Rosella’s debuts a new cocktail list that will take you on a flavour-filled journey around Australia
While the last menu was an ode to iconic confectionary of days past, the new selection of sips at Rosella’s highlights Australia’s diverse landscapes and native ingredients. Aptly named A Taste of Oz, the new concertina-fold cocktail menu is an invitation to pile into a dusty troopy and embark upon a metaphorical lap around this great nation. The line-up, which took the better part of six months to perfect, is a journey through some of the country’s most famous locales, incorporating flavours and inspirations from each landmarks.
You needn’t travel too far for the first stop. Nestled in Burleigh Heads National Park, which the Traditional Custodians call Jellurgal, the eponymous drink is inspired by the tour the Rosella’s team did at Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre and features Burly citrus gin, bunya nut, white chocolate, pineapple, passionfruit and marigold (hot tip – follow the QR code on the menu to continue your tour at the centre). “We’ve kind of always leaned towards more modern techniques like with our fizzy drinks or our milk punches and stir downs where you just get a lot more mouth feel, this one just is a massive crowd pleaser,” Jack tells us of the punchy creation.
From there, you can head south to 12 Apostles (Rosella’s 12 botanical louche gin, ‘Victorian yuzu’, vermouth and elderflower) or north to Daintree Rainforest (FNQ agave, sherry, coconut and white-chocolate foam, banana-miso butterscotch and Daintree vanilla). Without a doubt, Uluru has been the surprising stand-out so far, owner Jack Connor says, and it’s little wonder why – a visual and flavourful tribute to the Red Centre, the cocktail features Seven Season’s Bush Apple gin, Davidson Plum cordial, native ponzu, emu apple and native peach. Rounding out your adventure is Kakadu, which is designed to encapsulate the earthy scent when rain falls on dry soil, and Pink Lake, a nod to the vibrant blush-hued lake in Esperance, Western Australia. To the side of the menu, you’ll find the Rosella’s classics, which Jack tells us are the ones that they can never take off the menu, including the ever-popular Blinky Bill.
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Rosella’s didn’t stop at drinks, their food offering has also received a loving update. The kitchen, helmed by head chef Gussie, focusses on elevated pub classics including a seriously tasty chicken parmi, which you can score on Thursdays for just $10.
With its commitment to celebrating Australia’s culinary and cultural richness, Rosella’s is a vibrant embodiment of local heritage, offering a uniquely immersive experience that keeps the spirit of Australiana alive in every sip and bite.