Taking small bar to a whole new, fully stocked level, Whisky & Alement is an absolute must for any whisky fan in Melbourne. An award winning bar, this small and secluded drinking spot packs a massive punch for its size – from atmosphere to range and bartender knowledge, there’s no denying this has fast become an institution in the Melbourne and Australia’s Whisky bar scene as a whole.

A quintessential whisky bar, Whisky & Alement sits through an unassuming door on the cbd fringe that throughs you straight into the action. The first thing that hits you in this cozy little bar is the sheer amount of whisky – there’s so much of it, if you take a seat at the bar, you’re practically inside the collection as you drink! This is, then, a whiskey lovers dream! A dimly lit space with dark walls and black stools with enough seating for maybe 40 people at most surrounds the star of the show – that spectacular and very well-lit bar.

Not only is there whisky to suit just about any tastebuds on offer, the team have carefully crafted a raft of cocktails and some excellent boilermaker pairings – some unusual and interesting whiskies coupled with different local beers that complement each other on a whole other level. Some bars give you pretzels or peanuts to make you want to keep drinking – this place just gives you more alcohol, with pairings tasting so good you’ll wish you’d savoured it once it’s all gone! The bar also stocks many exclusive whiskies thanks to its partnership with different independent bottlers and a massive collection of Scotch Malt Whiskey Society experimental and limited bottlings, so be sure to try something different while you’re there.

As with any bar of this size, it really is the venue’s team that make it so special. The characteristics or story behind every bottle – no matter what we asked about – was able to be shared with us in depth. The team have some excellent banter and are able to share their extensive knowledge without any of the pretentiousness that often accompanies such an accomplished team. Many bars of this calibre – particularly ones with a larger footprint – can often miss the ability to talk less swanky (without the “s”), but here the knowledge is shared with you and that makes for an absolutely brilliant time.

So no matter what ales you, if you’re a fan of whisky or just keen to learn a thing or two about the golden nectar, head on over to Whisky & Alement and pull up a seat at the bar – you’ll be glad you did!