From top to bottom shelf: The Odd Fellow Bar Manager Maria Marter shares her go-to tipples

Top shelf

The Spirit: High West Double Rye Whiskey
The Cocktail: Old Fashioned‍

With over 60 whiskeys on the beverage bible to choose from, for Maria the High West Double Rye Whiskey stands out thanks to its unique blend of two straight rye whiskies to give the bottle its distinct flavour. 

“This whiskey is the perfect centrepiece to an old fashioned. Mixed with bitters, sugar and orange rind and served over ice; it’s simple and effective in showcasing the flavours of this whiskey — which is important if you’re going top shelf!” says Maria.

Second Shelf

The Spirit: Cascahuin Blanco Tequila
The Cocktail: Mandarin and Thyme Margarita ‍

Currently trending, the agave movement is seeing some incredible artisan tequilas and mezcals available to mix with, says Maria. Her go-to favourite is Cascahuin, a Mexican producer of artisan tequilas made using a tahona wheel — the traditional method of tequila production.

“Cascahuin Blanco Tequila is my favourite tequila to work with. It’s smooth and you can really taste the difference. I recommend adding it to our mandarin and thyme margarita, which is made with our house-infused thyme tincture and is super refreshing for summer.”  

Third Shelf

The Spirit: Archie Rose White Cane Rum
The Cocktail: Passionfruit Daiquiri‍

Rums hero the third shelf at The Odd Fellow, with dark and exotic blends to choose from. But, contrary to the hype, it’s the Archie Rose White Cane Rum that Maria prefers to blend with. Made in Archie Rose’s Sydney distillery, the spirit is a reimagined Australian spin on a traditional white rum.

“Archie Rose’s new rum range has been great to explore and I’ve found their white cane spirit rum delicious. Personally I’d recommend it in our passionfruit daiquiri, made with lime, sugar and passionfruit pulp for a simple yet really refreshing drink.”

Fourth Shelf

The Spirit: Chita Suntory Whisky 
The Cocktail: Whiskey Highball‍

A smooth and delightful single malt, Maria votes the Chita Suntory as her favourite Japanese whisky on the fourth shelf behind the bar. Mild and smooth with a clean finish, it’s the perfect place to start when it comes to the world of exploring Japanese whiskeys.

“Japan has some incredible whiskeys but some can be a bit pricey, so if you’re looking for a good starting point the Chita Suntory Whisky is your go-to. It’s not too overpowering and will ease you into the world of Japanese whisky drinking — so I recommend serving it simply as a whisky highball topped with soda and a slice of lemon to finish.”

Fifth Shelf

The Spirit: Tanqueray 10 
The Cocktail: Dirty Wet Martini ‍

Despite the many choices on shelf five, Tanqueray 10 was a hands down favourite for Maria as we get down to the classics. Perfect for making her personal favourite drink, dirty wet martini, she says it’s a go-to that every bartender should embrace.

“The classic Tanqueray 10 is always recommended for our martinis at The Odd Fellow. It’s a perfect base to mix vermouth and olive juice, before being stirred down over ice to deliver a delightful and classy martini that’s neatly garnished with an olive or two.” 

Sixth Shelf

The Spirit: Germana Cachaca
The Cocktail: Classic Caipirinha ‍

At arm's length to the mixologists behind the bar, shelf six shouldn’t be mistaken for being boring, says Maria. Her go-to on the shelf is the Cachaca Germana, a delicious cachaca hailing from Brazil — which makes it perfect for a caipirinha.

“The Cachaca Germana is an artisanal cachaca made from all-natural ingredients and you can really taste the difference in the quality. It’s nice and smooth so I like to use it in our classic caipirinha, which is simply made with lime, sugar and crushed ice to deliver an incredibly refreshing tipple.”

Read more about The Odd Fellow bar, arguably Fremantle’s best-kept secret located inside The Norfolk Hotel, at: https://www.norfolkhotel.com.au/