May 15, 2018May 15, 2018 by Helen Le

The Emerald Peacock

After dinner with the lovely Bearabbit, Tim.E and their partners recently we decided to find a bar for some drinks. Davin and I have been to Emerald Peacock on many occasions in the past but it sure has been a while! Nothing however seems to have really changed. The area is quite spacious and the decor still included lots of velvet chairs, retro wallpaper and chandeliers.

We headed straight up to the rooftop bar but it was so packed and noisy, there was nowhere to sit so we went back downstairs where it was a lot dimmer and found a lovely, intimate empty section which was kind of closed off by curtains. We thought the area was reserved for VIP guests but were told by a worker that we could use the space. WINNING! We had the whole room to ourselves for a while until other people discovered it!

Table service is provided here although we didn’t realise that at the start and went straight to the bar to order some drinks. Davin and I ordered the Bowmore 15 and Glenlivet 18, both neat. The Bowmore 15 was nice but I liked the taste of the Glenlivet more as it had more complexity to it.

Overall, having that section to ourselves made it a great place to catch up. It is quite dark downstairs and hard to see, and it can get very noisy particularly upstairs so I think seating location there is important when finding a nice spot to have a few drinks and chat.

The Emerald Peacock
Address: 233 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: +61 9654 8680
Website: theemeraldpeacock.com

March 27, 2018May 6, 2018 by Davin Lee

Whisky & Alement

Bringing you guys something a little different today…. a whisky bar review! I had been coming to Whisky & Alement for a number of years now, even back to when they were called ‘Chez Regine’. Whisky & Alement have really expanded their whisky range throughout the years, and have always been one of the go to places in Melbourne for one’s malt addiction.

It’s an intimate affair inside Whisky & Alement. It’s a small space with close and limited seating. The chances of getting a seat is higher if you come in a small group, be prepared to wait or get relegated to the smokers area if you come with a bigger group. I’ve made this mistake before, and this made me feel quite claustrophobic. Luckily on this particular occasion, it was just myself and Helen so we were able to get a spot at the bar straight away.

Their whisky range here is massive, and can be very overwhelming. Most whisky drinkers will have a country and region which they prefer, and their menu does cater for this in order to make your selection easier. Anyone that’s new to the game can ask the bartender to recommend a single malt and they’ll be more than happy to pass on their recommendations. I’ve been drinking scotch whisky for over 6 years but I still consider myself a beginner, I have a certain flavour profile which I love and stick to. I prefer peat monsters from Islay, Scotland.

Peat is not to be mistaken with smokey. I would describe the flavour of peat as more of an earthy, soil, decaying vegetation taste. Smokey is like what you’d smell/taste from a burning campfire. Doesn’t sound very appetising does it? Well I can tell you the peaty flavour profile is highly addictive, ever since Helen had started appreciating peaty whiskies, my collection at home has vanished!

On this particular occasion, the drink of choice was Bowmore 15 and Ardbeg Corryvreckan. The dark green Ardbeg bottle always gets me excited, it sends out a message ‘don’t mess with me’, but you gotta live life dangerously sometimes! True to it’s word, when I nosed the Ardbeg, it smacked me in the face! The 57.1% alcohol content is no joke, certainly not for the faint-hearted. I had to put a few drops of water in to tone the beast down, only then was I rewarded. The taste of peat was prominent, along with hints of salt, smoke, and pepper. As good as it was, I personally preferred the Ardbeg Uigeadail, one of my favourite whiskeys of all time. We both didn’t enjoy the Bowmore 15 at all, it was pleasant enough on entry but then it hits you with a strong smokey bitter aftertaste. You win some, you lose some, that’s the beauty of trying whisky at a place like Whisky & Alement, it saves you money from buying a whole bottle!

Overall it was a peaceful Sunday afternoon… you guys may gasp at us for drinking at this time of day, but we would rarely have more than one shot each when we’re at a whisky bar. We drink it really slowly and appreciate every sip, because the intention is not to get drunk, but to enjoy the moment so to speak. The bartenders here are professional as always, they will not bother you if you don’t want to be bothered, but they’ll always welcome whisky talk if you wish to head down that path. I will finish up with a word of caution: the alcohol content is really high in whisky, so make sure you find appropriate transport home if you choose to have more than one shot. Happy whisking!

Whisky & Alement
Approx $20 AUD per person
Address: 270 Russell Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: +61 3 9654 1284
Website: whiskyandale.com.au

April 26, 2017May 6, 2018 by Davin Lee

Arbory Bar & Eatery

Arbory Bar & Eatery is a fantastic place to hang out for some drinks and quality food. It’s located right next to Flinders Street Station – they literally share a fence! Huge savings can be made by not having to take an Uber or taxi home.

Having grown up in Melbourne my whole life, sometimes I forget how lovely our city looks. On the other side is the Yarra River, and the light reflections on the water creates a stunning view. There’s plenty of cover available at Arbory for the constant rain in Melbourne as of late. The bar is fully sheltered with gas heaters scattered around the whole place. In between the gas heaters, are metal barrels with fire breathing out of them, a very cool sight indeed! Another thing that’s striking is just how long this place is, it feels as though you could walk forever till you get to the other end.

The food at Arbory is not what you expect bar food to be. The addition of the word ‘eatery’ in their name should give you an indication that these guys are serious about food! Even though the atmosphere feels casual, the food is restaurant quality. There are smaller items to go with beer and wine, however Helen and I went for the full food experience! We got the New England lobster roll, mushroom & truffle Arancini, white fish ceviche, sirloin steak and a side of chilled green beans. We were off to a flyer with the lobster roll! The lobster was fresh and succulent, mayonnaise was light and delicate, and who can resist a sprinkle of fresh chives. The roll wasn’t overly sweet which was a huge bonus in my books. The sirloin came with a silverbeet tart which was interesting, the horseradish sauce complimented the meat perfectly. It was cooked rare, exactly how we like it. Funny enough, my favourite dish of the night was actually the chilled green beans! These were possibly the best beans I’ve ever had. Perfect crunch, and the Merlot vinegar dressing was just to die for. Along with the feta, mint and almonds, it was a tasty textual delight!

The only little negative thing about Arbory is that it’s so packed! Seems like the whole of Melbourne knows how great they are, and they really swarm here. Fridays after work can be chaotic and finding a table to enjoy dinner could prove difficult. If you’re someone who’s bothered by large crowds, then you may want to avoid coming on Friday and Saturdays. Personally, I will eat standing up if I have to, cause the food is delish!