As co-founder of one of McLaren Vale’s gin houses Never Never Distillery, Sean Baxter might have cut his teeth behind some of Australia’s reputed bars – shaping our cocktail scene wherever he shaken, stirred and poured – from his beginnings in Brisbane to cocktail hour in Melbourne [yep, he was part of the team to launch Eau de Vie]. He now lives in Adelaide where the distillery business is located; and one thing’s for sure – he knows where to go to find a quality gin and tonic at the bar.
Sean Baxter shares his favourite Melbourne bars and where you’ll find a descent gin and tonic when in the CBD.
COOKIE
“Cookie is one of those rare Melbourne institutions that continues to deliver on everything that makes Melbourne hospitality so immaculate,” says Sean Baxter.
“Perched above Swanston Street in Curtin House, the main bar begins to hums as soon as the doors open, a combination of Thai aromatics and contented laughs fill the stairs as you climb. As soon as you’re seated you are immediately immersed into the cacophony of colourful conversation that drenches the share tables, as achingly cool wait staff weave in and out of the sustained chaos. While the beer selection is impressive you can’t go past a classic G&T and pair it with grilled tiger prawns or a Penang curry. Or just eat the Tapioca Dumplings like everyone else. If you made it this far and the weather is great (always a coin toss), head upstairs to the rooftop bar and catch the Melbourne sunset with a crisp G&T in hand. There are few better views of Melbourne in the centre of town.”
PONYFISH ISLAND
“As you make your way over the pedestrian bridge on the Yarra River, you will no doubt spy one of Melbourne’s great bars, suspended beneath the bridge right above the water. It’s a spot where the location does a lot of the heavy lifting, but so do the cocktails, especially an ice-cold coastal G&T with the water gently lapping at your feet. The best time of day to drop in is dusk, as the sun skips off the water and the steady throng of commuters hammer across above you with some place more important to be. It’s truly an unforgettable Melbourne spot for an early evening aperitif and another space that has stood the test of time. It’s as alluring as it is eccentrically romantic and embodies Melbourne’s love affair with unconventional watering holes.”
BLACK KITE COMMUNE
“For a more late-night option, Black Kite Commune is a transportive marvel, taking you from a Melbourne side alley, to a NYC loft or Singapore hidden bar in an instant. A G&T here, indeed anything you sample from the menu is meticulously curated to match your expectations. The bar is intimate and alluring, with the staff happy to walk you through the wide range of Australian spirits and liqueurs that make up the vast majority of their cocktail and drinks menu. You are likely to run into a unique combination of hard to source flavours, from the gin, to the tonic to the garnish and will leave with a new appreciation for the precision of those behind the bar. Attention to detail reigns supreme, and it’s these flourishes that put Black Kite in a league of their own. Black Kite don’t use local spirits because they feel obligated to but because they are truly unmatched in terms of unique flavour and award-winning quality.”
