From a blackberry-tinged Bramble to a competition-winning whiskey drink, learn how to make the signature cocktails of Melbourne’s greatest bartenders.
Nick perfected his signature drink in the hallowed halls of Melbourne institution The Gin Palace, learning about (as the name suggests) all things gin. “The Bramble is a great example of how to use gin. It’s fresh, zesty, and a little bit sweet – and it looks delightful.” Another Dick Bradsell classic to come out of Fred’s Club Soho in the 1980s, the Bramble is a floral, fruity tipple made up of gin, lemon and creme de mure (a jammy blackberry liqueur) and is most recognisable by its dome of crushed ice that tops the drink.
Find Nick’s recipe and secrets to making a perfect Bramble here.
“I guess it’s a a summation of what we do here at Bomba,” Cara says of her signature drink, the Rebujito. “This is based on a drink that is found in the Sherry Triangle in Spain.” In a province of Cádiz in southwestern Spain, the Sherry Triangle is known for (you guessed it) sherry – the most popular being fino sherry, a dry white style. The Rebujito is a Spritz-based drink, designed to be low in alcohol, fruity and super sessionable. Cara’s version is seasonal, so the recipe she gave us uses ripe mandarins. The prep might take a little time, but it’s sure as hell worth it.
Read Cara’s instructions for whipping up a killer Rebujito here.
“People don’t think that whisk(e)y can be tropical. Whisk(e)y seems to be like the opposite of tropical cocktails, right?” says Emma Cookson of Whisky & Alement. Emma’s Ricky Goes to Hollywood fast became her signature drink, using Michter’s Rye Whiskey, after it placed in the Top 25 Bartender’s comp in 2021. To make the drink more Cali-tropical, Emma worked in some toasted coconut syrup. “It worked well with the other ingredients – complimenting the fruitiness of the sherry and the lime as well.” The drink is a quirky twist on a Ricky, which is famously just sugar, lime and soda. Emma’s version takes the classic to California’s Venice Beach by incorporating those sweet seaside flavours. It’s a wonderful play on the original cocktail – fresh, fruity, and earthy, but not overpowering. Super sippable.
Get Emma’s original Ricky Goes to Hollywood recipe (and tips for nailing it) here.
