Bar Planet’s Harrison Kenney reached deep into his memories of Christmas and summer to create our new twinset of bottled cocktails, which also reflect the Bar Planet approach - drinks that aren’t tricky, refined or serious, but “taste as good at midday as midnight. So what exactly inspired the Cherry Daisy and Sunshine Martini? Read on below.

What interested you and Bar Planet in collaborating with Archie Rose?

I visited Archie Rose at the beginning of the year and had a fantastic experience. At Bar Planet we look in our own backyard to find and tell the stories of people who make Australia’s best spirits, grow Australia’s weirdest fruit, or ferment Australia’s most delicious wines. We’re putting producers on pedestals and sharing the details that make the people and the things they make special.

How did you approach this Christmas cocktail brief?

All I needed to do was reflect on past Christmas seasons spent at home, the inspiration is all there. It couldn’t have been any other flavours for me, I just needed to look at it through the kaleidoscopic lens of Bar Planet to bring it to life.

How do you feel about bottled cocktails, in general?

They feel like a recent novelty but they’ve been around for 100 years. I love the large-format, it’s low maintenance and makes for a shared communal experience, you can transport them easily to parties or picnics, or you can just keep them stored at home for the perfect opportunity, ideally in the freezer!

How do you feel about Christmas, in general?

Eating and drinking together was a big part of my upbringing, this is still a tradition we uphold today, it’s easy to be over-sentimental about Christmas, in reality it’s a time to gather, eat, drink, laugh and gossip. The greatest gift is time spent with family and friends.

How would you describe your approach to cocktail making at Bar Planet?

Bar Planet drinks aren’t tricky, clear, elegant, refined or serious. They are an almost memory, a drink that tastes as good at midday as midnight, a drink that makes sense, all the good stuff and nothing else, they are understandable, but surprising.

Let’s talk through each cocktail:

Sunshine Martini

Can you describe the R&D process behind this cocktail?

Perfect for midnight.

How did you land on the combo of ingredients?

The idea is that using both chamomile and pineapple together totally captures the essence of the sunny side of life. Sunshine, the most precious gold on earth.

Can you describe how it tastes?

Of eternal sunshine!

What kind of occasion can you imagine customers drinking this cocktail at?

Pulled out ice cold at a dinner party! Hand it around the table and pour over ice.

How did you find working with the Archie Rose Sunrise Lime Gin Harvest 2020 in this cocktail? What characters stood out to you?

I found the flavours particularly herbaceous, fresh mowed grass whilst simultaneously reminiscent of peeling fresh oranges, plenty of zest, a beautiful representation of diverse Australian citrus!

Cherry Daisy

Can you describe the R&D process behind this cocktail?

Perfect for midday.

How did you land on the combo of ingredients?

I will forever associate Christmas with cherries, sour ones in pies, darker ones for jams, every single one eaten out the box tastier and riper than the last. It was a no brainer really, It’s combined with some celery distillate, celery has a flavour I’ve become very familiar with, together it has a delightfully earthy and fruity weirdness that aligns well with our approach of unexpected flavour combinations at Bar Planet.

Can you describe how it tastes?

Naturally sour and tongue tyingly tart!

What kind of occasion can you imagine customers drinking this cocktail at?

The beauty of both of these cocktails is that they are perfect for any occasion, in saying that the Cherry Daisy would be particularly perfect for Christmas Day, you can top it with soda to extend the serve and make it light, bubbly and refreshing, finish on a Martini in the evening!

How did you find working with the Archie Rose Lemon Scented Gum Gin Harvest 2021 in this cocktail? What characters stood out for you?

The flavours are so nostalgic, hot Aussie summer, I thought about how it would sip on the sand, on the grass, or in your home!