If you’re into aromatised wines or want to learn more, add Botanik Kyneton to your list. The moody bar and bottle shop showcases the drink’s many faces – from vermouths to amari to aromatised wine-based aperitifs.
To find it, head into the former Royal George Hotel on Kyneton’s main strip, past the eclectic homewares store Kabinett and up the staircase. When you step into the dimly lit space, the first thing you’ll notice is the vintage furniture and verdant plants, some of which owners Melissa Macfarlane and Frank Moylan (Daylesford’s Farmers Arms, North Melbourne’s now-closed The Crimean) also source and sell here.
Head over to the bar to find Botanik’s selection of aromatised wines and liqueurs. You can try them on a tasting flight or pick something from the 30-strong cocktail list, which also has an aromatised wine-lean. There are house creations, classics with a twist and a full page of different types of Negroni. A standout is the house special, The Art of Smoke, for which mezcal verde is mixed with a smoky amaro, green Chartreuse and lime.
There are more than enough supplies to stock up or start your home bar, too. You’ll find glassware, cocktail-making equipment, bitters, tinctures, shrub syrups and vintage cocktail cabinets to store it all in.
If you’re sticking around, the menu includes bite-sized bar snacks that are perfect for pairing with a cocktail. There are olives, bread, and plates of cheese and charcuterie. You can enjoy them out on the balcony, surrounded by the verdant plant life and overlooking Kyneton’s Piper Street.
