Indulge in tales of Sydney’s underworld with a killer cocktail at Frank Mac’s

A popular gin bar in The Rocks is serving up killer cocktails with a side of underworld sin, in an experience not to be missed by any true crime podcast fan.

There are two things this city loves: a true crime story, and cocktails.

Now, there is a growing number of hospitality venues that combine the two.

The Rocks’ popular Irish gin bar Frank Mac’s is the latest to team up with historian Max Burns-McRuvie for Gin City: Sin City, an evening where bar goers are recounted with the scandalous history of gin and the juicy and salacious crime caused by the spirit in Sydney.

Think fatal gin-bottle bashings to G & Ts spiked with cyanide.

Due to popular demand, the event has sold out twice and is onto its third session next week.

Ciara Doran (owner of Frank Macs) photographed with Max Burns-McRuvie from Sexing Up History to give bar goers a history of Sydney's underbelly. Picture: Daily Telegraph / Monique Harmer

Pre-Covid, Burns-McRuvie was hosting these experiences in two venues in Sydney, but now that’s up to five.

“We consumed so much media on a screen during the last two years that there is something incredibly powerful about listening to someone tell a story in person. People are craving these in person experiences.” he said.

“The term ‘story’ has been hijacked by 15 second clips on social media but what we do is the exact opposite and we take the time to spin a yarn.”

Frank Mac’s owner Ciara Doran said her heritage listed venue lends itself perfectly to an event of this type.

“I feel it’s important to honour the history of these beautiful spaces and tell their stories,” she said.

“Experiences like this definitely help bring clientele to the venue that may not have had an opportunity to visit before.”

City bar Since I Left you, SILY, has also held True Crime talks.

With society’s true crime obsession starting long before the podcast was invented, Burns-McRuvie says a lot of his research comes from newspaper archives – like The Daily Telegraph.

“Sydney’s papers have always had an obsession with crime. There are a lot of juicy stories that have never been told,” he said.

Rather than focus on the tourist market, Burns-McRuvie said majority of those in attendance at his events are locals.

“I’m so specific about local details. It was in this house that a murder was committed, which has more impact for locals. It’s the house you walk past every day,” he said.

Burns-McRuvie has conducted similar themed talks at the iconic Australian Hotel and at the popular Since I Left You Bar.