The Burnley Is Richmond's New 1500-Square-Metre Drive-Thru Bottle Shop

This pandemic sure hasn't dampened our appetite for booze, but it has left some of us feeling a little iffy about enclosed spaces filled with other shoppers. So, now seems like the ideal time to welcome Richmond's newest purveyor of alcoholic delights, drive-through craft bottle shop The Burnley.

Launching this Friday, August 14, the venue is the work of Liquor Masters and clocks in at a hefty 1500 square metres. The site boasts a boutique bottle shop stocked with an expansive range of goodies, heroing lots of local, independent producers. There's a drive-through space for the grab-and-go crowd, as well as a tasting room that'll play host to a year-round calendar of booze-focused events, post-COVID-19. Think, cocktail making masterclasses, spirit appreciation sessions, weekend Meet The Maker tastings and more. Once gatherings are back on the menu, you'll be able to hire out this space for your own events, too.

And there's plenty more to look forward to, with an onsite pizzeria and beer garden bar also in the planning stages.

The Burnley is positioning itself as a one-stop-shop for all kinds of drinkers, from the craft beer aficionado hunting this season's must-try NEIPA to the novice wino looking for that reasonably priced local chardonnay. On the shelves, you'll find a diverse mix of familiar local names and international drops — beers from the likes of Boatrocker, Stomping Ground and Hop Nation; vinous treats from the Yarra Valley's Rob Dolan and low-intervention label Minimum Wines; and a spirits collection showcasing everything from some Guatemalan Ron Botran rum through to small-batch gin from Hobart distillery Taylor & Smith.

Under current stage four restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne, you can only travel up to five kilometres from your home for shopping and exercise. So, if you're don't live near Richmond, you'll need to wait to visit The Burnley post-lockdown.

Find The Burnley by the Liquor Masters at 161 Burnley St, Richmond, from August 14. It'll be open from 10am–8pm daily.