For those who don’t already know, the legal drinking age in Australia is eighteen. As a twenty year old that has a strong love for almost anything Australian, I had to attempt to partake in their drinking culture. Keyword is attempt as I was on a family vacation and didn’t want to return home stumbling. (Also, drinking responsibly is important!) I’ll describe the beverages, along with some commentary about the establishments, as best as I can even though my prior experiences are limited to generic liquor at kickbacks. The following drinks derived from a multitude of places, ranging from a fine dining restaurant to a bar in a red-light district.
1. ‘Waratah’ from The Governor’s Table
The Governor’s Table is a restaurant located at the site of Australia’s first Government House at the Museum of Sydney. Wooden dining tables topped with candles and native Australian flora lined the walls of the venue. Their minimalistic menu lists the ‘Waratah’ as a signature cocktail and dictates it as “the floral emblem of New South Wales”. The cocktail contains Tanqueray gin, St Germain Elderflower liqueur, fresh lime and cucumber. The tastes of my first sip arranged themselves in this order: a fresh greeting of cucumber, slow introduction of alcohol, then aftertaste of cucumber. This drink opened the doors of drinking in Australia for me.
2. ‘Raspberry Vodka’ from Hermann’s Bar
While passing through the University of Sydney, a friend pulled me into one the campus bars named Hermann’s Bar. The bar itself stood straight in front of the entryway while pool tables, stools, and a stage stood to the right. The bartender filled a plastic cup with a shot of vodka and good amount of a cherry flavored soft drink. The mixture was refreshingly sweet with a subtle taste of vodka knocking politely at the door.
3. ‘Hot Ho’ and ‘The Aviator’ from Naked For Satan
Down the street from St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Naked For Satan offers a restaurant with Spanish cuisine downstairs and a rooftop bar with a view of Melbourne’s skyline upstairs. The dimly copper colored lit venue housed locals and collaged walls of nude photography. The 'Hot Ho' is classified as one of Satan's Infused Vodkas. Absolut was used for the infusion and lemonade was used for the mixer (per recommendation of the bartender). The lemonade flavor blunted the sharp taste of the vodka just enough. ‘The Aviator’ is a concoction of gin and lemonade. I was too busy chatting and laughing to note the taste beyond the overpowering lemonade. (The pictures I took of the drinks were too blurry so a picture from the rooftop will act as a substitute.)
4. ‘Sex On The Beach’ from Asian Beer Cafe
The name of the bar itself, Asian Beer Cafe, revealed its theme. Metal lamps similar to Japanese lanterns hung from the ceiling while pop music played overhead. Silhouettes of a bamboo tree, geisha, and shōji door stood behind patrons sitting at high wooden tables. According to their cocktail list, 'Sex On The Beach' consists of "house-made vanilla vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, and orange juice". An orange slice and a single cherry topped the drink. Overall the drink was very similar to a fruity punch. I internally salivated when a friend pointed out that the same cocktail could be ordered as a pint during happy hour.
5. ‘Crown Lager’ from City BBQ
As a Chinese restaurant that specializes in barbecued meats, City BBQ’s liquor choices were limited to generic Australian brands. I’m normally not a fan of beer but decided to give the Australian aspect of beers a try. ‘Crown Lager’ lacked the slimy feel I associate with American brand beers and had a barely detectable carbonation. The drink left a watery yet sweet aftertaste.
6. 'Ackerman Rosé D'Anjou' from Since I Left You
Arrival at Since I Left You directs patrons down a wide alleyway, which was transformed into a courtyard, then to a small indoor space. The indoor space had a theme of sophistication with dark colored walls and decor as opposed to the outdoor area with string lights and a five story mural. Their menu describes the rose wine as "a beautiful pale pink wine with red hues, featuring fresh red berries, strawberry, hint of mint, and fruity with a light sweetness." The description was completely accurate so I’ll leave it at that.
7. ‘Peach Sake On The Rocks’ from Ippudo
The Japanese joint Ippudo, located on level five of Westfield Sydney, separates the bar from the rest of the restaurant. The bar was picturesque, reminiscent of film depicted bars with overhead hanging glass and stock bottles lining the metal back counter. We arrived an hour before closing time so the atmosphere was somewhat quiet. The fruit sake, on the right in the picture, tasted only of a slightly sweet peach juice. I’m still unsure if there was actually sake in it.
8. ‘Salty Sailor’ from Kings Cross Hotel
Named after its location, Kings Cross Hotel blared out music and open doors to the populated night streets. Inside, we had our IDs examined for a second time and headshots taken onto a register. The bar on the ground floor stood across from a DJ, dance floor, and various tables. The second floor and rooftop also had a bar that was open to the public. (The third floor was reserved for a private party.) The entire building also had many security guards that every so often inquired if a person was alright. As for the ‘Salty Sailor’, the bar’s menu lists the ingredients as “Sailor Jerry spiced, Drambuie, salted caramel, espresso, [and] popcorn”. Upon my first sip I choked on ice hidden underneath the froth. But besides that, the drink was like a salted caramel latte with a lingering taste of caffeine.
