Five Melbourne Bars Putting a New Twist on Whisky and Beer

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The joining of whisky and beer has seen incarnations aplenty — from considered, craft-focused boilermaker pairings, to hard shandies, to the old Scottish favourite, the 'hauf an' a hauf'. But now, Glaswegian whisky Auchentoshan (pronounced ock-un-tosh-un) is steering this boozy union to a clever new place, reimagining that age-old 'hauf an' a hauf' as a refreshing cocktail for the discerning scotch-sippers of today. Not a beer, not a whisky, not even a boilermaker, the Auchentoshan & Ale is something refreshingly different, says brand ambassador Michael Nouri.

Shaking up cocktail lists at select local bars this month until the end of June, the Auchentoshan & Ale is whisky and beer's latest manifestation. Smooth, uniquely triple-distilled and a great whisky for cocktails, Auchentoshan American Oak complements a blend of pale ale, fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup, making one warming, yet refreshing drink. It's a new way of drinking two birds with one stone — that's how the saying goes, right? Find out where you can sip your own Auchentoshan & Ale in Melbourne below.

LULIE ST TAVERN, ABBOTSFORD

A laidback gem set among the backstreets of Abbotsford, Lulie Street Tavern's warehouse space is an outright charmer. Life's rarely as sweet as when you're kicking back in a place like this with some whisky and beer, shooting some pool, vibing off a friendly crowd of regulars and grooving to a banging soundtrack of vinyl tunes.

THE KILBURN, HAWTHORN

Housed in a stunning heritage building and with a style that cleverly mixes old and new, The Kilburn is the drinking destination you need in your back pocket. A bar well-versed in the art of fine boozing, its star features include a 600-strong curation of whisky and a blissful rotation of boutique brews.

Tofu Studios

THE WOOLSHED, DOCKLANDS

With its newly reworked interiors and idyllic harbourside location just a few skips out of the CBD, The Woolshed is after-work drinks gold. Here, the suave surrounds of the fireside room prove the perfect winter escape, especially with a prime cut steak in your belly and a fine whisky cocktail exciting your palate.

CAMPARI HOUSE, CBD

One of Melbourne's original laneway haunts, the multi-level Campari House has a space for every mood and occasion. Get comfy in the dining room with a feast of rustic Italian fare, unwind over cocktails and DJ tunes in the upstairs lounge, or venture to the Astroturfed rooftop bar to team an Auchentoshan & Ale with sweeping city views.

THE RAILWAY HOTEL, BRUNSWICK

The historic facade of The Railway Hotel gives way to sprawling, contemporary interiors, where a killer live music program pulls folks from far and wide. Inspiring mid-week pub hangs and late-night revelry in equal measure, it's a space just as well suited to low-key pizzas and jugs, as to that 3am, DJ-driven dance floor session. Add in this whisky and beer match, and you're in for a night of full-frontal merriment.

Learn more about why whisky and beer go so well together, and get yourself down to one of these Melbourne haunts for an Auchentoshan & Ale.