The round-up: Brisbane’s best take-home tipples and DIY cocktail kits
There’s nothing like a global pandemic to make us feel like a stiff drink. The kicker is that while we stay inside to flatten the curve, our favourite watering holes have had to shut for the foreseeable future. That doesn’t mean we have to rely on the dregs of our liquor stash for knock-offs – many of your favourite bars are still mixing, shaking and stirring, putting together home cocktail kits perfectly suited to help you set up your own social-distancing speakeasy. Fill up the ice tray – Friday arvo drinks are back on!
Death & Taxes, Fortitude Valley: The team behind this Burnett Lane bar isn’t staying idle in the midst of Brisbane’s hospitality lockdown – it’s making sure top-notch drinks are still available to take home! Death & Taxes is open from Wednesday to Saturday between 2:00-6:00 pm, selling pre-made takeaway bottled cocktails including the classic negroni, Old Fashioned and Huntsman, so you can still sip in style!
Maker, South Brisbane: This Fish Lane haunt has teamed up with Gauge to provide a complementary booze and food takeaway ‘to go’ service. The talented bar crew is whipping up pre-batch cocktails for two (two serves per bottle), including chilli and kaffir-lime margarita, strawberry and marshmallow espresso martini, and yuzu, apricot and thyme gin sour. Place an order here!
sAme sAme, Fortitude Valley: Ada Lane go-to sAme sAme has already been selling a selection of terrific wines to go with its takeaway Thai fare, but now you can snag two of its signature cocktails for a bit of an extra kick. Opt for the Same Same But Taller (Absolut vodka, peach, passionfruit and lemon) or the Thai Thai’s Margarita (tequila, lime, agave, green chilli and kampot pepper) – just shake it, add ice and serve!
Canvas and Electric Avenue, Woolloongabba: One of Brisbane’s best cocktail joints has created a collection of prohibition-style concoctions for folks stuck at home to enjoy. The menu includes cocktails such as The Cozy Club (a smoked barrel-aged negroni made using Tanqueray gin, sweet vermouth, Campari), the Quarantine Clean (a dirty martini with Ketel One vodka, house-made brine and olive), and Two’s Company (a Collins Twist with Don Julio blanco tequila, liquid smoke, tabasco, passionfruit and orange bitters). The cocktail menu kicks off from Monday April 20 and for the first week folks can solve a riddle on the bar’s Instagram pages (@canvasbrisbane and @electricavenue) to score a passcode. Place an order and get the passcode correct and you’ll be given a secret prize when you pick up your cocktail! For information about the menu, pick up and delivery times, and location, call or message Dan on 0412 602 276.
Mama Taco, West End: Hardgrave Road newcomer Mama Taco has been slinging tantalising takeaway tacos for several weeks already, but now the taqueria and mezcaleria is adding a take-home cocktail menu into the mix. The first edition of the menu will stay on sale until stocks are depleted, mixing agave spirits and ingredients from the kitchen that might ordinarily go to waste. Cocktails include Mama’s Margarita (reposado tequila, jalapeno, coconut-flavoured 1800 tequila, agave, aloe, citrus and dehydrated lime), the Carmen Miranda Rosita (mezcal, Aperol, cynar, passionfruit essence, grapefruit bitters and dehydrated lemon) and the gimlet (blanco tequila, dry vermouth, verjus, lime, chartreuse and celery salt). Each drink can be ordered to serve two or four, and includes instructions and garnishes.
Baja, Fortitude Valley: Another top-tier taco dispensary is giving folks that live in and around The Valley a reliable takeaway option – and that extends to the drinks as well! Pair your Baja fish tacos with a pre-made batch of Baja’s signature margarita, which comes with Tromba tequila, elderflower, maraschino liqueur, lemon and lychee
Cobbler, West End: South of the river, famed cocktail joint Cobbler has also entered the bottled cocktail game with a stellar selection of its own. Pop in between 3:00–6:00 pm daily to pick up a pre-made espresso martini, negroni, margarita and more. Hit the Cobbler website to have a look at the full selection, as well as the bar’s range of discounted spirits and whisky sample packs.
Umami, Fortitude Valley: Beloved China Town restaurant Umami has added a selection of its signature cocktails to its take-home menu, including the Lychee Rose Mojito (white rum, lime, mint, sugar, lychee, rosewater, crushed ice), Umami Bubble Tea (tea-infused gin, spiced passionfruit syrup, honey, condensed-milk foam) and the Umami Espresso Martini (vodka, kahlua, espresso, condensed-milk foam). These libations are available for takeaway or delivery, cocktails will be hand made by Umami’s talented bar staff before being sealed for home consumption. Orders can be placed via Bopple, UberEats or over the phone 0404 117 788 on Thursday and Friday from 5:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 am.
Tetto Rooftop Bar, Everton Park: If you have a few bottles stashed away at home but don’t know how to do them justice with a cocktail, fear not – the team at Tetto Rooftop Bar have crafted some DIY cocktail kits to help you make the most out of your spirits. These kits will have everything you need to enjoy a delicious mocktail on its own, but if you add your own booze you’ve got yourself a killer concoction that’ll make you ISO-happy. Tetto has three flavours available – blueberry (just add rum), strawberry and passionfruit (both best with vodka in the mix). Head to the Tetto website to order.
Les Bubbles, Fortitude Valley: If you’re craving steak and fries, Les Bubbles’ takeaway menu has you covered. Naturally you’ll want something to help wash all the goodness down, which makes Les Bubbles’ takeaway drinks menu very handy. The restaurant is selling a clutch of cocktail jars that’ll help put you back in good spirits. How does a chilled Mai Tai or a margarita on the rocks sound right about now? What about a Long Iso Tea? Can’t see anything you like? Les Bubbles takes requests too!
Milky Lane, Newstead: When Milky Lane landed at Gasworks Plaza last year, it caused ripples in the scene thanks to its gargantuan burgers and its impressive cocktail selection. Although we may be isolated, the burger joint is still serving up both its grub and booze selection via takeaway and delivery. Swing by Milky Lane and place an order for a Bueno-infused or Bubblegum Sour cocktail with your selection of burger.
Winston Quinn, Fortitude Valley: One of Brisbane’s own gin distilleries has got you covered when it comes to isolation self care. The crew here have launched a range of 200ml pre-made cocktail bottles to sip at home, including a skinny martini, cucumber mojito, Dry Cut fizz and Strawberry Smash. Also, the distillery’s home survival kits come with everything you need to whip up a premium gin and tonic in a flash – a bottle of your preferred Winston Quinn gin (Dry Cut, Pink Fit, Skinny Jeans or Slim Crop), a 550mL gin goblet glass, two bottles of Long Rays premium tonic, dehydrated limes and lemon gift bag. Hit the Winston Quinn website to buy!
Online: Want to roll up your sleeves and make drinks like the best bartenders in town? There are plenty of online resources for at-home cocktail making! Cocktail Porter boasts a selection of DIY cocktail kits that come with all the bits and pieces you’ll need to whip up a stellar sip, including spirits, boutique ingredients and step-by-step instructions. The Cocktail Shop is another service offering curated cocktail kits that include alcohol, mixers and garnishes, along with a recipe card. Learn how to whip up an Americano or a grapefruit spritz in a flash! Scotch whisky distillery Pure Scot has put together a selection of cocktail survival kits designed by (and supporting) local bars Death & Taxes, Cobbler and The Gresham, each of which feature a bottle of Pure Scot signature, a mixer, a gift and mixing instructions.
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