Disaster Bay Chilli Wine

A new find at the Saturday morning markets in Kings Cross, a chilli grower from Disaster Bay, basically as far south in New South Wales as it is possible to get.

While they also produce a fantastic sauces, it was the chilli wine bottle that caught my eye and taste. Produced by the fermentation of bush ripened chillies, the wine has a sweet (they call it dessert wine), winey taste, with a great finish of mild heat. Kind of like a chili vermouth, minus some of the herbal middle.

I’ve been playing around with it and tequila. Kind of using it as vermouth for tequila. Early days yet, but it does produce some tasty results in my first experiments.

Two rabbits in a bag.

45mls Cazadores Reposado Tequila, 15mls Disaster Bay Chilli Wine, 2 dashes Bittermens Xocolatl Mole Bitters.

Combine ingredients over ice and stir well. Strain up and garnish with a peel of lime.

Special prize for anyone who can link the name to the drink.

Low 302

This cosy little gem hides out amongst the Gaslight and the back alley’s of little Oxford. An expected find on my nightly walk home and a talked about venue by all the people who’ve told me they’re in the know…

Low 302 is quite close to the cross of Oxford and Crown, on the Surry Hills side, evidenced by the clientele and their clinging black jeans. A smart, small space with a bar inside, six or so tables  and a piano to sit around, four tables out the front, one of which that will take 6-8 of your closest friends with ease.

The list is good, and the bottles behind the bar speak of a venue that is trying for something special. I kicked off proceedings with a Tequila Manhattan, Herradura and sweet vermouth, garnished with a delightful port soaked cherry. Smoky, dusty, rich all poured up into an elegant glass.

My crew turns up and we are seated outside, the smart design of the terrace makes the most of being outside, while keeping you out of the busy Crown St Friday night menagerie. Table service is provided, but for a venue with so few tables, it seems to take a while to get drinks back outside to us. I follow up with a Negroni, with almost everyone else hitting the Pimms and Ginger Ale, which comes looking a bit sad and missing the cornucopia of fruit and leaves that it will, at best, be festooned with. The Negroni is as it should be, perfectly diluted and marvelous; equal parts gin, vermouth, campari and effort.

Dinner plans interrupted further investigation of the list, but I can say without hesitation that I’ll be back.

302 Crown St, Darlinghurst
Drop them an email at info@low302.com.au or give them a bell on (02) 9368 1548

Google Maps here.