Five Bars to Seek Out This Summer When Your Unseasonable Craving for Bourbon Strikes
Wondering where you can kick back with a bourbon this summer? We've got you.
Five Bars to Seek Out This Summer When Your Unseasonable Craving for Bourbon Strikes
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Wondering where you can kick back with a bourbon this summer? We've got you.
We're pretty familiar with the drinks that are typically associated with summer: beer, spritzes and, more recently, the rise of the seltzer. And whilst we are big fans of knocking the top off one of these delightful drinks when the mercury rises, sometimes we can't shake our penchant for something a little bolder to hit our tastebuds.
After long days spent sizzling in the searing sunshine, there really is nothing better than a bourbon in hand inside a cool, air-conditioned bar to take the heat off. To make things easier, we've teamed up with Buffalo Trace to help you find a spot to scratch your bourbon itch this summer.
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NOLA Smokehouse and Bar can be found perched above the beautiful stretch of harbourside foreshore at Barangaroo. The interior tips its hat to one of America’s most revered and distinctive cities with hanging basket ferns, wicker chairs and gorgeous wrought iron detailing around the bar.
Cocktails run from well-balanced originals like a bourbon, coffee, coconut and cherry concoction called Buffalo Theory to classics like the evergreen Vieux Carré — named after the city’s famed Old Quarter — and the Sazerac, one of the great gifts New Orleans has given to the world (all $21-23). The back bar also holds an admirably encyclopaedic collection of American whiskies.
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The Gidley is an opulent basement restaurant inspired by old-school New York and London steakhouses from the brains behind venues The Wild Rover and Grandma’s Bar. The subterranean setup means there are no windows and no distracting harbour views at this underground haunt. And the ban on phones at the table plants the drinks firmly in the spotlight.
Head here to soak up the lusciously designed space, which was made to feel like a “rabbit warren” in which you could lose yourself. Split into several rooms, including a lounge, dining area, wine bar and private room, the venue seats about 120 all up. Expect lots of velvet (both drapery and furnishings), along with dark timber veneer, herringbone floors and plush leather lounges — aka all those vintage steakhouse feels.
Image: Dominic Loneragan
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You’ll need to adjust your eyes to the dark underground haze as you descend the stairs at this much-loved Darlinghurst dive bar. At Shady Pines Saloon, one foot will be stomping on the dishevelled peanut shells left on the ground, and the other will be tapping to the timeless twang of Johnny Cash as you make your way to the bar to order some of the best bourbon in Sydney.
This American-themed saloon also has a range of boutique beers and cocktails that you can enjoy with tasty bar snacks, too. And if its a good yarn you’re chasing, the learned bartenders are more than happy to regale you with stories of the perfect whisky.
Image: Leticia Almeida
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There’s a lot to love about Websters — the laidback Newtown local is the perfect place for a few sunset pints, and its whisky list is enough to make a Scotsman weep into his Bruichladdich. But the thing that keeps us coming back to this iconic venue is the wings. Here, they’re done in a classic American style: thickly coated in a mix of Frank’s hot sauce, butter and a touch of honey, then served with blue cheese sauce and celery sticks. In other words, they’re spicy, savoury and incredibly moreish.
Stop in and line your stomach on the bar’s rooftop before a big night out in Newtown.
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Head to Stanley Street in Darlinghurst to immerse yourself in this New Orleans-inspired and 90s rock-loving cocktail bar. The Big Easy boasts plenty of options to enjoy your bevs at either the downstairs bar, the courtyard, the rooftop terrace and an upstairs lounge.
Fried chicken fiend? These folks are serving up loads of spicy nugs, boneless chicken thighs, chicken tenders and fried cauliflower for your vegan mates. And, it’s all served with delicious hot sauce for you to smother your snacks in for an added kick.
For more information on Buffalo Trace, visit the website or follow on Instagram.
