A tipple back in time

EXPLORE cocktails of a bygone era this month at Kilderkin Distillery as part of the Ballarat Heritage Festival.

The community is invited to take a trip back in time and discover the history of cocktails and make two of their own.

Kilderkin’s gin and whisky will be used by participants in the cocktails and attendees are encouraged to wear cravats, parasols or historical accessories.

“It is an event where we are showcasing our products and the way they would have been used between 1850 and the 1920s and 30s,” said Martin Tong, venue manager at Kilderkin Distillery.

“It is a bit of an educational exploration into how distilling was done in those days.

“We’ll look at the history of gin and whisky in the Ballarat region and progress to making our own cocktails.”

Mr Tong said it is important to reflect on the origins of alcohol production in the region.

“It’s great to look at where Ballarat fits into the heritage and history of alcohol production,” he said.

“There was a distillery in Warrenheip and it was the biggest in the state in the nineteenth century.”

It is hoped the session will also encourage participants to make their own creations at home.

“I hope participants get a better sense of how cocktails are designed and put together and can make some better drinks at home,” said Mr Tong.

The sessions will be on Saturday 18 May and Friday 24 May. To book a ticket, visit the Kilderkin Distillery website.