How to Make Cocktails & Spirits

Eating boozy cannoli from Cannoleria is just one of the creative ways that Melbournians can celebrate Negroni Week.

Negronis with a twist for locked-down Melburnians

This year, Melbourne is celebrating Negroni Week with cake, cannoli and more.

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Matt Bax prepares a Bar Americano pre-batched negroni.

The secret to the perfect negroni (plus the best pre-batched ones to order online)

With Negroni Week taking place from September 13-19, there is no better time for master mixologist Matthew Bax to share his tips to pouring the perfect one.

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Bar manager Dom Garreffa operates his new canning machine at The Woods in Windsor.

Melbourne bars keep spirits up in lockdown

Cocktails on wheels are up there among the COVID silver linings. But this lockdown, bars have had to be even more creative to get their drinks to people safely.

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Double Deuce Lounge owners Sebastian "Cosmo" Soto (left) and Charlie Lehmann are providing cocktails for pick-up from ...

Online garage sales and pina coladas by the can: Sydney small bars get creative with lockdown cocktails

More and more Sydney bars are coming up with new recipes and innovative ways to reach customers during the coronavirus lockdown.

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Rutherglen's Morris Whisky has resurrected a 130-year-old still to make its Australian single malts.

Australian whisky 101: Local distillers shake things up with native grains, rye whiskey and even coffee

The world of whisky can be daunting, but don't let that put you off. Buckle up and give these bold Australian spirits a whirl.

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Andrew McUtchen: I'll be making mine a Heaps Normal, for now.

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Alcohol-free in lockdown: Dry July and the WhatsApp group that got me through it

Going alcohol-free was one of the weirdest months of Andrew McUtchen's life. But with the support of a celeb-studded WhatsApp group, and some unexpected side effects, it was extremely rewarding.

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Home Grown's Creamy Soda Highball, Ginger and Mango Spritz, and Strawberry and River Mint Spritz.

Home run for Aussie spirits

Some of Melbourne's best mixologists are making Australian cocktails by the bottle, perfect for dinner parties or barbecues.

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Black Snake Distillery owner Stephen Beale with agave "weed" on his farm in Narrabri, NSW.

Tequila sunrise: Australian-made agave spirits begin to take off

It's early days for Australia's agave industry, but the green shoots are there. Just don't call it tequila or mezcal.

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Fill your balloon with one of the new, small-batch Aussie brandies.

Brandy is back: Three small-batch stars to try

Brandy is a fortifying hug of fruit and spice made for cupping in a comforting bowl-shaped glass by the fire.

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Bar owner Mikey Enright makes a cocktail with grape-based gin at the Barber Shop in Sydney.

Unmistakably Australian, grape gins are taking off around the country

Forget that adage about never mixing grain and grape – every time gin meets the fruit of Australian vines, we can't seem to get enough.

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Cocktails & spirits