Why you goWe love a small bar with big ambitions. Like neighbourhood spot Goodwater, which has sky-high aspirations to build the best collection of American whiskey in Australia. With 200-plus bottles already – including rare and vintage varieties – it’s well on its way. A dream team of hospitality professionals, led by whiskey fanatic Nate White, has given fellow fanatics a new place to bond over their shared love – at tastings and masterclasses – while making the spirit more accessible to the masses. The cocktails are skilfully crafted, the service is thoughtful, assuming no prior whiskey knowledge, and the snacks match the Americana theme deliciously. But it’s also important to note that Goodwater is a great bar even if you’re not into whiskey. A bottle-green frontage catches your eye on Northcote’s High Street, and inside is a red-brick drinking den that’s warmed up with a local crowd and a sprawling rug, while there’s a timber-clad courtyard out back.
