Since 1901, Australia’s Federal Government has used an array of excise charges,
import duties, taxes and exemptions to extract a sizeable revenue out of our
appreciation of a good drop. More than a century later, and after endless reforms
to the tax system, Australians actually pay more tax per bottle of spirits than
anywhere in the western world. Vast swathes of what the consumer pays for a
bottle of gin is tax that goes straight to the federal government, before the 10%
GST that’s added for good measure. Just imagine 58% of this gin is TAX!
Robbery! Unjust! We demand a review, lest there be a revolution! In short, F*ck
Tax, and sorry about the swearing.
SIGNATURE SERVE
Fevertree Meditteranean and Grapefruit Wedge
MILLIONAIRES MARTINI
INGREDIENTS
40ml F*ck Taxes
40ml Dry Vermouth
20ml Sparkling Wine
GARNISH
Lemon Peel Twist
METHOD
1. Add Gin and Vermouth to
an ice filled mixing glass.
2. Stir and double strain into
a chilled coupette.
3. Top with sparkling wine.
4. Garnish.
A throwback to the gilded age this twist on a 50/50 Martini was a staple of
American Saloon bars pre and post prohibition. We’ve never had prohibition in
Australia, mercifully, but a levy the likes of $100 per litre is making the whole
enterprise prohibitively expensive.
Few people would be raising their glasses to a government slugging double-digit
levies onto their cocktail of choice… and sooner or later, even martinis will be the
sole domain of millionaires. Enjoy it while you can, then man the guillotines!
SALTY DOG
INGREDIENTS
30ml F*ck Taxes
90ml Grapefruit Juice
GARNISH
Salted Rim and Grapefruit
METHOD
1. Wipe rim of glass with
grapefruit flesh and dip into
coarse salt.
2. Add gin and juice to the
salted old fashioned glass
and add ice.
3. Garnish.
Originally called the Greyhound and dating back to the 1930s Savoy Cocktail
book, the Salty Dog happened when a bartender named George Jessel add the
salted rim to tone down the tartness of the grapefruit. It’s a fitting moniker. You
know what else makes us salty? Too heavy a tax on spirits. That’ll anger up the
blood like nothing else. All we want to do is add gin and grapefruit juice to a
salted glass, and here we are, propping up a federal government as part of the
bargain. Bah! Unleash the hounds! Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war! And,
enjoy this salty delight.
