On the 13th of May, 1806, the word cocktail was first defined in print. The paper that printed the word was called The Balance, and Columbia Repository. It was volume V if you’re interested. The truly passionate amongst you might even want to jump on Google books and read the original here. The word appears on both page 142 and 146.
This little word has employed a lot of people, and intoxicated even more. It is in that spirit that people gather for a weeks worth of festivities around this most important day in the mixocoligcal calendar to mix, pour, shake, learn and most importantly imbibe!
It is a happy event for Australia this year, with more than a few bars getting in on the action. Here’s what I’m aware of thus far, I’m happy for people to add stuff in the comments if there are one’s I’ve missed.
I’ll be at Eau de Vie on Thursday for sure.
Monday May 10th
Eau de Vie – Classic Vintage
Eau-de-Vie opens the spirit cabinets, offering great classics made with rare and hard-to-find spirits from the house collection.
7pm-9pm, $80pp (Includes food & 4 Cocktails)
On facebook, or call Barry on 9357 2470
Tuesday May 11th
Eau de Vie -5 Cocktails Every Man Should Know
6pm-8pm, $ 75pp (includes food & 5 cocktails)
Hosted by The Dr & Sven Almenning
Eau de Vie, Private Whisky Room.
On facebook, or call Barry on 9357 2470
The Den – Vintage Cocktail Night
Merivale head mixologist Mikey Enright and Mixxit mixologist Jason Crawley, will host four veteran bartenders, Ben Davidson, Dylan Howarth, Simon McGoram and Marco Farone to mix vintage cocktails in The Den.
$70pp includes cocktails and canapés
visit www.merivale.com or call 02 9240 3000
Hemmesphere – Tequila Masterclass
Brown Forman’s brand ambassador Shae Silvesto and Hemmesphere’s very own hombre, Sebastian Derbomez, take guests through the history of Tequila before hosting Tequila tastings and demonstrating three Tequila cocktails, including the classic Margarita. Ole!
$65pp includes 3 cocktails & canapés
visit www.merivale.com or call 02 9240 3000
The Den – Vintage Cocktail Night
Merivale head mixologist Mikey Enright and Mixxit mixologist Jason Crawley, will host four veteran bartenders, Ben Davidson, Dylan Howarth, Simon McGoram and Marco Farone to mix vintage cocktails in The Den.
$70pp includes cocktails and canapés
visit www.merivale.com or call 02 9240 3000
Wednesday May 12th
Eau de Vie – Cocktail Degustation Evening
Enjoy 4 sublime cocktail and food pairings
7pm-9pm $ 85pp (includes food & 4 cocktails)
Hosted by Elle Wormald & Maximillian Greco
On facebook, or call Barry on 9357 2470
Hemmesphere – Gin Masterclass
Learn more about those obscure juniper berries when gin specialist Ben Davidson and Gin Garden mixologist Paul Mott discuss the history of gin, host top-shelf gin tastings and show guests how to shake up three classic gin cocktails.
$65pp includes 3 cocktails & canapés
visit www.merivale.com or call 02 9240 3000
Sand Bar & Slip Inn – Bourbon Masterclass
Take a trip through the Kentucky cornfields as Beam Global’s bourbon specialist, Jarred Plummer, talks about the USA’s most famous spirit and its history. He’ll also demonstrate how to make the most of bourbon, sharing some of his favourite bourbon cocktail recipes.
$65pp includes 3 cocktails & canapés
visit www.merivale.com or call 02 9240 3000
Tiki Cocktail class
Learn to master tropical cocktails served in pineapples or coconuts as Nick Van ‘Tiki’ Tiel – a seasoned Tiki specialist and Reserve’s brand ambassador – and Mikey Enright talk through the history Polynesian pop culture and demonstrate how to make the perfect Pina Colada, Mai Tai and Zombie. Each student will have the opportunity to make a Tiki classic cocktail and the winning cocktail will take home a Tiki Drink set.
$70 includes 3 cocktails including and canapés
visit www.merivale.com or call 02 9240 3000
Thursday May 13th
Eau de Vie – Martini Masterclass
A look at the development of this enigmatic drink, the styles, history & how it is made today.
7pm-9pm $ 75pp (Includes food & 5 martinis)
Hosted by Barry Chalmers & Nick Fury
Eau de Vie, Private Whisky Room.
On facebook, or call Barry on 9357 2470
Ivy – The Magnificent 7 – ‘The final shootout’ – World Cocktail Day
One of Australia’s leading bar-training-programs, Mixxit, is gearing up for the final leg of a competition that has attracted some of the country’s finest bartenders. The winner of the Magnificent 7 competition will fly to New York and attend the world famous five-day BAR (Beverage Alcohol Resource). Guests are invited to come down and cheer on their state finalist and see some of the best Australian cocktail makers battling it out on the main stage at ivy. The seven finalists: Anita Strother,Byblos, Brisbane; Edward Murphy, Baden Powell, Melbourne; Erica Richards, Crown & Sceptre, Adelaide; Richie Brenton, Charlie’s Bar, Melbourne; Nick Edwards, The Lark, Brisbane; Christian Blair, Crown & Sceptre, Adelaide; Luke Reddington, Hugos Bar Pizza, Sydney.
6.30pm, Thursday 13 May at ivy, level 1, 320 George Street, Sydney
visit www.merivale.com or call 02 9240 3000
Ivy – Vodka Masterclass
Oliver Stuart, Russian Standard Vodka’s brand ambassador and Bartendermagazine’s Bartender of the Year in 2006, will talk through the subtleties of his favourite spirit and share three fantastic vodka cocktail recipes.
$65pp includes 3 cocktails & canapés
visit www.merivale.com or call 02 9240 3000
Friday May 14th
Ivy Pool Club – Luxury Vodka Masterclass
Moet-Hennessey’s Garth Foster and Jimmy Sakajani from ivy’s Pool Club show guests how to make the most of luxury vodka with three favourite vodka cocktail recipes. They’ll also host a tasting of different luxury vodkas.
$70pp includes 3 cocktails & canapés
visit www.merivale.com or call 02 9240 3000
Saturday May 15th
Lotus – Rum Masterclass
Pernod Ricard’s cocktail guru and brand ambassador, Ben Davidson, and Lotus’ award-winning mixologist Petr Dvoracek will conduct rum tastings before guiding guests through the art of making the perfect pina colada, daiquiri and a surprise rum cocktail.
$65pp includes 3 cocktails & canapés
visit www.merivale.com or call 02 9240 3000
The Den – Whisky Masterclass
Pernod Ricard’s cocktail guru and brand ambassador, Ben Davidson and The Den’s resident mixologist Nico Darras show you how to make magic with a splash of whisky. They will demonstrate three classic whisky cocktails, including the Rob Roy and Bobby Burns.
$65pp includes 3 cocktails & canapés
visit www.merivale.com or call 02 9240 3000
Others:
For four weeks in the month of May, 1806 in Melbourne will showcase the evolution of this remarkable cocktail from the earliest mentions, to the most modern molecular interpretation.
Just to give you an idea of how much of a following these events get around the globe, here’s a video from the Museum of the American Cocktail, who have really been the driving force behind the event and its slow global rollout.
World Cocktail Week ™ NYC from Lush Life on Vimeo.
Everyday Drinking 