In another totally run of the mill absurdity from your old pals at Curatif, we’ve discovered the link between Marlon Brando and Leonardo da Vinci. In a nutshell – or an apricot shell if you will – in 1525, one of da Vinci’s talented students, Bernardino Luini, was gifted a bottle of a liqueur that was made from ground up bitter apricot kernels, with the additional of almonds, vanilla, and sugar. The liqueur was called Amaretto, which translates as ‘a little bit bitter’. Commercial production of the liqueur commenced in the 1800s by the Reina family, who still make Disaronno to this day. The Reina family, also make the claim that Marlon Brando’s favourite drink was The Godfather, some combination of whiskey and amaretto – we prefer a half-half but don’t let us tell you how to live your life. They take the claim so far as to say that Brando himself invented it and that it was the popularity of the movie that then supported the popularity of the cocktail from the early 1970s.

We decided to make things a little bit more interesting by levelling the cocktail up into a sour format, with the inclusion of the incredible Solera Rye whiskey from our friends at Gospel, some fresh lemon, a load of nitrogen, and a squidge of ango bitters. The result is charmingly textural and interesting with all of the nostalgic and playful confected tones of amaretto that are beautifully contrasted by the graceful and stately elements of rye whiskey. Served with a hard shake, ice cold, this simply is a cocktail you cannot refuse.

130ml

1.6 standards 

15.8% ABV

Zero to Tipsy in 3 Sips

Buckle up, because this drink isn’t here to be sweet. It’s all gas, no brakes—just like that wild night you’ll try to forget. Powered by a fierce combo of Plantation 3 Star Rum, Cherry and Fresh Lime, the Ferrari Cocktail hits hard and leaves no room for hesitation. Sweet? Yes. Sour? Yes. Regrets? Probably. But hey, if you’re looking for something mild, maybe try a juice box instead. This cocktail is for the bold (and a little reckless). Vroom vroom, baby! 

130ml

2.0 Standards

20% ABV

"On Wednesdays, We Sip Pink"

Just like the Plastics, this drink is pretty, but it packs a punch. Old Youngs Pavlova Vodka, Hibiscus and Cranberry means sweet on the outside, a little tart on the inside—don’t be fooled by the pink color. One sip, and you’re ready to rule the Burn Book... or at least the bar. So, whether you’re wearing pink or throwing shade, this cocktail is your new bestie (but only if you can sit with us)

130ml

1.6 Standards

16% ABV

Murder. By those you least suspect. Charming and benign, a friend to most. A kindly elder character in the lexicon of stone fruits, Apricot delights as a charismatic and engaging stone fruit. Brought to life by our great friends at Joseph Cartron who hand select the ripest, most succulent apricots to macerate (steep in high proof spirit), then filter and blend with cognac (a distilled grape spirit popular amongst rappers and wrappers [our illustrious fulfilment team]). The result is a delectable apricot brandy, full flavoured and sweet, but this kindly old lady didn't turn up to the knife fight with her handbag, she's a deadset killer. Apricot kernels are a source of cyanide. Yes, the cyanide that old timey characters use to murder their errant husbands or neighbour gossips. In fact, the sale of raw apricot kernels is banned in Australia so as to make sure you don't accidentally become an Agatha Christie extra. What's that all got to do with Harvest? Three fifths of stuff-all. Just fun apricot facts. The cocktail? Oh that's awesome, it's big bold apricot, reminiscent of after-school snacks, even more-so with the inclusion of quintessential cognac layering a veil of ripe sultana over the honeyed stone-fruit, but wait there's a knock on the door and a slash of the saline citric gravity of marsh grapefruit, the apricot falls where it lays, on either side of the palate as the citrus and proofed bitters slinks from the scene.

130ml 

1.6 Standards

15% ABV

"Raise a Glass to the Greatest"

A drink so good, it deserves its own standing ovation. The Tribute Cocktail is here to celebrate legends—whether it's your best friend, your mom, or that guy who finished an entire pizza by himself. With each sip of Appleton Estate Signature Rum, Chambord, Fresh Pineapple, Coconut and Lime juice, you’ll taste the flavours of greatness (and maybe a little too much self-confidence). With a flutter of gold flakes, It’s smooth, bold, and just like the person you're toasting to, impossible to forget. Cheers to them, but also cheers to you, because you’ve got excellent taste in cocktails.

130ml

1.1 Standards

22.3% ABV

Cocktail design at Curatif is, in a word, chaotic. Mind you, that is how it should be - sometimes we set out to create something, and there's just a thread of this other thing that could make this thing we're doing just right. So it was with the Grand Mandarin. Initially we started out with the intention of crafting a Grand Margarita (Reposado Tequila, Grand Marnier, Lime), but we got stuck in a loop on Grand Marnier and Mandarin Napoléon (similar liqueurs with cognac bases, Marnier utilising Seville Oranges and Napoléon using Sicilian Mandarins), the discussion around Mandarin(s) progressed and we found that the more we explored mandarin, the more we found the aromatics of mandarin to be better suited to the perfumed and floral elements of gin rather than tequila. We had the thread.

To start with, this cocktail is boozy. Tipping the scales at 25% plus alc/vol, this fridge pocket-rocket isn't messing around. So drink it cold, drink it over ice. Secondly, and if you don't mind us saying so, this is a clever cocktail. You're going to find all sorts of elements - candied juniper and intriguing Mandarin notes, dulcet grapefruit, some subtle, some bold, all balanced. If you've made it all the way here, have a fact that thankfully we double-checked before we backed it in as true (because it may not be).-the Mandarin was named after the Mandarin officials of the Imperial Chinese Court, as it was introduced to European trade, and language, in the early 19th century via trade with China.

130ml 

2.6 Standards

25.6% ABV

Whilst it may appear from the outside that we operate the sort of enterprise that lends itself to being under the influence much of the time, we can also - from time to time - be influenced as well as be under the influence. We spotted a cocktail on an insta channel recently that caught our interest, and so now here we are, under the influence, being influenced, influencing you dear reader, until you are in some way or another under our influence.

Rye Whiskey can be challenging. It's a bold spirit that has a commanding flavour profile. Achieving popularity in the U.S. in the 18th century, rye has seen a resurgence among bartenders for its characteristic spicy and robust palate profile. Which is how we ended up here -  originally printed in Patrick Gavin Duffy's 1934 "Official Mixers Manual", the Blinker is a combination of Rye Whisky - we've included the incredibly crafted Solera Rye from our Melbourne mates at Gospel - which imparts a delectable and moreish saline, salty element, with Tommy's Lampone - another made-in-Melbourne delight, and our go-to citrus at the moment, which happens to be Ruby Red Grapefruit. With something to discover every time you go back to the glass, this Blinker is enjoyed over large ice in a double rocks glass whilst staring into the distance.

130ml

2.1 Standards

20.4% ABV