The Macadamia Castle now offers something very adult: artisan, certified-organic, paddock-to-bottle, locally produced, small-batch spirits at Bar Macca.
As well as the Castle’s usual animal and bird fun for kids, including some fun holiday workshops, Bar Macca has a menu featuring locally produced spirits from Tintenbar Distillery and Husk Distillers, paired with mixers from Pyewacket Shrubs and gourmet food plates designed to match the drinks offering. From a refreshing G&T to a Vodka Mint Julep there are a range of local samples to try.
Tintenbar Distillery is a family farm affair, born out of a shared love of gin and whiskey and some serious practice-led research into all sorts of hillbilly activities, experimenting with native and homegrown ingredients. The use of local ingredients here goes down to the grains, grown on farm or sourced locally from organic producers as are the botanicals. Bar Macca serve both Old Greg’s Famous Potato Bazooka Vodka and Tuckombil Dry Gin.
Husk Distillers, producers of the now-famous, colour-changing Ink Gin, is set on 150 acres of farmland in Tumbulgum. Opened in 2012, Husk’s vision was to create an Australian take on agricole rum, made using fresh sugarcane juice instead of the variety more commonly made from molasses (as in Bundy). Husk’s Ink Gin and Pure Cane Rum are served at Bar Macca.
These are mixed with premium sodas and tonics as well as shrubs. A ‘shrub’ is the old-fashioned name for a fruit-and-herb preserve. Pyewackets botanical shrubs are made of seasonal fruit, herbs, spices, sugar, and organic apple cider vinegar that are macerated, fermented and pressed by hand, all without heat, handmade by Katrina and Genna near Lismore.
‘You can’t get more local than the Tintenbar Distillery, which is 10 minutes away from the Castle,’ said Tony Gilding, owner of the Macadamia Castle.
‘Our interest in establishing Bar Macca was to showcase local products, expand our restaurant offering, and offer adult visitors to the Castle some delicious, distinctive delights. The fine food products we sell through our retail store and restaurant reflect local flavours and this is a continuation of this.
‘Now with our liquor licence when holding events at the Castle we can offer an onsite bar and provide a wide variety of drinks to guests including these cocktails.’
Bar Macca is open 12–4.30pm daily. Castle is open every day 8am–5pm. Tasting plates $20 or individual drinks $12.
Ph 6687 8432
macadamiacastle.com.au
