World class cocktail week returns [7-13 May]

The annual World Class Cocktail Week returns to Australia this May, with seven days of masterclasses, tastings and tutorials by some of Australia’s best bartenders and chefs. 

Celebrating its biggest showing yet with over 100 experiences across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, the event runs from 7-13 May, culminating on World Cocktail Day.

Melbourne offers forty bespoke cocktail experiences including a journey through the world of whisky at 1806, a luxury boat cruise with a three-course feast by Vaporetto Bar & Eatery and a cocktail-matched, five-course degustation at Hochi Mama. Melbournians can learn how to use native Australian ingredients in cocktails at Bad Frankie, taste ‘Seven Cocktails in Seven Days’ at The Ugly Duckling and celebrate the Negroni at Nieuw Amsterdam.

World Class Cocktail Week will also see two of Australia’s most acclaimed bars swap residence for two nights. Bartenders from Melbourne’s Black Pearl will trade places with the team from Sydney’s Bulletin Place, celebrating the close bond between the two bars - Bulletin Place’s founders, Adi Ruiz, Tim Phillips and Robb Sloan, became friends while working at Black Pearl and have retained that sense of comradery in their staff.

Gastrologies were pleased to attend an exclusive and intimate preview of World Class Cocktail Week on 3 May at 1806 where we enjoyed a stunning five-course meal with matching cocktails.

1806, one of Melbourne’s best bars was the perfect backdrop.

We loved tasting our way through the five-course meal by Chef Nuno Gabriel, designed to encourage the exploration of new flavours.

On arrival we enjoyed an amuse bouche, combining beef tartare and pickled onion, which was sous-vide with Tanqueray gin. 

Our favourite course was the wild, smoked pumpkin, wild rice and porcini biscuit matched with a heady turmeric infused Don Julio Reposado, Grapefruit, Almond and Lime. DELICIOUS!

The evening concluded on a sweet note with Birds Nest Quince, Pear, Pine Nuts and Pistachio matched with a decadent cocktail - Coconut infused Johnnie Walker Gold Reserve, Orange & thyme Oleo Saccharum, Chocolate Bitters and Campfire Smoke. 

Find out more about  World class cocktail week on www.broadsheet.com.au/worldclass or join the conversation on social media at #worldclassdrinking and @worldclassdrinking