Raising the bar

ROCK THE JOINT

If you recognise the name Vasco Rossi, then you know your international rock and roll stars. Rossi is Italy’s answer to Bon Jovi. Named after the Italian singer-songwriter, Sydney’s latest watering hole, Vasco, isn’t a singular tribute to this rock star but more of a general homage to the who’s who in the rock and roll pantheon. Cue songs by the likes of Eric Clapton and Bruce Springsteen, dark walls bearing the vibe of an underground studio, and cocktails (from A$15) like the Hendrix Experience, a potent concoction of Hendrick’s Gin, Lillet Blanc, clove syrup and chilli, and the Vasco Spritzer, a blend of Cinzano, Aperol, prosecco and Tosolini fragolino. Rock acolytes cum bartenders Max Greco and Luke Ashton are decked out in the appropriate fashion of loud tees and scruffy denims, while Gr

eco’s brother, Claudio, helps out in the kitchen with Fabricio Campos, churning out Italian bites (from A$12) like pasta Bolognese and lasagne.

421 Cleveland St, Surry Hills, New South Wales 2016. Tel: +61 406 775 436

SCOTCH DEN
Find it The whisky bar boom shows no signs of abating. The WOW (World of Whisky), located in Mövenpick Heritage Hotel Sentosa’s revamped Heritage Wing, offers more than 250 choices of single malt whiskies in an interior of wood-lined floors and plush couches.

Cool fact The WOW is affiliated to the Waldhaus am See St. Moritz, a Switzerland-based hotel, whose bar holds the Guinness World Record’s honour of having the world’s largest whisky collection: over 3,500 malts.

Choice picks Rare golden spirits to add to your collection include the Glenfiddich 33 Year Old ($2,860), a private vintage bottling for Claudio Bernasconi (the Waldhaus am See St. Moritz’s whisky bar owner) and the Glenlivet 14 Year Old 1996 Cask Strength Edition ($305). On the last Friday of every month, a whisky-pairing dinner will be held in the bar’s exclusive dining room. 23 Beach View, Sentosa. Tel: 6818 3327

Excerpt from the February 2013 issue of epicure.