Behind the Bar at three of Melbourne’s Best Whisky Bars

The world has many exceptional whisky bars, and luckily for us, there’s a surprisingly high concentration of them to be found here in Australia, especially in Melbourne. For the Journal this month, we went behind the bar at three of our favourite whisky bars across the Victorian capital, and to be a bit cheeky, we asked the owners to share their favourite Archie Rose whisky with us, too.

The Elysian Whisky Bar, Fitzroy

Owner-Bartenders Kevin Low and Yao Wong have created an incredibly cosy bar with a highly curated selection of whisky inspired by whisky bars they frequent on their travels to Japan. “It’s a classic style because we're not reinventing the wheel serving obscure whiskies, but having a very comfortable environment that allows the guests to sit around for hours as they taste through multiple drams. The service style is very personal and tailored because the whisky selection requires it based on their obscurity,” Wong tells us.

At The Elysian, they rotate through 6-10 new bottles a week, keeping things interesting for regulars. As for their Archie Rose whisky of choice? “I'm a big fan of the new Archie Rose Double Malt Whisky! But as for a special release, the Sandigo Rye is one of my favourites!” Wong shares.

Whisky + Alement, Melbourne CBD

Whisky + Alement is a whisky bar based on pragmatism. Here, whisky is recommended for each person to respond to their preferred flavours or styles. “If they don't know what they're looking for, we put forward the language that everyone can relate to and be intrigued by,” says co-founder Julian White. Their range is also ever-changing, with 10 to 15 new whiskies every week.

Julian says the Archie Rose Rye Malt Whisky is his choice, as it has the versatility to be drunk neat or mixed. “You'd be hard-pressed to find a whisky that can wear the unique flavours of Australian-grown grains and speak of place but still blend perfectly into a Manhattan cocktail without being jarringly out of place. The diversity of flavour when drunk neat is huge, from ginger nut biscuits to cola lollies and caraway-rye bread, it's got it all.”

Beneath Driver Lane, Melbourne CBD

Beneath Driver Lane is a quintessential Melbourne laneway hidden bar, and entry is through a heavy unmarked door with two lights on either side, down a staircase to a huge automatic door that welcomes you. It's quite a dramatic entrance. Owner Hamish Goonetilleke shares, “The floor plan was created from old pictures of blues bars in New Orleans where the floor was jam-packed with small round tables and bentwood chairs, images of guests talking to different tables with a bottle of whisky and the wafts of smoke. The raw brick walls are original from the start of Melbourne as a city when the space was created; the sounds of blues and the sparkle of candles; then looking over to the bar where a wall of 500 whiskies greets you.” Add a distinctive focus on warm, welcoming and attentive service, highly creative and quality cocktails, and live blues four nights a week, and you get one beloved bar.

Their live blues program is curated by Kerrie Morgan, who calls from the best local, national and international talent. “We need forward-driving rock blues on the weekend to create amazing weekend vibes. Thursdays are with Blues Roulette, who essentially do a ‘Blues Jam’ with guests every week, and Wednesdays are funk and soul blues.”

And Hamish’s whisky preference? This year’s Heritage Red Gum Cask Single Malt. “I find this whisky so intriguing. The smoke is the real campfire flavour, unlike the normal peat of ’smoky’ whisky. I also love the story and the historical native Eucalypt barrels used, a true find!”