The gin and tonic. A class drink. Something your grandmother would probably approve of. Hamish Goonetilleke likes gin a lot. He also likes rum a lot… enough to open The Rum Diary on Brunswick Street, but that’s another story for another day.
Today the story is about gin, the wonderfully spicy spirit. Goonetilleke’s new bar – if that is an appropriate name – G&Tea, is serving up gin with different flavours and bite sized treats layered on tiered cake stands. Come to think of it, we think your grandmother would probably approve of this whole situation too.
Found on the corner of Kerr Street and Brunswick Street, G&Tea is a place to spend an afternoon that lingers into an evening. With 80 varieties of gin at the moment, and plans for more, it’s a gin lover’s paradise. Westwinds gin is served with green capsicum, Four Pillars gin is served with thyme and lemon, while Sipsmith gin is served with dandelion tincture and lime.
The cocktails are, as expected, heavy on the gin. The French 750 of quince and green tea laden Bombay Sapphire gin, citrus, and chardonnay is carbonated, bottled, and then served as if it were champagne. It’s a clever play on words as it’s a 750ml ‘good to share’ type cocktail. For those drinking for one, the Earl Negroni is a mixture of Tanqueray gin, Sweet Vermouth, Campari, and earl grey dilution served over hand cut ice with dehydrated orange, and scorched essence.
When there is this much alcohol happening it’s best to order some food as well. It’s all inspired by the concept of gin and high tea. For savoury bites go for the gorgonzola, walnut, and roasted pear tart, or the pork and apple sausage rolls served with a ginger and green tea marmalade. For something traditional (kind of) go for the gin soaked cucumber sandwiches with creamy goat curd. Sweets keep up the boozy theme with the lime and gin lamingtons with coconut cream, and the red velvet cupcakes with juniper buttercream frosting.
You ask your grandmother, we’ll hold the table.
G&Tea
100 Kerr Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
(03) 9417 7574
www.GandTea.com.au
