As West End stayer Cobbler hits its 10th birthday, this whisky specialist is still shaking some of the best cocktails in town, crafted by one of Brisbane’s friendliest bar teams.
Cobbler has a well-deserved rep as one of the country’s top whisky bars, but you don’t need to be a malt nerd to want to hang out here. Cocktail fans will find a whole lot to love here, too, in its lengthy and creative collection of house drinks by a bar team that knows its stuff. Cobbler has been keeping things shaken up and properly stirred since 2013 and, boy, you can tell. There’s a confident “we’ve got this” feel to proceedings that helps ensure any visit goes with a swing, and yet the vibe is appropriately chilled thanks to the sort of seemingly effortless service that takes years of experience to nail. Water and napkins are delivered as soon as you take a seat, and orders (via QR code menus) are equally snappy. Staff are chatty and happy to shoot the breeze, and they display an abundance of knowledge with zero pretension. Witnessing the lively banter between regulars and staff is all part of the fun.
You could stroll past Cobbler when the dark drapes are drawn and not notice it’s there – the exterior of the space in the heart of Brisbane’s laid-back West End is unremarkable and easy to miss. But cross the threshold and you’ll find it’s a portal to a dimly lit, super-cosy bar with an old-world feel; the decor is best summed up as “relaxed club eclectic”. There are lovely heritage brick walls, a couple of button-back couches, and a penny-farthing hangs from the ceiling. The long bar is a beauty, clad in pressed-metal tiles and with small brass plaques listing the managers who have served here for more than a year. It’s the kind of place where you’ll want to stick around, too.
Venue manager Kate Bartlett not only runs a tight ship, she also picks the all-important playlist, which magically seems to have something for everyone, just like the bar itself.
Along with whisky, Cobbler is also known by some for Fernet-Branca, Italy’s bittersweet herbal liqueur. Owner Martin Lange is a big fan of the famous amaro, flagged by the large mural on one wall of the bar and the notable collection of empty Fernet bottles by the stairs leading up to the mezzanine level.
If the names of hallowed Scottish regions like Campbeltown, Speyside and Islay get your heart beating faster, you’ve come to the right place. And more than 700 malts on the constantly updated list go beyond Scotland, too, extending to Japan, Ireland, Australia, India, Taiwan and the US. There’s no shortage of cocktails either, including a cracking clutch of twists on the whiskey-fuelled Old Fashioned, and all spirits are covered. An entire section of the list is dedicated to Margaritas, which are celebrated on Margarita Mondays when they’re just $11 a pop without stinting on the quality of the ingredients. The Mahalo-rita, for instance, features aged reposado tequila, triple sec liqueur, charred pineapple and lemon, the mix enlivened with salt ash. The Çharlie Manson, meanwhile, is spiked with Szechuan pepper and habanero chilli.
Any day of the week, check the blackboard above the bar for the weekly specials. You’ll find original gems like Poseidon’s Poison, a clever take on a Dirty Martini made with Hendrick’s Neptunia gin, seaweed-infused vermouth and pickled edamame soybeans in place of olives. A hit
Head upstairs to check out the mezzanine, a long slim space that sits just above the hubbub, and the monkey wall art, painted by owner Martin Lange’s artist brother, Alex.
