I’m not really much of a vodka drinker (unless I’m at Borsch, Vodka and Tears). After too many misspent evenings as a teen fueled by vodka (not underage… promise) I struggle to associate it with anything but Smirnoff double blacks and vodka-diet coke mixes.
But after a particularly long week Fire Drum Vodka’s Pop Up Bar sounded like the ideal way to spend a Friday night.
Fire Drum Vodka is the newest Australian vodka to hit the market, brewed at a distillery in Tasmania.
Fitzroy warehouse space Midnight City hosted the Pop Up Bar and provided a concrete and brick backdrop.
During the day Midnight City is a custom motorcycle workshop/creative design space and there were even a couple of bikes on hand to admire.
As for the vodka – bartenders mixed up dangerously good Fire Drum Vodka cocktails and martinis. I usually steer clear of vodka based drinks but these went down a treat – and at a very reasonably $15 a little too easily…
The menu was drawn from some of Melbourne’s best bars including Seamstress, Captain Baxter and Eau De Vie.
The Last Bastian from Bar Ampere was my preferred drink for the evening – a potent combination of Fire Drum Vodka, Cocchi Americano, honeycomb syrup and absinthe.
And if there was any danger of falling asleep too early in the night, Loop Roof‘s Espresso Martini (Fire Drum Vodka, maraschino liquor, white cacao and espresso) made sure we were alert and awake for another round (or three).
Of course it can’t truly be a Melbourne event without a food truck and Lil’ Nom Noms was on hand to serve Vietnamese inspired street food.
My vodka verdict for the evening: I may have to rethink my stance on vodka for Fire Drum. This is a good one.
WHERE TO FIND THE FIRE
Fire Drum Vodka Stockists
firedrumvodka.com
A Melbournite 
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