Every six months or so the kids at Dulcie’s Kings Cross create a new cocktail each for the seasonal menu. They then invite the Quaffing Club - regular bar-flys and industry supporters of the bar - to meet and test the new flavours and give our expert option on whether we think the latest inventions pass muster. We are not at liberty to discuss the members or rules of the club, but let’s just say we all know our vermouth from our liqueur and leave it at that.

Late last year Co-owner Brandon Martignago and his crew - Rhiannon, Renae, Mydear and Thomas - decided to put out the next new cocktail challenge to the rest of the Australian Mixology community, in the form of a cocktail competition titled ‘The Australian Coupe’.  Created to celebrate Aussie hospitality and to encourage good old Aussie spirit(s) in what had otherwise been a very dismal year for the hospitality industry.

The sweet, sweet prize was $500 in cash to the winning bartender AND the chance to have said cocktail featured with their own credit on Dulcie’s Summer menu.

Coupled with lots of runner-up booty from a generous contingent of nationwide distillers & merchants including: Four Pillars, Never Never, Wolf Lane, Adelaide Hills, Starward, Mr Black, 7k Distillery, Distillery Botanica, Brix and Cerbaco - wholesalers of: Hartshorn Distillery, Taylor & Smith, Backwoods, Prohibition, Melbourne Gin Company, Tiny Bear and Maidenii .

Entries were sought from bartenders across Australia and Dulcie’s partnered with some of the best bars in the country to host and judge local heats, including the wonderful folk at Bad Frankies in Victoria, Gold Bar in Tasmania, Hains & Co in South Australia and Saville Row in Queensland.

The judges were primarily looking for a cocktail that used Australian spirits and produce, something that went beyond just the hero ingredients. Creators were expected to connect with their local distilleries and producers and create something really true blue. Unbridled creativity and experimentation with different flavours and textures were encouraged to create the next Aussie classic. The competition was open to anyone from any skill level. Previous entrants in other comps or first timers, Dulcie’s were after those who could shake or stir a good drink and were passionate about home grown produce.

We were lucky enough to attend the Grand Final at Dulcie’s on a wet Sunday night in the Cross, which has no bearing on your evening when your in a subterranean bar, but only later when you emerge smashed at midnight for the walk home!

A fun night ensured with MC Dan Ritchie from The Gidley, attempting to keep the audience - all industry - and the three judges Ally Ayres - Head Distiller and co-founder of Karu distillery and Andrew Milne, the whiskey guy at Southtrade and Brandy - in-line!

Sitting behind the judges table proved to be an excellent choice as we got to sample the competing cocktails as they were created by the talented Dulcie’s crew. Sourcing all the ingredients for each drink proved to be a challenge for Thomas Joseph – head barman at Dulcie’s. The crew from Brix Distillers were also in the house and shouting shots of their latest batch of Urban Cane rum for guests at regular intervals.

Live video feeds from around Australia allowed the in-house audience and those streaming to view the making of each cocktail by each entrant in their very own bar. Thanks to the wonders of technology and having the multi-talented Josh Raymond as your bestie:) Some great stories were behind the entries and it was fun to see all the bar interiors – even though the filming-in-daylight situation felt completely unnatural!

We want to say a big thanks to Dulcie’s for a great night and providing the industry with something to look forward too in a year of cancellations.

You can now try the winners for yourself on the summer menu at the bar over the next few months.

Cheers to Aussie spirits!

Winners of The Australian Coupe 2020

1st Place: Cameron Abercrombie from Zaab Street Food with The Sesh - Four Pillars Olive Leaf Gin, Pennyweight Fino Sherry, Clarified Mango Juice, Soda Water, Geraldton Wax Tincture and Saline.


2nd Place: Oisín Conneely from Black Pearl with Tortuga - Never Never Triple Juniper, Unico Yuzu Vermouth, Never Never x Black Pearl Juniper Amaro, Marionette Curaçao and Rock Candy.

3rd Place Oska Whitehart from Bad Frankie Bar with No Hat, No Play - Okar Tropic, Gospel straight rye, My Brother honey liqueur and a dash batch aromatic bitters.

Wildcard: Lucas Aquino with Very Best in a Red Can

Finalists in The Australian Coupe 2020

VICTORIA
Oska Whitehart with No Hat, No Play
Oisín Conneely with Tortuga

TASMANIA
Bella Byrne with Island Daze
Campbell Nicol with Sunday Prayer

QUEENSLAND
Kuda Padya with Queen’s Tincture
Brennen Eaton with That's Gold!

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Cameron Abercrombie with The Sesh

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Hayley Jones with Purple Rain
Josh Mack with Through the Grapevine

NEW SOUTH WALES
Jade Oduro with The Blacker the Berry
Shayde O'Casey with Australia Street

THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
Lucas Aquino with Very best in a red can
Declan Coffey with Ho Chi Minh Sling

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Thomas Brien with Gumeracha Colab
Matty Bodycote with Menta Australis

All photo credits | Josh Raymond