The top ten places to drink whisky in Melbourne

SOME of the world’s best whisky can be found here in Melbourne. Here are 10 top spots to get your tipple on this winter.

WHETHER it’s scouring the Scottish isles or the land of the rising sun – as well as much closer to home – Melbourne’s growing band of bartenders with whisky on the brain have created spaces that are truly world class. Here are 10 top spots to get your tipple on this winter.

 

Chanie Hyde, left, and Ren Butler at the Starward distillery in Port Melbourne.

STRAIGHT TO THE SOURCE

From humble beginnings as Australia’s most unique distillery – housed in an aircraft hangar at Essendon Airport – through to its state-of-the-art new home in Port Melbourne, Starward has grown into a leading light of the local whisky scene. “For me, it was about creating a distinctly Australian whisky we could take to the world, that’s always been our ambition,” says founder David Vitalle.

Signature sips: Tours of the distillery are held Fri-Sun and include an overview of the entire production process from barley to bottle, and tastings of the core whisky expressions. The signature drop is the Starward wine cask-matured whisky, and masterclasses are held every weekend.

And to snack? The usual suspects – cheese, charcuterie, terrines and parfait – are always on offer and are bolstered with food trucks parked out front for special distillery events.

Anything else? To celebrate 10 years of Starward, the distillery has just released a limited edition 10th anniversary bottling, made up of a blend of 28 casks. Sold in a twin pack – one to drink now, another to (try to) squirrel away.

Starward Distillery, 50 Bertie St, Port Melbourne. starward.com.au

THE BEST KID-FRIENDLY PUBS

 

Some of the drinks on offer at Melbourne Whisky Room.

SIP AND LEARN

Opening in 2010, Whisky and Alement was one of our first bars to focus on whisky. A collection of just 10 bottles has now grown into an astonishing 1100 whiskies on site. At the start of this year, owners Brooke Hayman and Julian White opened the Melbourne Whisky Room upstairs, where it’s all about rare and unusual drops from around the world.

Signature sips: “Our mantra when we first opened Whisky and Alement was to deliver whisky on pour at affordable everyday prices to Gen Y,” Brooke says. “The Melbourne Whisky Room offers a slower paced, more relaxed atmosphere.” It’s upstairs you’ll find Australia’s largest collection of Scotch Malt Whisky Society – a global whisky club that bottles single cask, single malt whisky from more than 130 distilleries.

And to snack? Whisky in all its guises is the hero here, with a simple selection of nuts, pretzels and cheese to take the edge off.

Anything else? Brooke and Julian run the School of Whisky, from beginner’s appreciation classes through masterclasses with ambassadors from the great whisky houses across the world.

Whisky and Alement/Melbourne Whisky Room, 270 Russell St, city. whiskyandale.com.au

 SURF FOR HAWAIIAN FOOD IN THE CITY

The best of Irish whiskey is found at Buck Mulligan’s.

IRISH FLAVOUR

“I love whiskey and books, so I decided to combine them in a single offering,” says owner Eamonn Hennessy of Melbourne’s most unique whisk(e)y bar, Buck Mulligan’s. Here on Northcote’s High St you’ll find the bar shelves lined with the best of Irish whiskey and the book shelves filled with the best of Irish literature.

Signature sips: More than half of the 100-strong range of whiskies behind the bar is Irish, including the Connemara peated range of single malts, and a great selection of pot-still whiskies unique to Ireland. Over the next year, Eamonn hopes to increase the collection to more than 100, making it the biggest selection of Irish whiskey in the country.

And to snack? Ireland’s favourite black pudding, Clonakilty, served hot on toast warms the cockles, while the ploughman’s platter served with traditional Irish brown soda bread is ever popular.

Anything else? Whiskey tasting and literary events are held throughout the year, including a monthly “Writers under the Influence” event, to support local talent.

Buck Mulligan’s, 217 High St, Northcote. buckmulligans.com.au

 EAT YOUR WAY AROUND FOUNTAIN GATE

The Eureka Stockade cocktail at Bad Frankie.

AUSSIE CHAMP

A trailblazing champion of the local spirit scene, for the past three years Bad Frankie’s Seb Costello has been shaking and stirring an unprecedented collection of Aussie whiskies into innovative cocktails, all the while sharing the stories of our unique distilleries.

Signature sips: A humble (but at the time, impressive) selection of 25 local whiskies upon opening has grown into more than 100 drops from around the country. While the wine-matured whisky from Starward is the most popular, single release cask whiskies (Black Gate, Iniquity, Heartwood distilleries) offer something for the connoisseur, while whiskies made from oats, corn and the first whisky made from quinoa offer something completely unique.

And to snack? Dan Dobra (Bedford St, Brutale) is the man now in charge of the jaffle iron for which Bad Frankie is known. The meat pie jaffle is a winter winner, though so too is the bangers and mash number. And then there’s the Supreme – all the best of Pizza Hut between two slices of toasted bread.

Anything else? It’s not just whisky that Bad Frankie is good at. With almost 400 Aussie products, there’s a local drop to suit all tastes. Ant gin, anyone?

Bad Frankie, 141 Greeves St, Fitzroy. badfrankie.com

 

Waterslide has a range of local, Irish, American and Japanese whiskies.

ROOM WITH A VIEW

This bar takes its reference from Southbank’s past where, 150 years ago, Melburnians would come to play on a huge seven-storey contraption upon which boats would hurtle down and into the Yarra. Now, Waterslide’s liquid attractions come on the rocks, where, with the twinkling city skyline as a backdrop, cocktails are shaken, beers are poured and whisky comes from around the world.

Signature sips: A strong range of local, Irish, American and Japanese whiskies are dwarfed by the extensive showing of single malt scotch, all served by smart staff decked out in ties, vests and arm garters, as befitting the site’s heritage.

And to snack? Out of the kitchen of La Camera next door, an Italian-leaning, late-night-friendly menu includes mozzarella and panzanella, arancini and pizza along with fish burgers, crispy chicken and housemade sausage rolls.

Anything else? Waterslide will be celebrating its second anniversary in the only way right – a party on July 28.

Waterslide, Southgate mid-level, Southbank. waterslidebar.com.au

 

Heirloom Japanese restaurant in the CBD.

RISING SUN

For the past six years, this modern yet unassuming izakaya in the CBD has been quietly building up one of the best collections of Japanese whiskies in Melbourne.

Signature sips: More than 60 imported Japanese whiskies are found behind the bar, from the big boys – Suntory, Nikka – through smaller players including Akashi, Chichibu and its Ichiro’s Malt range.

And to snack? The kitchen turns out a good line in always-popular sashimi, along with more innovative dishes – slow cooked duck with cumquat and yuzu carrots, or steak with grilled okra and miso hollandaise – for those with bigger hungers.

Anything else? While predominantly a restaurant, Heirloom welcomes drinkers with equally open arms.

Heirloom,131 Bourke St, city. heirloom.com.au

 

The selection at Biff Tannin's Whisky and wine bar in Brunswick.

HIDDEN GEM

While the self-pouring wine wall is a feature at this new Brunswick bar hidden under an apartment block off Sydney Rd, it’s the 250-plus collection of bottles glowing amber behind the bar that’s put Biff Tannin’s on the whisky-drinker’s map.

Signature sips: A focus on Scotch whiskies is complemented with a good showing from Australia through Asia to America. Small batch independent distilleries line the top shelf. A highlight is a BenRiach single batch scotch, finished in Grey Carmenere wine barrels.

And to snack?Cheese and charcuterie boards prove perfect tablefellows to a nip
or three.

Anything else? That help-yourself wine wall is well worth a look, where two dozen ever changing Aussie-focused wines are offered by the taste, half and full glass

Biff Tannin’s, U5/601 Sydney Rd, Brunswick. bifftannins.com

 

The Boilermaker has more than 850 malt whiskies.

SPOILED FOR CHOICE

It’s the bar named after whisky and a beer chaser and Boilermaker remains one of the best in the game at both craft brews and worldly drams.

Signature sips:With more than 850 malts in the house, the encyclopaedic menu is cleverly broken into flavour camps – Ma’s fruit loaf, pancake parlour and salty sea dogs just three of the categories – to help guide you to the whisky of your dreams.

And to snack? Open until 3am, this is one of the city’s best spots for a late-night cheese and charcuterie platter, with a huge offering available to order by weight. Oh, and the venison burger’s the bomb, too.

Anything else? The Glenlivet bottle service, from the 12-year-old through hyper rare XXV (for a wee $1800) means you can have the finest Speyside drams to hand whenever you like.

Boilermaker House, 209 Lonsdale St, city. boilermakerhouse.com.au

 

The Elysian brings Japanese bar culture to Brunswick St.

RICH AND RARE

Six months young but already boasting a covetable collection of 300-odd unique whiskies, Elysian Whisky Bar takes a touch of Japanese bar culture and adds it to Brunswick St.

Signature sips: A focus on independent bottlers from around the globe – Japan, of course, but also Taiwan, US and even India – can be found on the shelves behind the bar.

And to snack? Meats and cheese please the hungry, but mainly it’s all about what’s in the glass.

Anything else? The bar’s Yao Wong is no slouch when it comes to the white spirits, either, recently taking out the inaugural Australian East London Cocktail comp.

The Elysian Whisky Bar, 113 Brunswick St, Fitzroy. theelysianwhiskybar.com.au

 

The bar at the Kilburn in Hawthorn.

STAR OF THE ‘BURBS

Housed within the 1892 Commercial Bank of Australia building – and taking its name from its architect – The Kilburn, perched imposingly on the corner of Glenferrie and Burwood Rds, boasts not only one of the best whisky collections of the suburbs, but of the state.

Signature sips: With more than 500 bottles lining the bar, there’s something for everyone here. A strong focus on scotch dominates the offering, with rarer drops including a 32-year-old Laphroag, and the Balvenie Islay peated cask single malt, though over the next few months expect to see an extended range of locals on offer.

And to snack?Ploughman’s boards laden with charcuterie and cheese are the mainstay, along with pizzas ordered from Santoni pizza across the road.

Anything else? Owner Paul Nakhla, having taken over from founder Ben Baranow a year ago, gave the bar a refurb at the end of last year, adding soft velvet couches, plush armchairs and marble-topped tables to give it “the luxe feel you see today”.

The Kilburn, 348 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn. thekilburn.com.au

 

INDEPENDENT’S DAY

With more than 100 whiskies to taste from 14 independent bottling companies, on July 22 Independent’s Day is taking over Starward Distillery for an afternoon filled with the best – and most unique – drops in the land. With a focus on one-off and small batches, these independent bottlers highlight uncommon single malts and unique whiskies from Scotland, Australia and around the world.

All whiskies on tasting can be bought by the bottle from the pop-up whisky shop, while food trucks on site will keep the hungry happy.

Tickets are $65 and include all tastings, whisky glass, food truck voucher and distillery tour.

Tickets and info: eventbrite.com.au