High spirited: The tiniest bar pops up in Sydney

Five-star Kimpton Margot Sydney has unveiled The Vault, a hidden speakeasy pop-up, tucked inside the original strongroom of the hotel’s heritage-listed 1930s Art Deco Water Board Building.

But this is no ordinary bar. 

Measuring just eight-and-a-half square metres, with space for six guests and one bartender, The Vault is located underneath the hotel’s lobby, and features a whisky barrel table, soft lamp lighting and heritage shelves lined with bottles.

From now until July 31, The Vault pop-up will offer whisky tastings, with a menu of four drams from boutique Tasmanian distillery Lark, designed to sip back-to-back paired with seasonal canapés by Australian chef Luke Mangan of Luke’s Kitchen, for $110 per person.

The whiskies include the Chinotto Cask, Classic Cask, Peated Whisky and a limited- edition Dark Lark single malt whisky. 

Spirit lovers can upgrade their experience to also include the Japanese whisky-inspired Lark’s Mizunara Rare Oak Cask for an additional $60 per person.

Bookings are essential, with one-hour sessions Wednesday to Saturday at 6pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 4pm and 6pm. The Vault can be enjoyed as a standalone experience or added as a pre- or post-dinner pairing with a booking at Luke’s Kitchen, also located within Kimpton Margot Sydney.

For more information and bookings see www.kimptonmargotsydney.com/eat-and-drink/the-vault/

Brooksy offers a speakeasy experience in Sydney CBD

Sydney's super-competitive bar scene has a new heavyweight contender with the opening of Amora Hotel Jamison's Brooksy Bar, which aims to "redefine the hotel drinking experience" with its 1920s speakeasy vibe.

The media release tells me: "Brooksy embraces the alluring charm of a speakeasy, tapping into Sydney's growing demand for intimate, themed bar experiences that offer something beyond the ordinary." 

So think Italian marble at the bar and a statement metal light feature wrapping, velvet banquettes and the French oak flooring with metal-etched motifs. And a ground floor CBD location.

"In a city where consumers crave novel and immersive experiences, the speakeasy model fits perfectly," said Narej Farik, group director of business development and asset management for Amora Hotels & Resorts.

"Brooksy sets itself apart by combining historical elegance with modern sophistication, and in order to re-create the authentic vibes of the 1920s era, we spared no expense in sourcing for the right materials with the right details and textures for the design."



But what about the drinks - and the food? 

"As a group, we believe that process leads to success," says group executive chef Hemant Dadlani. 

"Establishing clear guidelines for food preparation, presentation, and service across all locations helps maintain consistency while allowing room for creative variations.” 

OK. More about the drinks and food. 

“From the dramatic presentations of cocktails and the lavish absinthe fountain to the roving whisky trolleys and tableside entertainment such as fortune telling, we present a backdrop that is Instagram-worthy and memorable," says hotel F&B manager Michael Thom. 

"It is no longer just about getting a drink during happy hour. 

“Ultimately, in order for a bar to thrive, one has to be unique, provide impeccable service and present offerings that change and evolve alongside consumer demands.”

So share plates like foccacia with pumpkin butter and smoked salt, yuzu scallops with ikura and wasabi or duck a l’orange croquettes will be big. 

Or maybe a selection of sliders, and cocktails from around the globe.  

For more information visit www.amorahotels.com.

Barrels of fun: a new wine tasting experience in Rutherglen

 

Stanton & Killeen, a family owned winery that produces outstanding fortified wines, has opened a new speakeasy-style tasting space at its winery in Rutherglen, north-east Victoria.

The wine maker has transformed part of its century-old cellar into a cosy space surrounded by muscat barrels that is now open for group experiences and private hire.

The area is a new addition following a renovation of the old winery space.

Guests are able to step back in time and experience a 'Mystery of Muscat' tasting surrounded by old old oak barrels, or can book the space for friends or family groups.

The space is available for a minimum of four and maximum of 30 guests for a three-hour private experience featuring premium wines and gourmet provisions.

This is part of Stanton & Killeen's membership of Ultimate Winery Experiences of Australia.

The producer has a history stretching back seven generations and almost 150 years.

See https://www.stantonandkilleen.com.au/