With Bar Awards voting now open to pick this 12 months’s better of the very best, what higher time to recollect the cream of the 2024 crop, on this case, the nation’s greatest whisky bars.
Bar Besuto, Sydney, NSW
Taking cues from conventional Japanese whisky bars, Bar Besuto is nestled in a discreet basement in Sydney’s bustling Round Quay district. Forging a repute for stocking ultra-rare Japanese whiskies from proprietor Joel Finest’s assortment, prospects can take pleasure in varieties arduous pressed to search out elsewhere. Its omakase restaurant is subsequent door, rounding out the expertise with curated bar snacks and its signature thriller bento field. Besuto’s concentrate on precision, custom, and a spotlight to element, makes the bar a must-visit for whisky lovers.
Dying & Taxes, Brisbane, QLD
Down Brisbane’s oldest laneway, previous spectacular avenue artwork, and behind imposing wood double doorways is Dying & Taxes. Modelled on the underground bars of London and Paris, D&T options uncovered brick, darkish wooden panelling, intimate lighting and luxurious cubicles, good to settle into as you take pleasure in premium cocktails from its hanging four-metre-tall again bar displaying greater than 1000 spirit bottles. Whereas an absolute favorite for whisky buffs, the cocktail menu branches in all instructions. You may also BYO meals, an informal contact to a cultured venue.
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Eau de Vie, Sydney, NSW
A tribute to the Twenties speakeasy period, Eau de Vie transports patrons to a world of soppy jazz, flickering candlelight, and classic aesthetic. This award-winning bar is famed for its unique whisky lockers, permitting regulars to retailer their private bottles. The spectacular again bar shows over 500 fastidiously curated whiskies, with a crew of expert bartenders guiding company via an immersive tasting expertise. Whether or not you’re sipping a Japanese whisky or a liquid nitrogen-infused cocktail, Eau de Vie is the essence of late-night luxurious.
Goodwater, Melbourne, VIC
Goodwater prides itself on being a secure and socially inclusive neighbourhood bar in Northcote, providing high quality drinks in a heat and welcoming house. The crew are enthusiastic about distinctive booze whereas being a no fuss type of place. There are greater than 250 whiskies on supply with uncommon and impartial bottlings, small-batch, and cask-strength whiskies, in addition to cocktails and a menu of American-style snacks.
Ralph Louis Frederick, Adelaide, SA
A hidden gem in Adelaide’s bar scene, Ralph Louis Frederick blends classic class with a laid-back ambiance. The house is about with deep leather-based seating and darkish wooden finishes. With its timeless model, Ralph Louis Frederick alludes to gents’s golf equipment of the previous, with out the exclusivity. The whisky record is in depth, that includes every little thing from Scottish single malts to Australian craft distilleries. The bar’s signature smoke-infused cocktails and whisky sours make it a crowd favorite.
Savile Row, Brisbane, QLD
Behind the orange door on Fortitude Valley’s Ann Avenue, Savile Row is a whisky haven. The bar’s floor-to-ceiling again bar homes a powerful 900 spirits, creating the final word consuming ambiance. The inside blends velvet with vintage brass and dim chandeliers, to conjure a way of old-world wealth. The bartenders tailor their suggestions to every bar goer, whether or not it’s a uncommon, peated Scotch or a wealthy aged bourbon. Savile Row gives each an intimate late-night setting and a vibrant late-night hideaway.
The Baxter Inn, Sydney, NSW
In a basement of a constructing off Clarence Avenue in Sydney’s CBD, is The Baxter Inn. It turns 15 this 12 months and continues to be considered having among the best choices of whisky in Australia. The again bar – accessible solely by ladder – holds over 700 whiskies from everywhere in the world. With its dim lighting, classic posters, and blues sound, the house is each intimate and vigorous. With its buzzing ambiance, prime location and the large whisky choice, The Baxter Inn is the cornerstone of Sydney’s bar scene.
Volstead Repeal, Canberra, ACT
Inside Canberra’s CBD, Volstead Repeal is a smooth speakeasy bar channeling the prohibition period. The bar blends artwork deco, moody lighting, and leather-based seating, creating an environment of sophistication. With a fastidiously curated collection of Scotch, bourbon, and boutique Australian drops, mixed with a menu of skillfully crafted traditional cocktails Volstead Repeal is understood for its intimate surroundings and world class bartenders, delivering an elevated whisky expertise in Australia’s capital.
The Elysian Whisky Bar, Melbourne, VIC
The Elysian took out prime honours within the 2024 Bar Awards, being topped Whisky Bar of the Yr. It’s considered Melbourne’s go-to for uncommon bottlings and unique pours. The bar has an ever-changing backbar of 350 bottles of uncommon and attention-grabbing whiskies on the cabinets, with a concentrate on impartial bottlings from world wide. About 10 new whiskies are launched each week. With a minimalist but inviting inside, The Elysian is an intimate and cosy venue that lets the whisky do all of the speaking. The crew encourage probably the most expert collector to a whisky novice to discover labels and develop their data, creating one the nation’s most curated whisky experiences.
The Gresham, Brisbane, QLD
The Gresham is lauded as Brisbane’s whiskey establishment. It merges conventional appeal with a recent power. Timber interiors, leather-based bar stools, and brass finishes set the stage for a whisky menu showcase of American bourbons and traditional Scotch single malts. Enriched with character, a wide array of whiskeys and skilled bartenders, the Gresham’s stays a whisky stronghold in Brisbane’s consuming scene.
Whisky and Alement, Melbourne, VIC
Melbourne’s revered whisky bar, Whisky and Alement, is each a whisky den and training hub. The bar sources unique cask releases, uncommon single malts, and drams straight from distilleries to you. Its heat ambiance permits the main target to remain on the in depth choice, whereas the fastidiously curated menu retains whisky-lovers coming again. With masterclasses and business connections, Whisky and Alement is a go-to vacation spot for newcomers and lovers alike.
Whisky Den, Melbourne, VIC
Impressed by Japan’s intimate whisky bars, Whisky Den is an understated warm-lit retreat the place the main target is on the drink. Specialising in Australian craft whisky, area of interest Scotch, and impartial bottlings, the bar gives a relaxed, no-fuss consuming expertise. For these seeking to escape Melbourne’s bustling metropolis streets, Whisky Den delivers an expertly curated whisky choice in a welcoming, nook setting.
