Canberra is a lucky little city this year. It has been good and it has got everything it wanted for Christmas. We have been blessed with an explosion of bars recently in just enough time for summer. Everywhere you look cocktails are springing up, sitting tantalizingly on bar tops and intriguing the money right out of our wallets. Try some of these bars and train your eye to the more complicated part of the menu.
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The Swedish Maid is simple and sweet.
You can find this sugary cocktail and a few of her cocktail friends at the Mint Bar over at Gorman House. A bit further up from Civic and a bit to the side of Braddon the Mint Bar occupies its own little space with its fellow herb, the popular Sage Restaurant. If you like mint you will like each of the items on the cocktail menu.
The Cheshire Cat is a cocktail with a cheeky grin.
A little bit of this and a few drops of that, this is a complicated mix and a sly drink. A natural choice at the White Rabbit, fans of Alice in Wonderland are in good company amongst these cocktails.
The Aviator keeps its cards close to the vest.
Like many of Molly’s cocktails the ingredients are not immediately apparent in either the menu or the drink, instead you get a mini story, a show of making it and a resulting martini glass with light purple liquid that has a faint taste of orange.
The Regent Martini for a classy drop.
I’ve had a few of the cocktails at Hippo Co , it’s hard to choose between so many tasty glassfuls, sometimes the less complicated the better.
The Chilli Cucumber Margarita is cold spice.
However if you’re looking for a kick with your summertime cool down take a chance with Hippo Co cucumber and hellfire cocktail.
The Hemingway Daiquiri mixes the old-world into a glass.
With the lamented closure of the Rum Bar it’s good to know that someone still knows about Rum. Highball Express is a fancy white bar oozing class from the floor above Smith’s.
Sangria is a summer favourite.
Luckily it is one you can get at several bars, either white, red or sparkling depending on your preference and a sneaky bit vodka or other spirit to the set the afternoon or night off right. Honkytonks , King O’ Malley’s and Shorty’s all have their own version.
Canberra is serving up some cool drinks this summer with all sorts of tastes and garnishes, artistic and delicious they are made to be enjoyed.
