What makes the Brisbane bar scene different with Jacob Cohen and Charlie Hunter
There’s a reason why Brisbane bartenders are sought after by bars in other states.
The three day festival of all things bartending and drinks, Bartenders’ Weekender, is happening next month in Brisbane. It’s on from the 15th to the 17th of June, you can see the those events on the timetable now at bartendersweekender.com. There are also links to RSVP to events — I would get those RSVPs now, because spaces are limited. Hit bartendersweekender.com now to plan your schedule, and keep an eye out for tickets to the Better Bars Summit, which go on sale this week.
I recorded today’s episode of Drinks At Work up in Brisbane last week — I was up there talking all things Bartenders’ Weekender, and trying to get an idea of what marks Brisbane out as different in the Australian bartending scene. If you ask me, it’s the bartenders — they have a genuine warmth and laidback feel to what they do, but that doesn’t mean the drinks and service are anything other quality. I really do think there’s a good reason why so many Brisbane bartenders are headhunted by bars in the southern states.
I spoke with a few people up there, but this episode is with Charlie Hunter, who is about to open new bar Dark Blue in Fortitude Valley, and with Jacob Cohen, the long serving boss of Savile Row and someone who thinks deeply about the bar world.
We also talked about what they’ve got planned for Bartenders’ Weekender, what their bars are all about, and a whole bunch more.
In the next few weeks, we’ll also hear from George Curtis up there in Brisbane, he’s the owner behind Before + After and Milquetoast (a bar that is getting a lot of attention in Brisbane right now). And I also talk to Martin Lange, a longtime stalwart of the Brisbane scene, owner of Death & Taxes, Cobbler, Dr. Gimlette, and Antico, the best new bar of 2024.
(Just a quick side note: I had the chance to drink two rare Martin Lange-made Daiquiris, and the old boy has still got it.)
I also speak to Samuel Russ, who is the general manager of the award-winning Frogs Hollow Saloon, so keep an eye out for those episodes in the lead to Bartenders’ Weekender.
And don’t forget to check out the timetable at bartendersweekender.com and RSVP now.