Struggling to keep up with all the new breweries and distilleries opening across Brisbane these days? Well try to catch up, because another stunning distillery is hitting town and it’s one you’re going to want to pay attention to.
Tucked away in an industrial backstreet behind the XXXX Brewery in Milton is the new Warehouse 25, a multi-level distillery, bar and live music venue opening their doors this weekend, Saturday 7 November. Anyone who’s dabbled in Brisbane’s underground electronica scene might recognise the Finchley Street address—it’s been a secret location for warehouse parties for yonks. A secret no longer, the uber cool space has been transformed into a far more public venue, one that is home to a gin and vodka distillery, a casual bar and pizzeria, an underground function space and a mezzanine dance floor. There’s even plans to add a dedicated bottle shop, making it the ultimate one-stop shop.
For anyone stopping by for a drink and a bite to eat, the ground level is where you’ll want to find a perch, either outside in the lane under twinkling fairy lights or inside in the cavernous warehouse space. If you’re inside, you’ll be right in view of the towering stills taking centre stage at one end of the bar. Inside those stainless steel stills is where vodka and gin will be distilled with calming botanicals like juniper, lavender, rose and lemon for Calm Spirits Co, the bar’s very own spirit label which will be available at the soon-to-come bottleshop.
Not ready to commit to a full bottle without a thorough taste test? We get it—luckily you can sip your way through a range of cocktails shaken and stirred with the spirits at the bar. Sample a lavender martini, made with Calm Vodka, lavender liqueur and lemon, or a grapefruit and rosemary sour with rosemary infused Calm Gin, grapefruit juice, Peychaud’s Bitters and aquafaba. There’s more than just cocktails available of course, with a selection of beers on tap and in cans plus a short list of Australian wines by the glass and bottle.
As for the food, you’ll be snacking on a selection of share plates like tomato arancini balls with capsicum and fennel relish, burnt broccoli florets with toasted almonds and of course, golden chips with rosemary salt and aioli. For something bigger, you can order up a pizza to share or keep all to yourself, with slices like the margherita, gamberia and ricotta and meatball. Personally, we’ll be opting for the potato bake pizza topped with mozzarella, smoked bacon bites, shaved potato, rosemary and gorgonzola—and no, we won’t be sharing.
Upstairs on the mezzanine is where the party really starts, with a DJ booth, cosy couches and even a dancefloor for when we’re allowed to boogie again. The underground event space is still to come, but plans are already afoot for block parties, art exhibitions and vintage garage sales, so stay tuned for those. For now though, Warehouse 25 is opening for dining and drinking seven days a week from Saturday 7 November—get all the details here.
If you're looking to stock up your liquor cabinet, see if we've got any discount codes you can use for Dan Murphys or BWS here.
Image credit: Supplied