Company behind premium pre-mixed cocktail company Everleigh Bottling Co. enters liquidation

The collapse of the premium bottled cocktail company marks another blow to the hospitality group behind now-closed Melbourne institutions The Everleigh and Bar Margaux.

Premium pre-mixed cocktail brand Everleigh Bottling Co. has collapsed into liquidation. Picture: Everleigh Bottling Co.

The company behind premium pre-mixed cocktail brand Everleigh Bottling Co. – the offshoot of Melbourne’s once-celebrated hospitality group that founded The Everleigh and Bar Margaux – has collapsed into liquidation, marking the latest setback for its owners.

The business, whose products are sold across Australia and stocked at major retailers including Dan Murphy’s, entered liquidation last week, a notice lodged with the corporate regulator reveals.

It comes after the earlier closures of The Everleigh Group’s flagship venues, founded by renowned hospitality figures Michael and Zara Madrusan, as well as the financial collapse of late-night CBD bar Heartbreaker, which has since restructured and continues to operate.

It appears the Port Melbourne-based booze business has ceased trading, with the company’s email down and no goods available to purchase online.

It appears the Port Melbourne-based booze business has ceased trading. Picture: Everleigh Bottling Co.

Renowned hospitality figures Michael and Zara Madrusan. Picture: Supplied

The company’s website says the business inherited its name, recipes and ethos from the internationally-renowned Fitzroy cocktail bar, The Everleigh.

“Every cocktail is handmade and bottled with the same spirits and distinctive attention to detail which settled The Everleigh a reputation as one of the best bars in the world,” it reads.

“Setting the bar for fine drinking in Australia since 2011 and pioneering bottled cocktails since 2015, The Everleigh Bottling Co. can be found in major and independent retailers, boutique and five-star hotels, arts venues, airport lounges, on tap at large-scales arenas and in the home bars of the most discerning drinkers across the country.”

The business collapsed owing over $270,000 to creditors, a report submitted by director Michael Madrusan lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission shows.

This included $143,707 to the tax office, $19,551 to Australia Post, $19,692 to law firm Marquette Intellectual Property and $12,976 to alcohol distributor Southtrade International.

Bar Margaux was closed earlier this year. Picture: Bar Margaux

Mr Madrusan declared $15,389 was owed to the company including $4,896 from Endeavour Sales, $1,764 from hotel QT Sydney, $1,316 from Bryon Bay hotel Raes on Wategos and $1,320 from five-star Melbourne hotel The Lyall Hotel.

The brand previously partnered with spirit distributor Proof & Company Australia, which entered administration earlier this year after owing creditors more than $13m.

Insolvency experts from PKF Melbourne Paul Allen and Innis Cull, who have been appointed joint liquidators, declined to comment.

Everleigh Bottling Co. was contacted for comment.

News Corp Australia previously revealed the group’s rowdy bar Heartbreaker was placed into administration in October amid a $1.5m debt pile, ultimately striking a deal with creditors to allow the venue to continue to trade.

Mr and Ms Madrusan announced The Everleigh and Bar Margaux’s closure on Instagram in March this year.

Heartbreaker was placed into administration in October. Picture: Kiel Egging.

The Everleigh made the highly coveted World’s 50 Best Bars list in 2013 and 2014. Picture: Kristoffer Paulsen

The owners previously said the closures are a result of debts accumulated during Covid, followed by tough trading conditions.

It’s understood both businesses were eligible for restructuring under the federal government’s insolvency reforms, but were turned down.

Ms Madrusan told the Herald Sun in November last year that the entire Melbourne industry was facing “really difficult challenges”.

“Looking at restaurants and breweries being forced to close on a daily basis is really sad and the industry isn’t getting the support it needs to thrive in Melbourne,” she said.

“(For us), we didn’t really feel the impacts of Covid until later on. The costs involved in restarting the businesses were large – switching everything back on and re-employing staff.

“In lockdown there was some support but that’s no longer available to us.”

The Everleigh made the highly coveted World’s 50 Best Bars list in 2013 and 2014 and won Australian Bartender Cocktail Bar of the Year in 2018.

The couple’s other business Navy Strength Ice Co., described as Australia’s first boutique hand cut ice company, remains in business.

Originally published as Company behind premium pre-mixed cocktail company Everleigh Bottling Co. enters liquidation