day – 26th January – is Australia’s national day. It’s the date when Captain Cook and the First Fleet finally landed at Port Jackson – now better known as Sydney Harbour. It was a Saturday. These days Australia Day is when national awards are given, citizenship ceremonies are held (though mine was in May … Read more
The gin coming from Stone Pine Distillery, in Bathurst NSW has always been on our top favourites list. But now there’s something ever better coming from this little Aussie distillery that’s really changed things up: the orange blossom gin. A little while ago, we were on a road trip through regional New South Wales when … Read more
Steeped in history, this cocktail is not only over 150 years old, it’s responsible for the nickname ‘Limey’ for the English and brought about the advent of fruit cordials. It’s also bloody tasty – but that could be something to do with the excellent gin we’ve used too! I remember the first time I ever … Read more
I always thought there’s nothing better than an afternoon cocktail. Then Enrique, the mixologist who runs the bar aboard The National Geographic Orion made us his signature cocktail. An afternoon cocktail on an expedition ship sailing around the tropics – now that’s a lot better, isn’t it? Whoever said exploration had to be tough? While … Read more
Bright red and bitter, Campari never really appealed to me. It was more like a science experiment than a drink. But now I’ve acquired the taste of this stuff, I can’t get enough of it. Here are 7 ways you can drink Campari that we’d recommend. Saying Campari looks like some sort of medical experiment … Read more