For Martin Lange and Blake Ward, cocktail creation is more than simply shaking and stirring – it’s a careful balance of ingredients, melded together to concoct the perfect sip. The pair have each had 20 years in the industry perfecting their craft and, together with their wives Wiebke Lange and Belinda Ward to form the Cuatro Group, have been the brains behind some of Brisbane’s most revered cocktail bars – Death & Taxes and Dr. Gimlette. While their first two venues are renowned for their creativity and extensive back bars, the Cuatro Group pared things back for their third inner-city venture. Described as a classic cocktail bar with Italian flair, Antico now occupied the Burnett Lane space once made famous by Super Whatnot. A full transformation has resulted in a timeless aesthetic spread across the site’s split-level interior. Mosaic tiling, a black-and-gold-marble bar, black-leather booths and ornate light fixtures make Antico feel like a glamorous lobby bar, more than a gritty laneway haunt. Guests can expect a concise list of ten classic cocktails, made using fresh local produce – that means no pre-made syrups, fermentations or reductions. As for classics, you’ll also be able to enjoy Aperol spritzes, negronis with specially made gin and vermouth and Campari and soda on tap, alongside wines and Italian-inspired bites such as bruschetta, burrata and cured meats.