Fever-Tree’s Gin and Tonic Festival is heading north to Brisbane this September for a weekend of juniper-fuelled fun. The second stop on the festival’s national tour, and the first of its kind in Brisbane, Fever-Tree’s Gin and Tonic Festival will offer G&T lovers the opportunity to explore the ever-evolving world of gin and tonic, while sitting pretty on Howard Smith Wharves, beneath the iconic Story Bridge. Local and international distillers will make appearances, including Aussie favourites Four Pillars Gin, Archie Rose Distilling Co. and Never Never Distilling Co, and local distillers Wolf Lane Distillery and Sunshine & Sons. After appetites are sufficiently whetted, festival-goers can tuck into an array of food options from the HSW restaurants (our eyes are on Greca) and enjoy entertainment from local DJs and acoustic performers. The festival runs from Thursday, September 2 – Sunday, September 5, grab your tickets for $65 from here.

This winter we’re shirking bottomless brunch for something a little heartier – bottomless Sunday roast. The first of its kind in Melbourne, Richmond-based Mr Joe exchanges the traditional version of the oft over-simplified pub roast for something a little more contemporary in the izakaya-inspired space. Over two hours, guests can dive into a seven-dish feast, accompanied by unlimited cocktails, beer and sparkling. The meal kicks off with fresh bread with whipped ricotta and a fiery sauce made from red peppers, then an Asian-style lamb rib dish – sous vide for 17 hours for ultimate falling-off-the-bone tenderness. Also on the agenda is a roasted lamb shoulder, grilled wagyu rump, smoked wagyu beef brisket with Texas-style dry rub, Berkshire pork belly, and an array of caramelised, crispy, seasonal vegetables. While it’s not your typical English fare, it’s just as warming, and the perfect solution to the Sunday scaries. Book in now for $72 between 1pm and 3pm every Sunday here.

Young Henrys are going vintage with the launch of their 18-year-old Australian Whisky, Ramblin Man. One of the oldest whiskeys in Australia, Ramblin Man was born in Tasmania, and re-barrelled in Australian Apera Sherry casks at Young Henrys headquarters in Newtown, before finally being bottled by hand in November 2018. This nifty whisky has done more travelling than most Australians in the last year, and we for one are more than happy to live vicariously through the rare distillation. Ramblin Man has a nose of citrus, orange zest, burnt brown sugar, raisin, walnut and honey, with a balanced palate of malty cereal, marmalade and chewy caramel. The sweet spices and fruitiness give it a thick and chewy viscosity, and a pleasantly drawn-out finish. You’ll need to get in quick if you want to snag one of the 381 individually numbered bottles, grab yours now here.

Koko Black is single-handedly saving lockdown with the launch of its limited edition hot chocolate collection. The Melt Away with Chocolate range is all about indulgence, and includes a salted caramel hot chocolate, a chocolate and espresso mocha blend and a chilli hot cocoa. Call yourself a chocolate connoisseur? You’ll want to get your hands on the coveted Hot Chocolate Bombs DIY kit containing half domes of chocolate filled with marshmallows, which is melted with a pour-over of Koko Black’s signature hot chocolate recipe. Buy yours online at here.

A brand new wine bar has opened in the heart of Ainslee, from the team behind Canberra institution, Edgar’s Inn. Wakefield’s Bar & Wine Room should shoot to the top of the ‘to visit’ list of everyone in the nation’s capital (after lockdown, of course), boasting an intimate, warmly-lit space with a host of Australian wines on offer, plus a menu built around local produce and suppliers. Live entertainment from around the ACT is set to book out the bar, providing a representative slice of Australian hospitality. Stylish cocktails balance a refined but abundant menu by Head Chef Steven Jacomos. Highlights include crumpets with smoked trout and bottarga, hand-rolled pasta, and a classic Parisian apple tarte tatin. Be sure to swing by for a visit when restrictions ease.

Champagne lovers rejoice – Maison Perrier-Jouët has released the 2013 Vintage of their celebrated Belle Epoque cuvée. The limited edition drop spent six years aging in the Perrier-Jouët cellars in Épernay, and showcases the distinctive quality of the vineyard. Made from a blend of grand cru Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and 5% Meunier, the lustrous gold Champagne is described by cellar master Severine Frerson as having “subtle hints of apple green” and notes of “ripe pear, grapefruit zest, ginger, tangerine and a hint of green pepper. The celebrated Vintage is available for $349.99 at Dan Murphy’s or Vintage Cellars now.

If you’re anything like us, the answer to lockdown is cake, and the answer to the easing of restrictions is also cake. Our suggestion? Melbourne-based cake couturier, Chic de Partie. Founder Aiden Robinson – a former pastry chef at Dinner by Heston – started Chic de Partie during Melbourne’s first lockdown last year. Originally existing as a service for neighbours in his apartment building, the overwhelmingly positive reception lead Aiden to launch an online cake business open to all of Melbourne. Chic de Partie’s designer creations include cakes, tarts and elaborate desserts all dressed to the nines, with fan favourites including macaron cakes, a ‘boozy brioche’ and tiered celebration cakes (we love the pink vanilla, strawberry and rose). For the dreamiest of bespoke cakes, direct message Aiden here (and save us a slice).